Evening star., 1950-11-07
Supreme Court
Puts Off RuIinq
On 0ber Law
Shub Loses Chance
To Get Name on
Maryland BoIlot
By Robert K. Welsh


Maryland's Ober law. being
voted on in a State referendum
today. will have to wait somewhat
longer before being acted on by
the Supreme Court.
The tribunal again yesterday
refused to give an immediate
hearing to Louis Shub, Progressive
Party candidate for Governor. His
name had been barred from the
Maryland ballot because he would
not sign d loyalty aff1davit re-
quired by the Ober "anti-subver-
sive" law.
The way was still open for
Supreme Court consideration of
constitutionality of the law. It's
continued existence, however, de-
pends on whether a majority of
Marylanders voting in today's
referendum ratify the Statute.
But Mr.. Shub lost his last
chance to get his name on the
ballot and obtain a quick ruling
on validity of the law. The high
court two weeks age refused his
petition for review and noted that
the Maryland Court of Appeals, in
deciding against him, had not
then handed down a written opin-
ion. Chief Justice Vinson and
Justice Black and Douglas IA
vored an immediate hearing.
No Comment on Ruling.
When the appeals court pro-
vided a written opinion last week,
Mr.. Shub asked the Supreme
Court to reconsider it's refusal to
review. In turning him down
again. the Supreme Court made
no comment. 4 On October % the
court left standing a Maryland
Court of Appeals ruling that the
name of Progressive Party can
didate for Congress might go on
the ballot. despite her refusal to
sign the loyalty AFFIDAVIT.
In another action yesterday, the
Supreme Court refused to inter-
vene in the contempt of Congress
conviction of Richard Morford,
executive director of the Ma
tional Council of American Soviet
Friendship.
Morford, convicted in District
Court in 1948, won a new trial
when the Supreme Court declared
last May that his attorney should
have been allowed to ask Govern
ment employees on the jury panel
whether they would be influenced
by the Federal Loyalty Program.
At a second trial, before Judge
James w. Morris without a jury,
he again was adjudged guilty. |
Supreme Court refusal to review
means he probably will have to
serve three month sentence and
pay a $3.50 fine for contempt in
failing to give organization rec
ords to the House Committee on
Un- American Activities in 1916.
Other Actions Taken.
In other actions yesterday the
Supreme Court:
/, Agreed to consider a second
case attacking the Wisconsin ban
on< strikes against public utility
companies. Similar laws are in
effect in 10 other States.
2. Agreed to rule on complaint
that the Timken Roller Bearing
Co. violated the Sherman anti
trust law by entering into agree
ments allocating sales territories
throughout the world. The United
States Court of Appeals in Cleve-
land ruled against the company.
8. Agreed to decide whether the
Tillamooks and other Indian tribes
in Oregon are entitled to about
$14 million in claims and interest
for land taken by the United
States in 1855. The Court OF
Claims here held that the tribes
should receive such payments.
The Justice Department declared
that, if those claims are upheld,
others amounting to almost $14
billion might be made.
4. Refused to intervene in New
York State court decision which,
according to State authorities,
would permit New York City land
lords to collect back rent increases
from about 10000 tenants. The
New York decision threw out a
State rent control law provision
whereby tenants could not be held
liable for failure to pay rent in
creases authorized by the Federal
Housing Expediter. if the increases
had been barred by local law.
Ruling on Rail Suits.
S. Held, S to 4, that State courts
may decide whether they should
refuse to hear damage suits filed
by railroad workers in other
States. The decision involved two
cases in which railroad employees
injured in Oklahoma and Ten
nessee asked st. Louis court to
order payment of damages.
The railroads asked that court
to dismiss the suits but were told
it had no authority to rule on
such dismissal motions. The rail-
roads appealed to the Supreme