Evening star., 1950-06-11

; In New York.
Another celebrated case, almost
certain to be carried to the Su-
preme Court If the Court of Ap-
peals in New York affirmS the con-
viction, is that of Alger Hiss. The
former State Department official
was found guilty last January OF
falsely testifying he never gave
Government secrets to an avowed
Communist agent.
The court, meanwhile, will find
its hands already full with ac-
cepted cases that deal with the
protest of New York street.
preacher fined for denouncing the
Catholic and Jewish faiths; COM
plants of two Jehovah's Wit
nesses, fined at Havre de Grace.
Md. for speaking without permits
in a public park, and the appeal
OF a Quaker teacher sentenced to
prison for advising a student to
stand by his refusal to sign a draft
card.
Taylor Appeal Up
They also will be requested to
pass on an appeal of Senator
Taylor, Democrat, of Idaho. Sen
ator Taylor wants the court to
reverse his "disorderly conduct"
conviction that occurred after he
entered an Alabama hall through
an entrance provided for Negroes.
He contends such setup is un-
constitutional.
Then, there are prospective pc
titions for rulings on New Jerseys
loyalty oath requirement for pub
lie of1lce-holders and candidates,
and Maryland's Ober law, aimed
at subversive activities and estab-
fishing loyalty checks for public
employees.
Still hanging fire is the case of
Mrs. Ellen Knauff. German born
war bride, who for almost two
years has been trying to get from
Ellis Island into the United States.
The Justice Department, thus far
upheld by the courts, objects to
her as a security risk" It won't
disclose its evidence or witnesses
or grant a hearing.
For a change OF pace, the court
can listen almost Immediately next
October or November to argu-
ments on several important anti.
trust and labor cases it has agreed
to review.
One involves a charge that the
Standard Oil Co. of Indiana vic.
lated the Sherman Act by selling
gasoline at a lower price to job
bers than to filing station oper-
ators. The labor suits, in gen.
eral, turn on the extent of Ma
tional Labor Relations Board jur-
isdiction and court powers to re-
view NLRB findings.
Labor Limited by Rulings
Labor had big year but, from
its viewpoint, not a very favorable
one.
The Communist oath pro-
vision of the Taft-Hartley Law
was upheld. An Arkansas right
to work" law also was sustained
despite union protests that 1t
struck at picket rights.
New limits were put on picket
ing, at least to the degree of de-
claring that States have broader
power to regulate such activities.
The court said picketing may be
barred If designed to cause viola.
ton OF a valid State law, if staged
to force an employer to compel
his employees to join a union, or
If arranged to persuade" a store
to hire Negro clerks in proportion
to the number of Negro customers.
Racial problems, prominent as
they were at the recent session,
will certainly not diminish dur
ing the coming term. The tri-
bunal probably will be urged to
review the United States Court of
Appeals 2-to-1 decision upholding
the segregated school system in
the District.
j Farther down the judicial lad
der. but high in public interest
and legal Importance. is an opin-
ion by Corporation Counsel Ver-
non E. West that restaurants re-
fusing to serve colored patrons in
Washington are violating a IT.
year-old law. A test case on that
matter is under advisement in
Municipal Court. 1t could reach
) the Supreme Court within the
next year.
Final Opinions Outstanding
| Nothing in the 1949-5O life OF
the Supreme Court became it like
the busy leave-taking June S. .Out-
standing in the mass of opinions
handed down that day were those
stating:
That separation of races on
railroad dining cars violates the
Interstate Commerce Act; that
State university postgraduate and
professional schools must admit
Negro students unless really equal
educational facilities are avail
able, and that Negroes, once ad-
mitted. must be treated equally
with white students.
Overshadowed by those head
liners, but not by long-range i'm
plications, were such earlier de-
ciSions as these:
Refusing to intervene in Geor-
gia's county unit election system:
upholding the contempt-of- = Con-
gress convictions of Eugene Den
mis-, Communist Party secretary
and more than a score of others
who tangled unsuccessfully with
the House Committee on Un-
American Activities;
Affirming the $1,420,000 fine
|