Evening star., 1951-06-10

Chief Justice Vinson.
Unity miracle -Dorker.
Jackson, unable to understand
how the court ruled for the three
organizations but denied relief toI
Miss Bailey, declared: This is
the first time this court has held
rights of individuals subordinate
and inferior to those of organized
groups"
That example of outspoken dis
agreement between the justices
was echoed in many another split
decision. Yet, despite Chief JUS
tice Wilson'S difficulty in perform
ing a miracle of judicial unifica-
ton. pointed and often PERSONAL
reproacheS seemed less the order
of decision days than at any time
in recent years.
Everybody Writes
A return to the fast-vanishing
era of single opinions stating ma
iprity and minority views, how
ever, appears out of the question
at this time. Individual justices
carried on the growing practice
of turning out profusion of sep
Iarate written opinions to concur
or dissent. or to agree in part and
disagree in part or merely to clar-
ify and explain particular angles.
Written opinions were nothing
if not plentiful in such important
rulings as those upholding the
Federal Communications Commits
|sion'S authorization for CONNER
|cial color telecasts by the Colum-
bia Broadcasting System-or on a
half dozen cases that told grand
jury witnesses they could refuse
to answer some questions that
might incriminate them.
Those decisions are expected to-
have profound but still unpre-
dictable effects. Justice Frank
furter, in clubbing himself "dubi-
tante, was not the only observer
who doubted that the color TVI
order would remain hereafter
completely in focus from a legal
standpoint.
And, as for the latitude or limi-
tation of grand jury queries, the
decisions resulted Immediately in
lower court acquittalS of numerous
persons cited for contempt of
Congress. The Supreme Court
next year may be asked to rule
specifically whether balky wit
ness before a congressional in
veStigating committee can count
on the fifth amendment to the
same extent as those who stay
mum in grand jury rooms.
/ No gift, of prophecy was needed
year ago to foretell that the big
decision of the 1950-51 term would
deal with the II Communist Party
convicted of conspiracy to advo-
cate and teach violent overthrow
of the Government.
McCorron Test Possible
The biggest decision of the 1872
term could be on test of the
Subversive Activities Control Act,
commonly known as the McCarran
Act, and particularly whether the
Communist Party can be COM
PEELED to register as a foreign
dominated organization. It seems
unlikely, however, that such test
will get through the Subversive
Activities Control Board and the
Court of Appeals within another
year.
But the coming term is bound
to be strenuous. On the way
up are the first case challenging
a section of the Defense Produc-I
ton Act, scheduled REISSUES" of
the long fight against motion pic
ture censorship, another round in
the battle between the Govern
ment and the Dollar shipping in
terests, conflicting decisions by
appeals courts in the case of Ju-
dith Coplon, a review of New York
States Feinberg law banning en-
lployment of Communists as
teachers in public schools. a pro-
test against daily reading of the
Bible in New Jersey schools, the
perjury conviction of Harry
Bridges, West Coast labor leader,
and validity of an 1873 District
Legislative regulation that res
Itaurants in this city cannot legally
refuse to serve Negroes.
The court also may really have
to face the music. It will be
asked to lend an ear to argu-
ments about commercials and mu-
sic broadcast to what the Court
of Appeals described as captive"
riders who have to stand for it
on streetcars and buses.