AMERICAN SUPREME COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 9

AMERICAN SUPREME COURT

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S PROPOSALS STRONG OPPOSITION EVIDENT' * Press Association—By Tflegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, February 10. .The House of Representatives passed a Bill permitting voluntary full pay on retirement of Supreme Court justices at the age of 70, which some factions hope will pave the way for a compromise through tho retirement of at least two justices, but President Roosevelt intervened personally to prevent the immediate passage of another measure containing less controversial proposals regarding inferior courts. The President notified the leaders of his desire to discuss the matter further, thus preventing splitting _ his programme, which is the objective of the forces opposing the plan. A sharp debate in the House indicated that some of the Democrats are ready to lead the oppositipn. Air Cox, a Democrat, stated: “ President Roosevelt is asking for power that no one man in the world ought to enjoy. It is the most terrible threat to constitutional government in the history of the nation.” Air Lamneck, a Democrat, flayed the proposal and criticised members of the House for permitting thA leaders to use them as rubber stamps. The ‘ New York Times ’ poll of the Senate now shows 21 against, 18 for, and 35 not committed. Bishop Manning devoted a sermon to , condemnation of President Roosevelt’s plan, which he said would be a death blow to constitutional democracy. The Kansas House, which is largely Republican, adopted a resolution condemning the plan, the Indiana House, which is Democratic, _ defeated a similar resolution, the Ohio Senate (Democratic) also condemned it, while the Delaware House (Democratic) passed a resolution supporting the President. Resolutions for and against the, proposal are pending in many other State Legislatures.