U.S.A. SUPREME COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 February 1937, Page 7

U.S.A. SUPREME COURT

POWER-LIMITING PROPOSALS. [BY CABLE —PEERS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] WASHINGTON, February 18. Two resolutions proposing constitutional amendments limiting the powers of the Supreme Court were introduced in the Senate. One resolution would permit Congress to re-enact by. a twothirds vote each branch of the law invalidated by the court—but. only after a regular election in which members of the House of Representatives have been elected. The other provides for the voluntary retirement of justices at the age of 70. and compels their retirement at the age of 75. During a debate in the Senate, Senator Kenneth McKellar. in a two hours’ speech defending President Roosevelt’s programme, was interrupted frequently by Senator W. F. George and Senator Tom Connally. Senator McKellar stated that the decision of the court invalidating the National Recovery Act was correct, but that the decision invalidating the Agricultural Adjustment Act. and other close decisions, were blunders. He argued that President Roosevelt, by his victory at the polls. | had a mandate to do something about | the court. Senator George insisted that Hie plan was un-American. Senator Connally merely interposed quest ions. The latest poll of the Senate shows j 1 Senators against the President’s plans, T’, in favour and 29 non-com- . mittal. I 'rhe “Christian Science Monitor" ; held a poll which showed- that more I than two-thirds of its readers who sup- ! ported President Roosevelt at the last election declared against the Supreme Court proposals. Only 19 approved ‘>l t hem. Mr. William Green. President of the American Federation of Labour, an nounced that the Federation would support the President.