CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Southland Times, Issue 19124, 17 December 1923, Page 5

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

POWERS OF AMERICAN SUPREME COURT. FAR-REACHING PROPOSAL. ’ (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, December 15. (Received December 17, 1.15 a.m.) One of the most important pieces of legislation ever introduced into the Senate was to-day offered by Senator Borah, making the concurrence of at least seven out of the nine members of the Supreme Court necessary in any decision holding an Act of Congress unconstitutional. This, if passed, will probably result in one of the most radical revisions of the American system of government since the Constitution was ratified in the eighteenth century. The movement, sponsored by pubheists throughout the nation favouring sudh a law, has recently gained great headway. It occurs that many important laws are declared unconstitutional by five to four thus giving power into the hands of one Justice of the Supreme Court. By such a vote, the Court has declared child labour laws and income taxes unconstitutional and in the latter case the cumbersom process of amending the Constitution took years. It is expected a bitter fight will occur in Congress over Senator Borah’s measure. The Insurgents favour it.