MODIFIED PLAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 9

MODIFIED PLAN

U.S. SUPREME COURT REORGANISATION SCHEME (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Received June 4, 9.5 p.m. WASHING TON, June 3. Following a night conference at White House, Mr Robinson stated that the President had not abandoned his Supreme Court.revision plan, but he intimated that he would press for its passage during the present session of Congress in a mouilied norm. President Roosevelt’s court reform plan, cmoodied in his message to Congress on Feovuary u, iiivolveu raising the number of supreme Court Justices from nine (the present number) to a maximum ot mleen. it also contemplated power to retire Judges when tney had reached the age ol years ana had been on tne Bench for 10 years. Another leature ol tne plan was direct - appeal to the Supreme court from an inferior Court on the subject ot a constitutional issue. However, wnereas tne Court had decided * against the hew, Deai in eleven out ol thirteen. principal cases before the begimnng ot the present term, duimg tne new term the Administration nas won all seven major cases taken * to tne Court. Early in April it was stated that President Roosevelt . had instructed the Democratic forces to increase their efforts to have his new programme enacted, partly because he is preparing to submit to Congress more reforms, abolishing cnild laoour and regulating wages and hours on a national scale. Puolic hearings ot the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Court plan were completed on April 24, but private consideration was expected to last until the end of last month. In the middle of last month Mr Justice Van Devanter, a member of the so-called ’ Conservative * wing of the Supreme Court, who is 78, announced his retirement as from Juno 2.