Washington, Dec. 24, The year 1937 was in many ways one of the most remarkable in Ameri can post-war history. "Tt began with a President in the White House re-lected by a greater majority than that obtained by any previous President, Its mid-period was occupied by a struggle of this President with the opposition and his complete defeat fon a measure which he supported wit his full reputation. Its close saW. the -Presidents reputation and, prestige restored on a question of foreign policy.
'The President Interpreted his rear victory at the polls as a mandate (rom the country to continue wih his reform programme and make the' year 1937.a landmark in American social history. With only sixteen Republicans among the 96 Senators and only 89 Republicans among the 437 Representatives the President had no tear that his task would be legislative ly impossible, But previous decisions. of the Supreme Court stood in the way. He therefore decided to deal with this problem of the Supreme Coury before proceeding with his legislative programme of reform.
'The Democratic Party platform contained a pianic advocating an amendment to the Constitution giving the Federal Government the additional authority' over industry and agricul ture which the Supreme Court had libeld it Ineked. An amendment, how= ever, since it had to be ratified by three-quarters of the Stales would ave taken time and the President wished for immediate action. He. therefore proposed to change the character of the Supreme Court membership which could be done by a simple Act of Congress. On Februar; 5 therefore Congress was asked to authorize the appointment of an ad~ ditional Justice for each member the Supreme Court over 70 who fused to retire,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.