THE WEEK

A number of Senators, determined to find effective methods of defending the integrity of the legislature against the Supreme Court’s encroachments, have proposed to Senate leader Lyndon Johnson that one of the contumacious committee witnesses be brought before the bar of the Senate for direct sentencing to jail by the Senate itself, if it finds the charges justified. This method of handling contempt of Congress, used exclusively prior to 1857 and occasionally thereafter as late as the 1920’s, rests on the independent powers of the legislature, unfiltered through court procedures and arbitrary judicial interpretation of Congress’ “intentions.” It is a tried and good method.

In the bitter fight for political control of California, recognized as a key to 1960, Vice President Nixon has indicated that if it comes to a showdown next year he will probably support William Know-land against Goodwin Knight as Republican gubernatorial candidate. This would seem to mean that Mr. Nixon wants to avoid a premature and possibly losing battle against his principal rival for the 1960 Presidential nomination. Meanwhile Republicans in California, alarmed by signs of a Democratic upsurge, press Governor Knight to change his mind and take the 1958 nomination for U.S. Senator in a unity Knowland-Knight ticket that the Vice President could back without risk.

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A number of Senators, determined to find effective methods of defending the integrity of the legislature against the Supreme Court’s encroachments, have proposed to Senate leader Lyndon Johnson that one of the contumacious committee witnesses be brought before the bar of the Senate for direct sentencing to jail by the Senate itself, if it finds the charges justified. This method of handling contempt of Congress, used exclusively prior to 1857 and occasionally thereafter as late as the 1920’s, rests on the independent powers of the legislature, unfiltered through court procedures and arbitrary judicial interpretation of Congress’ “intentions.” It is a tried and good method.

In the bitter fight for political control of California, recognized as a key to 1960, Vice President Nixon has indicated that if it comes to a showdown next year he will probably support William Know-land against Goodwin Knight as Republican gubernatorial candidate. This would seem to mean that Mr. Nixon wants to avoid a premature and possibly losing battle against his principal rival for the 1960 Presidential nomination. Meanwhile Republicans in California, alarmed by signs of a Democratic upsurge, press Governor Knight to change his mind and take the 1958 nomination for U.S. Senator in a unity Knowland-Knight ticket that the Vice President could back without risk.