The Washington times., 1917-02-11
BILL GIVES WILSON
POWER OF SEIZURE
Expected Provision Would Give
President Right to CON-
mandeer Shipyards.
LIMITED TO MARCH |, 1918
Padgett Amendment Provides
for Condemnation of Patents
on War AeropIanes.
LIMITED TO MARCH |, 1918

that when the naval appropriation
bill leaves the House it will contain
a provision authorizing the President
to commander shipyards and muni-
tions factories in time of war "or ma
tional emergency"
The House Rules Committee re
versed its position late yesterday and
voted to grant a special rule making
Administration amendments to the
bill giving the President such au-
thority in order.
Friday the Rules Committee voted
down these amendments, proposed by
fairs Committee.
Daniels Rt Capitol
Secretary Daniels went to the
Capitol yesterday afternoon and con-
ferred with members OF the Rules
Committee. The pressure of the Ad-
ministration in the present emergency
was brought to bear and the commit
tee voted TO report the desired rule
on Monday. The naval bill will go to
a vote Tuesday.
The amendments were modified to
provide that the President shall have
power to commander only until
March 1, 1918. This change was made
on the assumption that such authority
win not be required beyond that time.
When the Rules Committee first
rejected the plea for a rule il was
said the committee did not regard
such radical action as imperative at
this time. and there was also involved
a conflict of committee Jurisdiction.
The rule agreed up by the Rules
Committee gives the President sweep
ing power in this respect but does
not provide for any appropriation for
rushing to completion such vessels
as may be needed by the navy. The
Naval Affairs Committee asked for an
emergency appropriation of $780,
100000, to be made up by the sale OF
3 per cent bonds. but the Rules Com
mittee decided that this particular
legislation should go to the Ways
and Means Committee.
The Padgett amendments, as modi-
fed by the Rules Committee, will pro-
vide:
That the President force all private
shipyard and other factories capable
of making war materials to give pre-
ferential consideration to orders
placed by the United States during.
a period of war or national emerg-
ency.
That the President shall also have
authority to commander such estab-
lishments and operate them in supply
ing vessels and war materials for the
United States. o..
Get AeropIane Patents.
That +bo Cocra+ar1, of War aud tba
Secretary of the Navy shall acquire
by purchase, condemnation, donation
or otherwise, the basic patents to an
aeroplane to be used for military pur-
poses.
That all factories taken over by
the Government under the authority
given the President shall be entitled
TO receive a fair rental or award
of damages from the United States
on account of the uses to which the
establishment may have been put
by the United States Government.
The Rules Committee struck out
the provision that all legislation re-
lating to hours of labor of employees
in such establishments shall be waived
under Government operation. The
following substitute provision was in
serted:
EIsht Hours Standard Day.
THAT eight hours shalnbe a stan
dard day for all Government employees
twhen employed on work in connec-
tion with such ships or war mater
ia) and time and a half for all time
over eight hours in any one day"
The Rules Committee retained in
the amendment the clause making it
unlawful for any person to incite
workers on such contracts to leave
their employment or strike.
The $l5O,O0OOOO appropriation, to
be given to the President Ito secuIe
the more expeditions delivery of ma
terials, equipment, and munitions
and secure the more expeditions con-
struction Of ships" was eliminated.
Blanket Authority.
Inasmuch as this appropriation
carried with it authority for a bond
issue, members of the Rules Commit
tee held that it came properly within
the Jurisdiction of the Ways ard
Means Committee. and should not be
written into the naval bill in irregu-
lar fashion. 1t is realized that il il
becomes necessary for the President
TO commander shipyards under the
express authority of Congress, the
legislative branch OF necessity must
pay the bills arising under such "A
process. Secretary Daniels is under
stood to have told the committee that
the Administration desired the au-
thority to commander shipyards, but
that the appropriation was not so
essential at this time. The blanket
authority which it is proposed to give
the President will meet any present
or prospective emergency, it is be
lieved.
The special rule will be presented
TO the House before the naval bill is
put on final passage in the House on
Tuesday. Republican members of the
Rules Committee are understood TO
have agreed not. TO fight the rule on
the floor as the issue presented is not
a partisan one.