The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-08-17
Po,oer Of the President


quately and promptly are writing it these days, and
complaining Of the tremendous extension of the
powers OF the President as granted in recent leg
islation.
There is no question about the concentration oil
great power in President Wilson's hands. any more
than there can be any question of the popular APP
proval of this concentration. The President has
the great American public back Of him today, al
most solidly and there is every disposition to trust
Elm ahead of congress, with its peace-time rules
and presidents that hinder the carrying forward
OF today's task.
Heresne some OF the extraordinary powers now
possessed by Mr. Wilson:
Under the Food Bill he is given practically abso-
lutte control over the transportation and disposi-
ton OF foodStuffs; he is given power to fix prices,
to fix standards and grades of certain foodstuffs
TO commander supplies and even take over plants,
either for the armed forces or for the publics
good to license the importation, expectation, man
ufacture storage distribution of necessaries to
prevent waste and to prevent boarding; to pur-
chase store and sell necessaries at reasonable
prices to prohibit the use of foods, fruits, food
materials, or feeds in the production of distilled
liquors except for governmental industrial, manu-
featuring or medicinal purposes; to control the
making of beer and wine and to prevent it if he
sees fit during the period Of the
Under the Bond Issue Law, Mr.. Wilson was
given power to issue $7,OooyOOO,OOO in bonds and
to loan not to exceed $3OOoOOoOOO to the Allies.
Under this loaning power the President exer-
else great control over Allied purchases and Allied
diplomacy Congress gave him an absolutely free
hand in the distribution OF the $3,0000O0,000 to
the various Allied nations. The secretary of the
treasury was given the immediate handling of the
bond issue but provision was made that he should
exercise it only with the approval OF the President
Under the provisions Of the Espionage Act, APP
proved June Is, the President given broad
embargo powers as well as absolute power over
the clearance Of ships. "}@
Under the Urgency Deficiency Act the President
was given power to commander ships and ship
plants and shpbuilding material needed by the
country during the war to modify, suspend, cancel
or requisition contracts for the building, purchase
or production of ships and material for ships; to
commander ships being constructed; to fix
the compensation for all ships either constructed
or under construction that are taken over; and to
expend $50000OO0 to carry out the purpose Of
the act.
Under Public Law No, the President was Civ
the right to take vessels within the juris-
diction of the United States, owned wholly or in
part by any citizen, corporation subject OF any
nation at war with the United States.
Under Public Law No.. II the President was
given the right to false, organize and equip the
regular army; to draft'the national guard into the
federal service and to raise an additional army OF
men by seective CONSUMPTION and to fill the ma
tional guard to its strength. The President
was also given almost absolute control of exemp-
tions under the selective consumption feature
In the matter of appropriations, President Will
son was given $lO0,OO0OOO to spend in his own
discretion and without report to congress, for the
prosecution Of the war.
The. Naval Pill DaCcad in III
clio sing minutes of the last session of congress
appropriated $ll5,OOOOO0 for the speeding of con-
struction deliberately delayed by Secretary Dan
iels during the first Wilson administration. Pre-
sident Wilson was given the right to suspend the
,ight-hour law, to commander shipbuldng plants
and materials in order to expedite the production
Of ships. ~ H..
The Aviation Law recently passed by congress
appropriated $340000000 for increased air force
This money is to be spent under the direction Of
The President, who is authorized to increase the
strength Of the Signal Corps of the army; to ap
point all officers not above the grade of colonel
to obtain enlisted men, either voluntarily or by
draft; 70 organize the personnel of the aviation
section; 10 purchase or manufacture airships
supplies, aerial machines OF other character ap
pliances, etc. etc, Of every description; to pur
chase necessary buildings, acquire necessary lane
Ivy any means he fit, such as purchase lease
donation, condemnation; to increase plants fac
tories and other airplane establishments and tc
aid the operation of technical schools and colleges
where aviation is taught.
The Trading with the Enemy Act still to b'
passed, gives the President almost absolute pow
vrs in the matter of determining what is trading
with the enemy, and in the prevention OF sucl
business.
ia At the outset, OF course, congress granted thu
Z President the power 10 Use the armed forces O
the United States both land and sea, as he deem