The Sentinel=record., 1917-05-17

Washington, May l6-In beginning .consideration today of the $3,39O,00O,- oQ0 war budget the senate devoted the entire session to sweeping criticism of the executive branch of the govern meut seldom has the senate cham , ber seen he scene of such vehement IattaeAs, which continued for five hours behind closed doors and were renewed after the doors were opened.
 No progress was made on the bill, but with the outburst of indignation out of the way, senate leaders thought
 passage of the huge war appropriation measure would not be long delayed.
 The Council of National Defense, it's civil advisory commission and the gov l Iernment shipping board were special targets of senatorial wrath, and Presi ! dent Wilson himself was sharply criti cised. The council was charged with
 n-urpaticn of authority and with un- lawfully delegating power 10 the ad- yisory commission. The shipping board was assailed for alleged inter- ference with private shipDuilders and Itor insisting upon its wooden ship program. The president was attacked for alleged lack of cooperation and com ultation with congress.
 The upshot of the entire discussion was adoption of an amendment by Senator Sterling of South Dakota set
 tns forth that the powers of the Coun- cil of National Defense shal not Ne considered enlarged because of war conditions. A section of the bill ap. lprcpratlng $5oo.o0O for the defense council was the ba.is for the debate.
 Democratic Leader Martin con scented 10 an executive session. sug-
 gested by Senator Weeks of Massa- chusetts. because the whole bill in yolyed discussion of confidential mili- tary questions Five hours agterward The doors were opened because Re publican senators, including Lodge
 Norris and Brdndogee. suggested it
 was not proper that such statemeRte as had been heard should be made without cognizance of the public and without opportunity for those attacked to offer defense.
 Democratic senators, it was said. .afterward began the discussion by crticising certain facts Of the advisory commission Senator Reed of Mis-. scum was said to have been particular. ly vehement. Senator Lewis of ILL .nois vigorously condemned certain .activities of the commission. especial fly regarding the letting of govern .ment contracts, and oeffred an amend ment to the law creating the defense .council to provide that hereafter men shall be appointed 10 the advisory commission subject to the senate's confirmation $ me senators said President Wilson was not kept proper Fly informed regarding supply purchas. ing. Others declared that the presi- dent and the cabiner. without warrant of 0aw, had conferred some of their powers upon the advisory commission. particularly as to the purchasing of supplies.
 It was asserted that General Goethaba opposed building of wooden ships, favoring steel, but had been compelled by the shipping board to proceed with wooden construction senator Weeks complained that mem bers of the shipping board had pre- vented a private shipbuldng company from raising capital and deterred in .diyiduals from inyestins, advising them against putting money unto .specific corporations
 Upon the question of supply pur.
 chases Senator MeKellar of fennesseo