The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-25
OBJECTS TO COMMISSION.
WOULD SERIOUSLY HAMPER
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN
THEIR LABORS.
President Wilson Tells Congress That
He Does Does Not Want Congress
siOnal War Council to Watch and
Advise Him and Cabinet Officers.


mittee of senators and representatives
to confer and advise with executive
officials on war expenditures.
In a letter to Chairman Lever of
the house agricultural committee the
president pointed out in frank terms
that such a committee would con-
stantly harass those directly respon-
sible for the conduct of the war. Re-
of the section, he notified con-
gress, he would be compelled to in
terpret as signifying a lack of con-
fdence in myself"
Mr.. Lever and other house leaders
are understood to be ready to make
a determined fight against the provis-
ion. which was voted into the bill
near the close of the long senate de-
bate. House leaders also are planning
to oppose vigorously the senate's pro-
vision for a food control board of
three members, instead of one admin
istratOr, and there were many indica-
tions that in this likewise they would
have the presidents unqualified back
ing.
Mr.. Wilson worte to Representative
Lever in response to letter promising
to hasten the food bill through con-
ference and asking advice on the war
provision. The presidents
reply follows:
II am very much obliged to you for
your thoughtful courtesy in stating to
me the circumstances of the present
action on the food administration bill
and am particularly obliged to you
for calling my attention to Section 23.
deem 1t my duty to express my opin-
ion about that section and it's effect
upon the whole administration of the
war very frankly indeed. since public
interest manifestly demands that l
should do SO.
Section 23 is not only entirely for
eign the subject matter Of the food
administration bill but would. if en-
acted into law, render my task Of con-
Quoting the war practically impossi-
BILE. I can not believe that those who
proposed this section scyutinized it
with care or analysed the effects
which its operation would necessarily
have. The constant supervision of
executive action which it contemplates
would amount to nothing less than an
assumption on the part Of the legisla-
tive body of the executive work Of the
There is very Ominous precedent
in our history which shows how such
a supervision would operate. I refer
to the committee on the conduct Of the
war constituted by the congress dur
ing the administration of Mr.. Lin
coin. 1t was the cause of constant
and distressing harassment and rend-
cred Mr.. Lincolns task all but impos-
sible.
Il am not. I beg you to believe, in
any way questioning what might be
the motives or the purpose of the
members Of such n committee. I am
ready to assume that they would wish
to cooperate in the most patriotic spir-
1t, but cooperation of that kind is not
practicable i'm the circumstances. The
responsibility rests upon the admin
lstration. There are abundant exist
ing means of investigation and of the
effective enforcement OF that respon-
sibility. I sincerely hope that upon the
reconsideration Of this matter both
houses of congress will see that my
objections rest upon indisputa bic
grounds and that l could only inter-
pret the final adoption of Section 23
as arising from lack of confidence
in myself"
The section was embodied in an
amendment introduced by Senator
Owen (Democrat) to take place of a
similar proposal by Senator Weeks
Republican). 1t was adopted by the
senate, SO to 81.
Briefly 1t would create q committee
or five senator's and five representa-
uves to ascertain just how contracts
were being let and money being spent
IN the conduct of the war and report
TO congress when it so desired.
The president and executive depart
ments. under the provision, would be
compelled to keep said committee
fully advised rs to such expenditures
ana contracts" and the committee
could compel such attendance of wit
nesses in such inquiries as it chose
to make.