New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-16
from The Tribune Bureau

. 1
termine the priority of freight ship
ments had rough sailing in the Senate
to-day. Senator after Senator attacked
IL as little less than vicious. Many
Senators declared they would not OBJ
iect in the slightest TO giving the Pres
ident any power needed to move war
supplies ahead OF other freight, or to
GO anything essential to the successful
conduct of the war. but they did object
positively to granting him power 10 de-
termine at will that one kind of ship
ments should have the right OF way
over another. when neither was con-
cerned with the making of war.
Even this would not be so bad. they
declared. were it possible for the Pres
ident himself to make the decisions.
This simply means more invisible
government declared Senator Hoke
smith. of Georgia. This function, just
as important and sweeping in its nat
ure. and having an equal effect upon
the people Of the country with those
Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. will be performed by unknown
persons, whom it will be next to im-
possible TO reach"
"Does the Senator apprehend that
the President will keep the names OF
those to whom he delegates this power
Z. II Ia "
statement about their appointment"
inquired Senator Newlands.
Invisible or Objectionable
"Oh, no." replied Senator Smith. "But
take some Of the actions now being
taken by these subcommittee of the
Advisory Board of the Council OF Ma
tional Defence. II they are not invis-
ible, they are just as Objectionable as
if they were"
There can be no doubt saiG Sena-
tor Lodge, chat in time of war very
great power must be given to the Ex-
ecutive in regard to the matter of
transportation. He must have author
ity TO control all transportation that
relates to the army or the navy, or 20
the conduct OF the war and the NUM-
tions necessary for II.
This goes far beyond that, however.
Under this bill the President can say
to one great manufacturing establish
ment. whose product is not going into
the war at all: You cannot ship and
TO another, whose product is equally
IL N a 70 70 10
priority over your rival
There is nothing to prevent his put
ting his hand on every business in the
country without reference 70 whether II
concerns munitions of war or has any
thing whatever 70 do with the war.
The whole business OF the country-not
transportation alone, but the whole
business Of the country, through trans
portation-s put in his hands.
'Pretence Of Equal Authority"
"There is not a business in this coun-
try that under this law cannot have a
, preference given 10 it or a discrimlna-
| ton made against il, no matter whether
it is concerned with military operations
or not. Now, surely there can be no
such need as that under pretence OF
equal authority. This goes far beyond
anything of that kind
| 81 understood yesterday that some
adjustment had been made TO modify
some of the extreme features of this
! bill, and while leaving ample authority
! for everything connected with the war
in the hands of the President. TO allow
! the other business of the country TO be
conducted in the ordinary way, the rail-
roads, if il was necessary FOR any par
ticular shipment. getting authority 70
establish priority through the Inter
state Commerce Commission. had
understood that those notifications
were generally satisfactory. | hear to-
day that they are not satisfactory
that they have been dssipated, blown
to the winds-thst it must be all the
authority possible or nothing.
"Of late, among certain enthusiasts,
a very favorite method of eulogy is to
put the President alongside Washing
ton and Lincoln. ! want TO call atten-
ton TO a speech which Mr.. Lincoln
made at Pittsburgh in February, 1851
when he was standing on the edge OF
war which brought this country within
measurable range of destruction. MI
Lincoln said: by the Constitution the
! Executive may recommend measures
which he NAV think proper, and he may
| veto tnOSe ne lUlllhs lhPiDP o'I' -
is supposed that he may add to these
certain indirect influences to affect the
action Of Congress. Ny political edu-
cation strongly inclines me against the
very free use OF any Of these means
| by the Executive 10 control the legis-
| lation OF the country. As rule, !
think il better that Congress should
originate, as we'll as perfect, its meas
| ,rao ,,,;.Lou, oytarnal h,agr
Lincoln Wanted No Censorship"
THAT sounds very simple in these
days-quite old-fashioned, as the Sena-
tor from New Hampshire suggests.
With four years Of desperate wal. on
his hands. do not reed that Mr.: Lin.
coin asked for a prets censorship. !
do not recall that he came to Congress
for abnormal powers It is very true
he was severely criticised by the press
which he did not attempt to muzzle.
lie was very severely criticised for
1