The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-24
SAYS
HECAN'T SHARE
BURDEN OF WAR
He Writes Representative
Lever Opposing Congress
Committee.
STILL FIRM FOR HOOVER
Cites OminOus Precedent of
Lincoln's Handicap in
Divided Authority.
STILL FIRM FOR HOOVER

WAsH1NGToN, July 2s.-President Will
son announced to-day that he would con-
slider the full enactment Of legislation
sress on expenditures in the conduct of
the war "as arising from q lack OF con-
fidence In myself"
In letter to Chairman Lever OF the
House Agriculture Committee, made pub
lie tonight, the President declared that
Section % OF the food administration
bill containing the Senate provision for
joint committee on expenditures in
the conduct Of the war would IL enacted
into law render my task OF conducting
this war practically impossible"
Earlier in the day II was announced
seri-ofiicially that the President would
oppose to the uttermost the substitution
by the Senate OF a three man board of
control for the one man control carried
In the House bill. No reference was
made to this however, In the Presidents
letter to Chairman Lever. Admlnistra-
ton Senators who were believed to have
secured the thcit consent OF the President
to the substitution were surprised at this
announcement, which. however, seems to
tention devoted TO section 20 In the
Presidents letter tonight
He cites "Ominous Precedent"
Mr.. Wilson wrote to Representative
Lever in response TO a letter promising
TO hasten the food bill through confer
ence and asking advice on the war COM
mittee provision. The Presidents reply
follows:
Il am very much Obliged to you for
your thoughtful courtesy in stating to
me the circumstances OF the present ac-
ton on the food administration bill,
and am particularly OBLIGED to you for
calling my attention to section 23 i
deem II my duty to express my opinion
about that section and Its effect upon
the whole administration of the war
very frankly indeed. since the public
interest manifestiy demands that /
should do so.
Section 23 Is not only entirely for
eign to the subject matter Of the food
Administration bill In which It is In
eorporated but would, II enacted into
law. render my task Of conducting the
war practically impossible cannot
believe that those who proposed this
section scrutinlzed II with care or
analyzed the effects which fits operation
would necessarily have. The constant
supervision OF executive action which
II contemplates would amount 10 moth
ing less than an assumption on the part
OF the legislative body OF the executive
work of the Administration.
There Is very ominous precedent
in our histor, which shows how such a
supervision would operate. I refer TO
the committee on the conduct OF the
war constituted by the Congress during
the Administration OF Mr.. Lincoln. II
was the cause OF constant and Distress
ing harassmsnt and rendered Mr.. Lin
coins task all but impossible.
cooperation Not Practicable"
any way questioning what might be the
motives or the purpose OF the members
OF such n committee, l am ready to as
sumo that they would wish to cooper
ate in the most patriotic spirit. but coop
Grafton OF that kind Is not practicable
In the circumstances. The responsibility
rests upon the Administration.
There are abundant existing means
OF investigation and of the effective en-
forcement OF that responsibility. sin
cerely hope that upon the reconsIdera-
tion OF this matter both houses Of Con-
gress will see that my objections rest
could only interpret the hnal adoption OF
Section 23 arising from a lack OF con-
fidence In myself"
The Presidents announced refusal to
acquiesce in any cooperation between
the legislative and the executive depart
ments as provided In Section 23 is re-
garded tonight as the most ominous
note yet sounded in the storm which has
been gathering at the Capitol over the
attitude of the President toward Con-
gress and the obvious lack Of coordlna-
ton OF executive agencies responsible for
the tremendous war expenditure.
The announcement of the letter to-
morrow morning Is expected 10 be the
signal for an outburst OF resentment at
both ends OF the Capitol which will
leave a tremendous breach between the
two ends of Pennsylvania avenue. That
II may result In the defeat OF the food
administration bill either through Con-
gressional lnaction or Presidential veto
Is considered possible.
Leader Criticises President.
An idea of the extent to which this
resentment seems liable to carry mem
bers may be gathered from the state
ment of House leader who has nota-
BILE record for Judicious and effective
support OF tne ITeSluents war proposals
so far Having been shown the Presl.
dents letter to Chairman Lever and
after carefully studying section 23 in
the light Of that letter this member said !:
'If the President has read section 23
at all he has deliberately and wIlfuIly
misstated the purpose and scope of the
Senate amendment, There is absolutely
nothing in the amendment that seeks
even to advise the President on the con-
duct of the war. There Is no compari-
son with the committee on the conduct
Of the war OF civil war times referred TO
by the President. The powers OF the
committee proposed by the Senate ex-
ten1 only to the safeguarding OF war
expenditures. II would only provide a
possible means OF publicity, and appar-
emily the President is afraid OF 5ust
that"
The FIRST result of the Presidents let
ter will be seen when the House to-mor-
row takes up the food control bill to
send It TO conference. The plan to-day
was to accept this under a special rule,
with a view TO avoiding a proionged light
over the prohibition issue. This ruie
woule have provided for the Disagree
ment to all Senate amendments and the
granting OF tho conference asked by thu
Senate amendments
As n result or the Presidents stand