The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-05-01
OVERMAN BILL PASSES
Senate BY GOOD LEAD

man bill was passed by the senate to-
night by the vote of 63 to 13. All of
; the opponents but one, Reed of Mis-
souri,, were Republicans.
The vote follows:
AYcs-Ashurst, Bankhead, Beck
ham, Chamberlain, Culberson, Fletcf-
er, Gerry, Guion, Hartlwick, Hendcr-
Kellar, Martin, Myers, Nugent, Over
man, Phelan, Pittman, Pomcrcne,
Shields, Simmons, Smith (ArizS,
Smith, IS. c., Swanson, Thomas,
Thompson, Tillman, Trammell, Under
wood, Vardaman, Walsh, Williams,
Wolcott, Democrats; Baird, Borah,
Colt, Curtis, Fall, Frelinghuysen,
Hale, Jones (Wash.), Kellogg, Len
rrottt, McCumbcr, Mclean, McNary,
Nelson, NeW, Norris, Page, Smoot,
Republicans 63.
Nocs-Brandegec Cummins, Dill
lingham, France, Gallingcr, Harding,
Johnson (Calif), Knox, Poindexter,
sherman, Sterling, Sutherland, Re-
publcans; Reed, Democrat-Total 13.
Harding's Objection to Bill
Senator Harding, in speaking for
his amendment, aroused the ire of
Senator Overman, by saying THAI the
purpose of the bill is "to cover up
mistakes made by responsible officials
since we got into the war" Senator
Overman challenged this statement,
calling upon Senator Harding to name
any instance of graft or misleading.
Senator Harding corrected his state
mcnt by saying he meant the bill
would enable the president to transfer
functions from officials who had 'fall-
en- down. whereas the simpler remC-
dy would have been to dismiss them
from office.
"lf the senate is going to pass this
bill with every suggestion Of amend
ment rejected, congress can only fit
tlngly transfer its functions Of appro-
prlatlng money and adjourn and 90
home" said Senator Harding.
II have always been Il believer in
concentration of power, but YOU can
not have coordination unless you have
participation, and the trouble with
the government machinery has been
lack of participation by some de-
partments Of the government--they
have not been functioning at all.
eff | believed it necessary to win
the war, would vote to make the gov
ernment autocratic, but until I am
convinced that such a thing is neces-
sary beg to be excused from surren-
dcring the functions Of this body to
create q smoke-screen for the retreat
of our boastcd popu lar government TO
dictatorship. | am willing to go to
the lint in granting war powers. but
have yet to be convinced Of the nee.
cssity of this bill.
"If we had either the English or the
French system in this country W.
would have an entirely different sort
of ministry at this time, and | am
very sure that we would have cor
rected some Of the things which are
sought to be covered up by this bill"
Senator Harding digrcssrd to re-
peat message he said the head Of an
important government department
had sent to him in response to an in
quiry in the matter Of the housing ap.
cording to Senator Harding, to the cf.
feet that this official hopes he would
not hear of the matter again.
! Senator Overman demanded the
name of the official i'm question and
Senator Harding replied that it was
Mr.. EdlitZ, who is i'm charge Of the
housing program Of the department
of labor. He characterized the action
of the official as insulting to a mem
Der of the senate, but said that so long
as congress is asked to abrogate its
dHtlcS Slcn VIII DC tnc OPINION OF It's
members held by the people
Senator Harding suggested that if
the president would come a little clos
or to congress. there would be the nee
cssary coordination. and it would do
more to arouse the fighting spirit Of
the people than anything else.
In reply to Senator Harding. an ar
gumcnt was presented by Senator
Borah to the charge that passage of
the bill would mean the delegation of
congressional powers to the president.
Senator Borah cited the tariff law OF
SIX years ago, which gave the pres-
dent authority to suspend the opera
ton of the law against any country
which imposed unfair rates upon i'm
ports from this country. The supreme
court held, he said, that this transfer
OF Legislative power was not uncon-
stitutional, and he argued that there
was nothing in the Ovcrman bill which
would be in contravention of the con-
stitution.
Senator Overman challenged any
one to point to any powers Of congress
which would be abrogated by the pass.
age of the bill. This caused Senator
Brandegee to rise hastily and en-
claim:
"Ill tell you what they are"
"Name thcm," said Overman.
"All of them," was Brandeeee's an
swer. But it does not make any diff
ference" he added, because the su.
preme court can stop it,"
Senator Vardaman supported the
amendment to exclude the interstate
commerce commission from the opera.
ton OF the measure. He said that the
president, despite his great learning,
Is not capable Of graspIng all the null.