The Washington herald., 1918-11-22
US. BONE-DRYFROMN NEXT JULY;
LAW TOSTAY, ADVOCATES SAY
SPLIT
ON OWNERSHIP
Lewis Resolution for Ac.
quiring Public Utilities
Raises Ire of Solons.

In the midst of loud clamor from
Republican Senators over the Presi-
dents seizure of the transatlantic
cables, Senator James Hamilton
Lewis, the Democratic whip, inter
tected yesterday a resolution calling
for an open and positive declaration
by the Senate that the policy of gov
eminent ownership of all public utiii-
ties is the proper policy 10 be
adopted.
The resolution, when acted upon.
will bring to a direct issue the dues-
tion as to whether agencies now un-
der government control and operation
are to be incontinently surrendered to
their former owners, as well as the
larger question as to whether the
government should embark upon the
more extended policy Of ownership Of
steamships, coal mines. oil and gas
wells and similar utilities.
Consideration of the resolution went
over to the next session. which opens
next month. At that time he will
call it up and make a speech TO the
Senate on its provisions and terms.
The introduction OF the resolution
was, in effect, a challenge to the op-
ponents Of government ownership,
and there are many OF them in the
Senate; at the same time il served
notice upon each and all of them that
the question Of the policy Of this
government with reference TO public
ownership will have to be disposed Of
on its merits alone.
Senators Kellogg. Of Minnesota; I;
Watson, of Indiana. and Sherman, Of
Illinois, all attacked the taking over
of the cables in set peeches. Sena-
. s.f
the cables was merely part Of the
plan to faster government ownership
upon the country" He declared that
not even the prospective trip Of the
President to Europe constituted an
emergency within the meaning Of the
act authorizing possession Of the
cables. He added that no country in
the world owns its cables. and said
there were very substantial reasons
why the cable systems should not be
| controlled by the government.
Senator Watson said the seizure
of the cables and of the express com
panies was a breach of good faith
on the part of the President in view
of the fact that Congress voted this
/ authority for war purposes only. He
reminded the Senate that during the
| debate on the wire control resolution
administration Senators repeatedly
assured the Senate that there was
no intention OF taking over the ca
| bles. He thought there was some
significance in the fact that the ca
| bIes were taken over just as the
President is about to leave the coun-
| try.
Senator Watson referred to the pUr-
pose of George CreeI to go abroad
with the President and said in his
| opinion it was intended to establish
a censorship over the happenings at
J the peace table.
Senator Sherman was particularly
severe in his criticism of George
! Creel He said the White House
would be transferred to Paris and
| that the President would be accom-
panied by his press bodyguard
Creel. who will creel every message
| in approved and Official form before
it shall be transmitted by cable 10
this continent"
The denial issued last night by
Mr.. Creel that he intended to act as
| censor over the news in Paris was
read by Senator Sherman with the
comment that it reminded him Of an
! old Spanish proverb which says,
Never lock up a reformed drunkard
alone in a wine cellar"
Senator Sherman protested against
the radical element" in the admin
istration, and declared that all OF
the radicals who are not in Jail are
| in Office under the administration.
He predicted that the question Of
government ownership will be one OF
the predominant issues in 1880