Evening star., 1918-01-22
CONGRESS TOK|LL
CHAMBERLAIN BILLS
FOR WAR DIRECTORS
President to Be Successful in
Defeating Measures for Cab
met and Munitions Head.
PLAN TO URGE MEASURES
AT THURSDAYS SESSION
Friends of Administration Confident
Mr.. Wilson's Views Will Prevail.
Mr.. Stones Speech Regretted.

l
President Wilson will be successful in
killing both the proposed war cabinet
bill and the director of munitions bill
This is according to opinion of demo-
cratic leaders in the Senate.
| Already the statement issued by him
last night attacking Senator Chamber
lain, chairman of the military affairs
committee, because of his outspoken
criticism of the War Department in
New York and the legislation proposed
by the military affairs committee has
begun to have its effect.
Administration senators are lining up
| with the President. and some of the
democrats who were counted upon to
support the war cabinet and director of
munitions bills are no longer so counted
upon.
G. O. P. to Aid Bills.
1t is to be expected, however. that the
| republicans will support these meas
| ures, particularly as the republican
| members of the Senate military affairs
committee are unit in approving them.
At present there are forty-two republi-
cans and fifty-one democrats and three
vacancies in the Senate.
mere handful of democrats, voting
with the republicans for these meas
! ures, would be sufficient to put them
through that body. That they could not
pass the House is believed to be the
case.
But while the President may succeed
in killing the measure in Congress.
whethex he and Secretary Baker will
be able to win out with the American
by friends Of the contested bills.
Reports Coming by Hundreds.
The reports which are coming by the
hundreds from army camps. showing
lack of clothing and proper hospital
tion. are having their effect upon the
people whose sons and brothers are in
these camps. The supporters of q re-
vision Of the military system believe
that public opinion will eventually
bring about the reforms which they
are seeking.
Senator Chamberlain would make no
further statement today in regard to
the controversy over the war cabi-
net and director of munitions bill 1t
is expected, however, that when the
war cabinet bill comes up for refer
ence Thursday blast will be let loose
by senator's favoring the measure
which will be heard clear across the
country. Senator Chamberlain un-
doubtedly will make a statement at
Scores of letters and kilograms came
to Senator Chamberlain's Office today
approving of his stand for u reorgapi-
zation of the method of handling mill
tary affairs Of the country
Senator Chamberlain is known the
country over as hard fighter. He
never lays down as one of his sena-
torial friends said of him today The
administration will know that it has a
fight on its hands before 1t finishes with
the proposed war bill. 1t was recalled
today that Senator Chamberlain in the
past has lied the fight for some of the
important measures advocated by the
administration since the war began. In
addition to the Army draft law Sena-
tor Chamberlain took charge of the
food control law when other democrats
in the Senate were violently opposed to
it and Senator Chamberlain succeeded
in putting it through
The Presidents statement opposing
the Two Senate military committee bills
and his attack upon Chairman Cham.
berlain apparently did not diminish de-
termination OF the Oregon senator and
some OF his associates to press the legisla-
ton as vigorously as possible.
To Make straight-out Fight.
Senator Chamberlain said todav he
dents criticism. but at a meeting of the
Senate committee he and other sena,
tors. democrats and republicans. con-
ferred and determined to urge the leg
isiation In the Senate On Thursday,
when the Senate reconvenes, Senator'S
Chamberlain. Hitchcock and Wads-
worth today announced. they will make
"straight-out fight on the merits" of
the war cabinet bill. When it comes
before the Senate for commfttee refer
ence they plan to open wide debate on
! the merits of the legislation, discussinp
at length the testimony in the commit.
tees recent war inquiry of alleged de-
fects in the War Department ana otber
governmental machinery.
White House Confident.
Confidence that Congress will accede
to President Wilson's desire to have
the conduct Of the war unhampered by
the creation of any new agencies OF
control and complete ignoring of Sena-
tor Stones diatribe. upon alleged par
| tisan politics" marked the White House
attitude today upon the differences of
| opinion between the executive and
democratic leaders in Congress
President Wilson added nothing to-
day to the clear-cut statement he made
| last evening regarding the questions
| Of a war cabinet and munitions di-
rector as proposed in measures now
pending before the Senate.
| The Presidents advisers today ex-
pressed optimism over the outcome Of
what threatened to be a serious breach
between the President and Congress
Their position is that the atmosphere has
been clarified by the elimination of a
situation which has brewed for several
months They regret two things-ths
speech Of Senator Chamberlain in New
York Saturday night. which they believe
gives the appearance Of wider diver
eence than really exists, and the nar-
sonally conducted '.anti-partisan" cam
paign Of Senator Stone.
Believe Statement "Exaggerated.v
! They are willing to accept Senator
Chamberiains limitation on his remarks
which seemed to include all government
ldepartments and bureaus, but even a.
that they think his statement exaeS
There was confidence that the Pres;.
/ dents desires in the matter Of the fur
| ther conduct of the war would be fol-
! lowed, despite the determination Of
| Senator Chamberlain to push his war
i cabinet measure and the arrival IN
r~I