Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-03
BATTLE IN SENATE
OVER OVERMAN BILL
Some Senators Question Advisa-
bility of Giving President
More Power.
WOULD CUT OUT RED TAPE
Speakers Declare Allied Nations
Have Given Prcmicrs Sim
liar Authority.
WOULD CUT OUT RED TAPE
Inv Associated Prs,

WASHINGTON. April 2.-Controvcrsy
over the Overman bill. 10 give tho Pres
dcnt general authority to rco-Eani.c
government departments and agencies
during the war. broke out in the SEN
ate to-day.
Senator Ovcrman. OF North Carolina.
who introduced the bill al President
Wilson's request, opened the debate
with an explanatory statement lie
said the measure had been greatly mis-
understood: that il does not confer any
now substa ntivc powers on the Tres
iden, but merely provides for more
effective execution OF authority already
granted by Congress. Determined op-
position WAS expressed By Senators
Cummirs, OF Iowa ,Republ:can). and
Reed. OF Missouri DcmocraD: Smith
and HaTdwck. OF Georgia CDcmocrats).
and others Senator Nelson of Mime
sofa Republican), supported the bill as
necessary to get troops 20 France. Sen
ators Reed. Hardwick and Smith CON
tended the President already has power
20 make necessary reorEanizations
Eoth Senator'S Ovc-mau and Nelson
declared that opposition to tho bill
largely is based upon reluctance 10
trust the President
Senator Cverman declared that both
Great Britain and France have con
fe~red greater powers upon their Pre-
nicrs than this country has on the
President.
TO the contention shat the bill should
limit tho Presidents actions 10 specific
rcorganl2a;icns Senator Oycrman SAID:
The President doesn't know himself;
He wants To he prepared. The Pres.
ident has been criticized for not cutting
rcd tape. Let's give him the SCISSORS"
STRONG FINANCIAL. POLICY
Is DECLARED NECESSARY
We have appropriated S23. 900. 600
during tho last twelve months" he pro-
ceedeh. without co-ordnatcd fnan-
cial policy. :, strong financial policy
is necessary. There ought TO be CO.
ordinat,ns body to scrutInize appro-
pTiations."
senator Gall!nscr Republican leader
asked II l. were not true that most OF
the commissions referred 20 as reed
ing reorganization were created by the
President Senator Ovc-man replied
that even though that were true, the
authority 20 coordinate them was
necessary.
Alrnosf al the outset OF the debate a
lively clash between Senator Overman
and Senator Cummins. OF Iowa. took
place when Senator Cummins said the
President, under the bill. could take
away or transfer all powers and func-
tons of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Federal reserve Board Fed
cral Trade Commission and similar
agencies.
Senator Overman asked II Senator
Cummins would be willing 10 abolish
such agencies IL ii is necessary 10 win
the war. The Iowa Senator replied
:r.firmatively, adding:
Put | believe II is not necessary,
and il tho powers arc granted ii would
be an influential step toward destroy
ing the Union
The Senator says I mistrust my
comma nd Inc chief and have no con
tidencc in what he would do" Sen
ator Ovcrman replied. Il hope the
Senator will not press nc too far or
too closely about my confidence in The
President" Senator Cummins rcjor;cd.
sharply. 81 have utmost confidence in
lis good intcntions. but | would not
grant such great powers TO any Pres
idcnt or any other man OF any party"