The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-05-07
House is Expected to Expe-
dite the Passage of War
and Supply Bills
NO OBSTRUCTION
APPEARS IN SIGHT
Republicans Say the Last-Ditch Fight
on Measures They Oppose Would Be
Useless-House Will Probably Favor
Overman Bill.

WASHINGTON, May House
leaders are making preparations to adj
journ by the middle of July War leg
islation which has been considered for
months in the senate, where it met
strenuous but unsuccessful opposition,
will be rushed through the final stages
in the house within the next six weeks,
90 as to have the calendars cleared for
midsummer adjournment.
Democratic leaders have determined
that there is no necessity to delay ac-
ton on three important war measures
that have been thoroughly discussed in
the senate. These are the Oyerman
ordination bin, the sedition bill, and
the bill empowering the President TO
commanders private property for ship
building and munitiOn workers. Re
publican members, as anxious to leave
Washington as Democrats. to enter the
fall campaigns for reelection, are in
agreement with the program and will
raise no barrier to early adjournment
In consequence of this policy, Repre-
leader, has urged prompt action BY the
Judiciary committee on the Oyerman.
Sedition and communicating bills.
While an effort will be made in the iu-
dietary committee by Representative
Nolstead of Minnesota to have the
Overman bill amended to permit the
President to add TO the powers of the
federal reserve board and the inter
state commerce commission. no attempt
will be made to consume time in long
consideration either in committee or
the house. Republican members, hav-
ing seen the useless fight waged by
their colleagues in the senate to elm
mate so-called Objectionable features
in the Overman and sedition bills. are
IN full accord with the desires of the
majority TO get away early
In recent years legislation has not
been 50 far advanced as al present, es-
pccially as regards the annual supply
measures. Only four Important appro-
priation bills remain Enacted upon by
the house. These are the military. for
tihcations, sundrv civil and general de
ficiency bills. 1t is necessary to have
these enacted by July /. when the new
fiscal year begins, as all of them car
ry appropriations which cannot be car
red into effect by re-enacting the bill
for the previous year, pending final dis
position Of the measure carving ap-
preparations for the next fiscal year.
As congress IS confronted with the
legal necessity of getting through the
supply bills by the last day in June,
lp ~ e, l.n
son why this session should not come
to an end by the middle of july. De
velopments abroad and other emer,
gencies may arise in the meantime
which would induce congress to re
main in continuous session.
While the supply bills are being
drafted by committees. it is planned BY
the majority leaders to bring before
the house the three bills which have
just passed the senate. The judiciary
| committee viii take up the Overman
bill this week and report it at once.
The other two measures will also be
reported promptly.
While opposition to the Overman bill
! is Just as pronounced among Republi
cans of the house as il was in the SEN
ate, the fight against it will not be so
long nor as determined The minority
realizes that the administration has
the power to force through the legisla-
ton, and that no good purpose can be
served by delay. 1t is argued that if
the administration complains that one
difficulty III the government is the lack
of authority to coordinate work in ex-
ecutive departments, the sooner this
great authority is given to the Presi
dent the better. While the Republi-
cans of the house argue that the en-
actment of the Overman bill would
mean virtual abdication by congress
of its rights, and also that it would
turn over to the executive department