Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-08
AUTOCRACY BILL
TO BE SPIKED"
IS PREDICTION
Even Democratic Forecast
Spells Death of Measure
in Committee

Washington, Feb. S.-Predictions
were made yesterday that the SEN
ate committee on judiciary would
not report the OVerman bill con-
ferring omnibus powers upon the
President to reorganize the govern
ment, A definite statement to this
effect was made by q leading Demo-
cratic member of the committee.
Organized Republican opposition
TO the bill is forecast. Senator Gal
linger, Republican floor leader. ar
ranged to-day for Il caucus Satur-
day. A definite plan of opposition
TO the bill will then be outlined. It
will he the first caucus OF Republican
Senators since the United States en-
tered the war.
Senator Overman said that the
judiciary committee would meet on
Monday and appoint a subcommit-
tee to consider the bill. lie believes
the measure will be reported to the
Senate, but other members of the
committee and of his own party
assert his expectations are oVersan-
guinc.
AS an example of the sentiment
with which the bill is viewed by Re
publican Senators, a statement made
by Senator Gallinger on the floor
is striking. During discussion of Il
claims bill the Senator gave warn
ing that Congress would be fully en-
gagged for some time in discussing
whether it should change the democ-
racy into an autocracy and abroSate
all of it's constitutional functions.
Senator Gallinger was Joined in
his denunciation of the measure by
Senators Smoot, Lodge, Penrose,
Hitchcock and others. Senator Reed,
who has been a consistent oppon-
ent of extended grants of power to
the Executive, said he was not ready
to discuss the bill, but that such
legislation should not be general,
but specific. Senator Lodge held
that the bill represented a complete
reversal of the Administrations at
titude toward the war cabinet and
director of munitions bills, but was
vicious. in that it contemplated vast
ly more radical changes than either
of those measures.
Pcnrose Opposed 10 Measure
Senator Penrose asserted he was
vigorously opposed to the measure.
TT will have a hard road" he
said. There is a growing sentiment
in the Senate that the President has
been given enough power and, fur
thermore, it is felt that he should
not be permitted to make new ap-
pointments without the advice and
consent of the Senate"
Senator Smoot said it was hard
to believe the President would pro
pose such legislation. NO such bill
ever will pass Congress" said he.
Mr.. Penrose said to-day:
"I am opposed to the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Overman. 1t confers
practically unlimited power upon
the President | believe that great
opposition will develop to thus meas
ure, and that its passage is eX-
tremely doubtful. And / feel quite
sure that a two-thirds vote cannot
he obtained to invoke. the cloture
rule.
There is a growing opinion that
the President has sufficient bower
already, and a good deal more power
than he can properly use himself.
This government is not an auto
cracy, nor is there any occasion for
departing from the ordinary methods
of procedure.
"The autocratic power already be-
slowed improvidently upon the Pres
ident, and unwisely administered by
him, are the source of a large part
of our troubles to-day as is shown
in the case of the Fuel AdminiStra-
ton. The President does not pick
out expert men for these autocratic
places ignorance of the subject they
are called upon to administer ana
lack of previous tIa1ning seem to lie
their primary qualifications.
Moreover, there is an increasing
disposition in Congress not to per-
init any further appointments to inn
portant positions without -confirma-
tin by the Senate.