The Washington herald., 1918-04-12
.OVERMAN BILL
TOPIC OF HOT
SENATE TALK
]. Ham Lewis Comes to De,
fense Of Administration
inExtended Speech.

The administration put two OF its
strongest defenders into the fight for
the overman bill when debate on the
measure was resumed yesterday In the
Senate.
Senator James Hamilton Lewis, the
party whip, warned the Senate that
the American people will not tolerate
opposition to measures which the Pres
ident regards as necessary to win the
war. He declared that the govern
meBtal machinery is embarrassing the
President and must be changed. He
pleaded for an expression Of trust In
the President by passage OF the bill
Smith Opposes.
Senator Ashurst, of Arizona, charged
opponents of the bill with screening
themselves behind the Constitution
because they don't dare say that they
do not trust the President"
An attack upon the bill was made
by Senator Hoke Smith, Of Georgia,
who criticised the administration for
having failed to exercise authority
which II already possesses to make
changes along the lines Of those
sought TO be authorized by the bill.
Senator Lewis spoke for nearly three
hours. and was catechised throughout
the delivery Of his speech by Senators
Smith, Cummlns. Reed and others op-
posed to the bill.
You cannot win this war by ours
ing the Kaiser. nor can we defeat
Germany by praising Wilson, de-
clared Senator Lewis.
This measure Is to give opportu-
nifty for the President to immedi-
ately abolish useless or obstructing
machinery and replace it with eco
nomic and effective Instruments. To
consolidate the buying departments
Of rmy. Navy. and Civil into one.
and under ono head OF expert
knowledge"
In reply to questions from a num-
Der of Senators. Senator Lewis dis
claimed any intention of speaking
for the President.
Has not the President told those
who are behind this bill what
changes he desires to make in
quired Senator Norris.
Il have no knowledge OF what
the President desires" Senator
Lewis replied, but l believe any
Senator could find that out for him
self by addressing an inquiry to the
President. / have no doubt that
at the proper time the President
will communicate to the Senate
what he desires to do"
The government has too many
boards and too many boarders, "
Senator Lewis said, land the change
suggested by me would save the
people millions of dollars every
year.
Defends L. s.
Contemplate what this Nation
has done with the clumsy and en-
barrassing machinery that was
trasmitted to the present admins
tration." Senator Lewis continued.
"A nation at peace. crystallized in
its convictions that war would
HaYer BE- put upon America, and
VA . 5tksfei NVodia never be'a neces-
sity to prepare for any conflict
from without. Stin. within one
year this indomitablc America put
an army in the field exceeding in
numbers and equipment that which
any free country ever produced in
the same length Of time since his
tory was recorded.
1T brought its navy from the
fourth rate to the second class of
the world. and in transporting SOL
diers TO foreign fields across tur-
bulent and assailed seas lost not
one sailor of a ship patrolled by
the American navy.
1T supplied in foods and necessi-
ties three nations of the earth, to
an extent and character exceeding
that which had ever been contrib
uted from one people to another
since the hour Christ fed the fam
ished with the loaves and fishes
upon the seas OF Galilee. 1t eX-
pended in money for its own de-
fense and the uses OF its allies in
conflict a sum of money passing
into the billions of dollars-ex-
ceeding in amount that which was
ever contributed in the same length
of time from any sources for any
purposes under any circumstances
in the recorded history of time"
Senator Lewis declared that IL
the bill should fail to pass. Sena-
tors will be found in various parts
of the country criticising the Pres
ident for failing to do the things
which the bill would empower him
to do.