The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-07
Sends New Bill to Congress
Giving Him Right to Act
Z Upon His Judgment
MEASURE TO STAY =.
in FORCE UNTIL
YEAR AFTER WAR
Chief Executive 10 Given Au-
thority to Consolidate Com
missions. Bureaus and OF.
fees. and to Make Transfers

WASHINGTON, Feb. e.--Sw eepinG
powers In the way of co-ordinating
governmental agencies are granted to
the president In q bill sent to con-
Eress today by the administration.
Under the bill the president may
shift and interchange at will any ana
oil Of the various bureaus, depart
1nents. commissions and officers.
The language of the bill states that
the e e,sideat, in making the various
,.fs.-es, shall act TN such manner
- In his Judgment shall seem best
aua "as he may deem appropriate"
.t,l>ster C ensral Buriesen car
RE- tie bNl direct from the White
Isnuse "a senator Overmaa. chairmaM
- ll}" judiciary committee anc
e4s-- administration supportsrs
sr..r e. had been reported TO the
t-rE.c the hill was sent TO the JUDI
es r. committee.
The arst section Of the bill pro-
a. The national security or de-
Tense, for the successful prosecution
s1 rae war, for the support ana
maintenance of the army and navy.
Tor the better utilization Of re-
sal.reng and Industries and for the
3eore enective exercise and more Ell
,3eut administration by the president
Nd n's powers as commander-in-
,.4.ef of the land and naval forces
fae president is hereby authorized
a2,l empowered to make such reds
trshutloa Of functions. duties sn''
powers hitherto by Law conferred
upon any executive department com
mission. bureau, agency, ONCE or OF
f,cer. in such manner as In his judg-
81 HftAI To carry
eut The purposes OF this act and to
fhis end is authorized 70 make such
Yeaulatlons and TO Issue such orders
as he may deem necessary.
Provided that this act shall re-
main IN force during the continuance
Of the present war, and FOR one year
tffter the termination of the war by
The proclamation of the treaty OF
peace. or at such earlier time during
the said year as the president NAV
designate; and provided further Tag
the termination Of this act shall nos
affect any acts dcne or any right or
obligation accruing. or accrued puf-
mt.nut 20 this act and during the tln1f
that this act is in force.
The second section SAYS:
Coordinate and Consolidate,
The president is authorized. III
x1ch manner as he may deem most
snnropriate. to coordinate OF con-
soiiaate anv executive commissions,
bureaus. agencies. offices or officers
90 transfer any duties or powers, from
ore listing department commission,
bureau. agency. office or officer TO
another. to transfer the personnel
thereof or any part OF IT. either by
detail or assignment, together witfi
the whole or any part Of the records
and public property belonging there
10 and 10 employ by executive order
any additional agency or agencies and
TO vest therein the performance OF
such functions as he may Dean APP
propriate,
The third section stipuiates that
any moneys appropriated for the use
for the various agencies may be USED
by the president for any other
agency The fourth section suspends
oh statutes creating the agencies or
defining their duties 10 the extent
that these statutes conflict with the
hill.
What might have been a hint that
tho bill would be forthcoming soon
was given today by Secretary of War
BAKER in his testimony before the
military affairs committee. Yester-
DIV Senator Wadsworth. Of New
York. in his speech asked the prest-
dent 10 submit any
for legislation which would remove
restrictions from war department
operations The president not tong
ago said this would be necessary
To-day. Senator Wadsworth asked
Secretary Baker II he had any recon-
mendations of this sort.
II feel" replied the secretary,
.that legislation which would simply
free the presidents hands and allow
him to transfer functions and TO con-
soiidate and co ordinate as the de-
velopinc needs OF the several depart
merits demonstrated to be wise. would
be the best answer to the difficulty.
In my department am constar Thy
creating new agencies and readjust-
ing functions. I have TO read the
law to see II can do this. II the
president were simply authorized to
reorganise, re-coordinate or to trans
fer as he saw At. we could go to him
for executive orders and show him
the wisdom OF the PLAN
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