South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-28
LONG SENATE
FIGHT NEARS
VOTING TEST
Victory for Wilson Forecast
When Amendments Exempt
ing Reserve and Com
merCe Boards are Lost.
Associated Press Service:

Associated Press Service:
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Vic-
tory for the administration in the
long senate fight over the bill to
confer blanket authority on the
president TO reorganize government
departments and war agencies was
forecast late today in the defeat by
narrow margins of amendments eX-
empting the federal reserve board
and the Interstate commerce COM
mission from the operation of the
law.
Both amendments were offered by
Sen. Smith of Georgia and oppOn-
ents of the bill concentrated their
strength On them. The first, to ex-
empt the federal reserve board, was
rejected Al to 81, and the second,
relating to the interstate commerce
commission, was voted down, AZ to
30. With these tests of strength,
which administration leaders said
and senators among the opposition
admitted, presaged passage Of the
hill without limitations on the blan-
ket authority insisted opon by Pres't
Monday, when 1t was expected the
bill would be passed without impor-
tant changes.
I'm the votes on the amendments
today 10 democratic senators voted
TO limit the presidents authority.
Seven republicans, however, voted
with the democratic majority against
exempting the federal reserve
board. Another republican senator,
Borah of Idaho, joined them in vot
ing down the amendment affecting
the interstate commerce commits
sion.
Roll Call on Amendments.
/ The roll call on the amendment
/ to except the federal reserve board
en- which leaders of the opposition
had stated they expected 10 muster
/ their maximum strength follows:
For the amendment:
Democrats - Cham berlain, Gore,
Hardwick, Hitchcock, King, Reed,
! Smith of Georgia; Thomas, Under
wood and Vardaman-1O.
! Republicans - Borah, Brandegee,
/ Cummins, Curtis. Dillingham;,
! France, Frelinghuysen, Gallinger,
/ Cronna, Hale. Harding, Johnson Of
4 California; kellogg, Knox, Lenroot.
| Lodge, McCumber. New, Norris.
Page, Poindexter. Sherman. Smoot,
Sterling, Townsend, Wadsworth and
Watson-27.
Total fOr-37.
Against the amendment:
Democrats - Ashurst. Bankhead,
/ Beckham, Culberson, Fletcher, Ger
ry. Guion, Henderson, Hollis. Jones
Of New Mexico; Kirby, Lewis Nc
Kellar. Martin, Myers, Nugent. Over
man. Phelan. Pittman. salisbury,
Shafroth, Sheppard, Shields. Sim
mons, Smith of Arizona; Smith OF
Maryland; Smith Of South Carolina;
Swanson, Thompson, Tillman,
Trammel, Walsh, Williams and
/ Wolcott-34.
Republicans--Bai Colt, Jones
oe Washington; Mclean. McNary,
Nelson and Warren.
Total against-41.
The same alignment was made on
the amendment for exemption Of the
interstate commerce commission ex-
cept that Sen. Borah voted with the
majority and a few senators who
had voted previously were absent
from the chamber.
Brought Up April >.
The tide Of today's debate which
was as spirited as any since the bill
was first brought before the senate
April ., swung apparently with in
creased force in favor Of the bill
Senators Colt, Mclean and McCum-
Der making addresses supporting tbs
measure and declaring that they
felt no apprehension that the
powers conferred in this bill wouic
be abused by the president. fear d
which had been expressed by some
opponents. Sen. McCumber, how
ever. voted for the amendments.
Before the final vote on the bill
is taken next week il is planned 4
have the senate vote again on th'
} amendments defeated today as vel
/. as on other pending amendment
proposing express limitations OF th'
5 presidents authority 20 coordinate