New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-03
Cummins Leads Opposition
to Increasing Powers of
President
Author Charges
Distrust of Wilson
Declares Control of Depart
ments Necessary to
Winning Of War

WASHINGTON, April .. C ontro-
versy over the Overman bill. to give
tine President general authority to re-
organize government departments and
agencies during the war, which has
been smouldering in committees and
nrivate discussions for weeks. broke
ont in the Senate to-day with the be
Ginning OF formal debate on the meas
ure.
Senator Overman, of North Carolina,
chairman of the Judiciary Committee,
who introduced the bill at President
Wilson's request, opened the debate
with an explanatory statement. He
said the measure had been greatly mis-
understood, that it does not confer any
new substantive powers on the Presi-
dent but merely provides for more eff
fectiye execution Of authority already
granted by Congress, and that he did
not see now any Senator could OPP
pose Il.
Determined opposition was expressed
by Senators Cummius. OF Iowa. Repub-
lican. and Reed, of Missouri; Smith
and Hardwick. Of Georgia. Democrats,
and others. Senator Nelson. of Mime
sofa. Republican, supported the bill as
necessary to get troops to France.
Would Specify Powers
Senator Cummins declared the Fresi-
dent under the bill could abolish the
Interstate Commerce Commission or
the Federal Reserve Board. and insist
ed that the authority should be limited
10 specific agencies. Senator's Reed,
Hardwick and Smith contended the
President already has power to make
necessary congratulations.
Senator Overman asked if Senator
Cummins would be willing to abolish
TIE war. The Iowa Senator replied
afirmarively but added: Blu be-
Eeve e IS not necessary. and f the
powers are granted it would be an IN
fuential step toward destroying the
Ion
The Senator says 4 mistrust nay
commander IN chief and have no con-
fdence in what he would do, ~ Senator
Overman replied
Il hope the Senator will not press
me too far or too closely about nv
confidence in the President" Senator
Cummins retorted sharply 81 have
Utmost confidence in his good inten-
tons, out would not grant such great
powers TO any President or any other
man Of any party
Both Senators Overman and Nelson
declared that opposition to the bill
largely Is based upon reluctance to
trust the President.
Points to Allies Example
To the contention that the bill should
limit the Presi dents actions 20 So
clfc organizations, Senator Overman
declared that both Great Britain and
France have conferred greater powers
or their Premiers than this country
has on the President
The President doesn't know him
self He wants to be prepared. The
President has been criticised for nor
cutting red tape. Let's give him the
scissors said Senator Overman.
Greater coordination is needed par
tcularly, the Senator said, in the
preparation of appropriation est
mates and government work against
espionage. He declared the general
plan outlined in the bill had been in
dorsed by former President Taft and
Charles Z. Hughes, and added:
We have appropriated 5000
o0V,oOO during the last twelve months. >
ne proceeded. without a co0rdinated
financial policy. A strong financial
policy is necessary. There ought to
be coordinating body 10 scrutinize
appropriations"
Senator Gallinger. Republican
leader. asked if it were not true that
mos Of the commissions referred to
as needing reorganization were not
Created by the President Senator
Oyerman replied that. even though
that were true, the authority to co
ordinate them was necessary, and thai
IN addition 20 the special war agen-
cies. the Bureau of Standards. anc
even the Civil Service Commission
were among the departments in which
changes were needed.