Evening star., 1918-03-24
0NRMAN BILL HIT
BY SENATOR SMITH
Georgia Legislator Sees Only
Danger in Reorganization
- Power for President. ]
MUST BE AMENDED FIRST

The, Overman bin to give the Presi-
dent unrestricted powers to reorganize
rovesnment departments is destructive
instead of constructive, Senator Hoke
Smith Of Georgia declared in an inter-
view last night. He predicted that it
would. be amended before it was per-
mitted to pass the Senate.
amy President in time Of war" said
Senator Smith. should have the fullest
powes to execute his duties as COM
mander-in-chief Of the Army and Navy,
and q free hand in redistributing and
consolidating the duties OF the Army and
Navy, and such branches Of the govern
ment as are connected with them.
oas""Removes Safeguards"
The overman bill goes far beyond
this and removes every branch OF the
government from the safeguards
ssazes prasaent ths By 70 nw sbns
all their duties to agencies ana IN
definite commissions, composed OF men
known and unknown.
Il earnestly desire to give, through
this bill, to the President, or any one
who-may be President during the war,
every power that will help coordinate
and Strengthen the Army and the Navy
and.r1ay other instrumenta1ity which
VIII help conduct the war successfully,
sThe duties. however, OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission should not
be transferred to the director Of rail-
roads or any other administrative
agency, thereby taking away from the
public, and localities any opportunity
to have a hearing to review unfair and
fninatory rates.
The. duties Of the federal reserve
board,should not be transferred to the
controfler of the currency. or to any
administrative agency outside the
boarditself.
Suggests Disorder and Doubt.
s-Torieave uncertain the status of the
Interstate Commerce Commission or
the federal reserve board would place
fran6pertation and our entire banking
system in a state of disorder and doubt
q II hSe these two by way OF 1liustra-
fion. The same objection would apply
to many other branches OF the govern
ment covered by the Overnan bill.
of 10-to s, refused to except the Inter-
state Commerce Commission and the
federal reserve board from the opera
lions, of the Overman bill.
by the same vote they rejected sub
stitute for the Overman bill, giving to the
President, as commander-in-chief OF the
Army and Navy, the right to transfer and
consolidate any of the departments con-
nected with the War Department. the
the shipping board. the
emergency feet corporation and the bureau
OF MINES.
'sThsse were the only governmental de-
partments or agencies the transfer or con-
solicitation of the duties in which were
ahoEA could in any way contribute to the
sGnngth Of the government in the con-
dsct Of the war. -
Would Have Been Reported.
'If this substitute had been accepted the
bill would have been unanimously reported
TO the Senate three weeks ago
II feel confident the bill will be
amended upon the foorS of the Senate.
At East to the extent OF excepting
fromrits operations the Federal Re
servesBoard. the Interstate Commerce
ComHfssion and the Civil Service Com
misaien. and 1t will also be amended
% a3-eo strike out indefinite admins
tratUe, agencies. thereby leaving the
transfArs and consolation to apply to
bureaNs and offices established by law.
81. Wish only to add. it is unwise to
load. the President down with duties
whicf<it is impossible for any human
beinSIo perform. No duties should be
placed upon him now except those es-
sential-to the conduct Of the war. Leg
islaaQn should be constructive. not de-
stru61Te."