The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-06
Senators Insist on Giving Care
full Consideration.
President Wants the Matter
Rushed Thru at Once.
PRESIDENT HAS THE POWER
Senators Declare He Can Act
Without New Law.
Existing Statutes Provide for
Emergency Case.

Washington, July 6.-President Will
son today clashed with the senate on
the question of passing the measure
empowering him to seize the nations
communication lines before congress
recessed.
While Senator Martin. Democrat
floor leader. was sending a letter to
the president. stating ''it was abso-
Iutely impossible" for the senate to
act on the resolution before recess, a
presidential messenger was en- route to
Martin with another letter from the
president urging the action before the
senate leaves
Wants SENATE to Act.
At the same time the president
authorized the statement at the Whlte
House that he was keenly anxious Tor
the senate 10 act now
Martins statement to the president
was in reply to a letter asking Martin
to advise the president whether I'M
mediate passage of the resolution
would be practicable. The mouse
passed it late yesterday.
1t is the practically unanimous yer
dict of senators that the resolution
must be considered by committee be
fore being brought up in the senate,
said Martin today. For that reason
it would be impossible to pass it and
have a recess. It will require long
discussion in the senate"
Plan TO Recess Today.
Martin announced that present
plans are to recess congress late to-
day until August IL. The recess reso-
luton has been prepared.
Senator Borah sharply criticised the
plan to recess tonight and leave the
telegraph resolution unacted upon.
"a know - BOTa1
said, something about the reported
program to recess and leave -impor-
tant matters -ndisposed of. The house
passed the resolution in great haste,
obviously on the theory that it was
necessary before a recess. 1 don't
propose to join in any move to aban-
don this legislation and have the
blame put on the senate if any emer-
gency arises during the recess.
Says President Has Authority.
Senator Martin. replying, declared
passage of the resolution is not neces-
sary. He said President Wilson now
has authority to take over the lines #
necessity exists.
.Borah insisted that the house would
not have acted with such haste had
it not been convinced of the necessity
"Oh, the house often shifts respon-
sibility that way said Martin. 1t
would not have passed the resolution
if il had not known that the senate
would take it's time to investigate. The
house is in the habit of doing things
like that.
No More Power Needed.
Senator Overman said there IS now
a law on the statute books passed in
1866, empowering the president to
take over the wire systems if he deems
it necessary and construed this as all
the authority needed.
Senator Lewis said, We don't need
to pass this resolution now because the
president, as commander in chief. can
take over whatever he needs
Senator Norris asked if ii wou. :
be we'll for the interstate commerce
committee to GO on with its hearings
and have action by the senate before
taking any recess
Il have no information that leads
me to believe this legislation is so ur-
gent that We should stay here without
Il recess" replied Senator Simmons