The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-02-08
Republicans Are Planning
to Oppose Bill introduced
at Instance of the
Administration
MINORITY SENATORS
TO HOLD CAUCUS
TO DECIDE COURSE
Carter Glass, Democrat, and Mason,
Republican, Deliver Speeches in
House Appealing for Ccssa-
ton of Criticism
by HUGH w. ROBERTS

Washington, February z.
Especial. The Overman bill,
denying Congress the right to
interfere with the President in
his scheme for conducting til Z
war, and depriving Congrel
Of the pleasure of concurrir
in the appointments of t.
chief executive, remains tue
sensation Of the hour.
The preponderance Of opinion is
that it will fail of passage. The re-
publicans, relieved, as a result Of the
recent political diatribe of 'Gumshoe
Bill" Stone, from the necessity CT
rendering the administration even
moral support, indicate that they will
oppose the bill to a man. Senator
Gallinger, their floor leader, declares
that IL Congress enactsthe legislation
IL mSfht as wen foluS ffs teSE and ii
other respects emulate the example
of the Arab.
Senator Ovcrman declares the great
powers which the bill would convey to
the President are possessed by the
Yn4ef executive ar tho present time.
In other words, that the bill Is OF
no import whatsoever.
MARTIN OPPOSES PLAN
Senator Martin, democratic floor
leader. who declined the Presidents
Invitation that he sponsor the meas
ure, today swore, not formally but
none the less emphatically. that he
would not give 1t support.
Other democratic senators distin-
guished themselves throughout the aft
ernoon by a reticence equally as sig
nificant as their obvious lack OF en-
tliusiasm. Up to the present time they
do not know where they arc at
Like Senator Bankhead, many when
asked for opinion declared that they
had had no opportunity to examine
it. 1t was another way OF stating
their conviction that at present they
should say nothing.
BANkHEAD'S VIEWS
Senator Bankhead, however, supple
mented his evasion by declaring that
as the President is commander-in-
chief of the land and naval forces
of the nation he seriously doubted his
right in time of war to entertain per-
sonal conviction. He was a Confed-
crate soldier and knows the necessity
OF obedience. 1t Is his attitude that
tho President is absolutely respor-
sible and that he himself cannot be
held liable for possible mistakes.
Senator Underwood has not as yet
defined his position.
POWERS WANTED
The bill would give the President the
right to change the personnel of any
to divert duties given ~
law to one bureau to any other bureau
of his selection. to suspend restrictions
in war legislation previously enacted,
to name new officials without sane
ton OF the Senate, and in other re-
spects to centralize and coordinate
activities incident to war.
The bill would remain In force ono
year following the declaration Of
peace. 1t was prepared under the SUI
pervision of the President and deliv-
cred at the capitol by the Talleyrand
of the administration, Postmaster GEN.
eral Burleson.
ANSWER WITH VENGEANCE
1t was the executives answer to the
insistence Of Senators Chamberlain,
Wadsworth and Hitchcock that every
thing was loosely constructed and OPP
Grated. and that master at the helm
was Imperative.
1t was an answer with a vengeance.
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