The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-07
PRESIDENT WILSON SUBMITS NEW PLAN
 WHICH WOULD GIVE
 HIM ADDED POWER
(Continued from page Onel

(Continued from page Onel ing production, with larger duties than EngIand's munitions director. Legislation Is unnecessary to secure government coordination, he contend ed, other than that he suggested and which is proposed in the Overman bill. Introduction of the Overman bill came as a surprise and promises to change entirely the character of the controversy over war machinery re- organization. Administrations spokes- men, who, in view of the Presidents s statement last week that he desired agitation over the military commit tees bill to cease were prepared to check discussion as far as possible, now will join in reorganization debates as champions of the new measure. which will be vigorously fought by members who oppose granting the President additional powers. Sessions of the Senate and House to- day passed without revival of the con troversy, but tomorrow addresses in both bodies is scheduled.
 WEEKS BEGINS QUESTIONING Secretary Bakers cross-examination was begun by Senator Weeks of Mas sachusetts, republican, in connection with the number of troops to be sent abroad this year.
 The much discussed editorial in the Metropolitan Magazine, of which Colonel Roosevelt was associate editor, attack ing the war departments preparations to send troops to France, came up again. Secretary Baker had replied to the edi- torial in his first statement by saying the war department had done more than the magazine contended it should
 Did the editor have any information other than an ordinary citizen might have had at that time?' launched out Senator Weeks.
 sOh, mo- said MT. Baker, adding that in August, when the article appeared, he had been quite certain taht the de- partment could do more toward training troops than it suggested. and also that there was good promise that more could be done toward getting the men to France than the article proposed.
 Senator Weeks asked if the war depart ment had succeeded In doing as much as 1t had hoped for in October.
 q can answer that in this language MT. Baker said. 'On January 1 we had transported to France more troops than our schedule had called for"
 Both combatant and noncomoatant
 
 That is the aggregate" MT. Baker said.
 Senator Weeks said he had heard that a military force ran about 40 per cent combatant troops.
 Secretary Baker said he did not have the figures, but thought the forces in France might show that ratio. He agreed to furnish Senator Weeks conffdentiaity with exact figures as to the number or ct,i inc prnn0rtiOn Of 1gnt- ing troops.
 ASKS ABOUT TONNAGE Senator Weeks asked what tonnage the war department had available. He said he had heard that it had 791,0oO tons on February L MT Baker did not know exactly but thought that that was an underestimate Senator Weeks asked if the depart ment figured on net, gross or deadweight tonnage He said that he had heard that the German statements of tonnage destruction by submarines was based on deadweight calculations. and the English on net tonnage which made the apparently divergent figures given by each side very close together in fact' Mr Baker could not enlighten the sen ator on the point.
 Before General Bliss went 10 Europe, l MT. Baker said, an exhaustive study oi | the shipping situation was made. IT was reviewed before he went back the second | nra,ne war council The secretary said the ,ua department had kept in closest touch
 with inc shipping board and the supreme i war council had the data on wmcn rely. tor | naaa Incoming available at an eaIiy | dafe? ?" asked Senator Weeks
 MORE SHIPS AVAILABLE
 .ob yes" said Mr. Baker T recall
 rou- that 100000 tons additional nt :, become available during the last days" fron, various lines where they had been re- l placed by neutral shipping. Much of the tonnage oIis sinaiy | available for men and supplies nao l been diverted to the harbor and ar 1 senal projects abroad. he said. aho 1 the purchase of artillery abroad naa l served to relieve shipping somewhat | although the necessity of transport | ing raw materials for the guns nao 1 figured in the final result
 l Examination of Secretary Baker va. | interrupted While senators discusse- ' going into a brief executive session
 to permit the secretary to furnish con 1 fidential information. The discussion | was precipitated by Senator Reed. whc | thought that the committee was en- 1 titled to exact information of the
 number of men now in FiNnce and or | other subjects.
 l BAKER WANTED SECRECY
 "I think the whole question of ships 1 ought to be discussed in an execu- | tive session. said Secretary Baker l in reply to Chairman Chamberlain | who asked his views.
 The tonnage matter. he added. in volved international arrangements ant
 he suggested that he be permitted te prepare statement to show the pres ! ent status.
 T don't think it Is necessary fo,