Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-30
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1918.
ACCUSE PRESIDENT WILSON OF
BAD FAITH IN GABLE
SEIZURE.
Acted Under War law In Peace Ttnc
Say Senators Watson and
Sherman.

Acted Under War Law I'm Peace Time
Say Senators Watson and
Sherman.
Washington, November 21.-The
seizure Of the cable lines when fight
ing had ceased, but under war timo
authority granted to tho President,
was the occasion for an intlammatory
outburst Of protest in the Senate to-
day. Denunciation OF the alleged
deception Of Congress III regard to
the need for the enactment OF legis-
lation to permit such n seizure as q
war measure and the non exercise
of such powers until after the war
was over and peace in sight was
pronounced by Republican Senator's
whilo the Democrats sat by and u.s.
tened with interest to tho clamor
, without vouchsafing n reply.
The Interior motive of perversion
of the news OF the peace conference
and suppression in Europe Of Amor
lean public, press or Legislative opin-
ion not wholly in consonance with
the views Of tho President was
charged by the Republicans as the
basic purpose Of the cable seizure.
Tho taking over Of the express
companies was coupled with the
seizure of the cables, and both acts
OF the Administration were alleged
by tho critics rs cNompliiicatlons OF
the tendency toward State Socialism
i'm place of tho constitutional republi-
can form OF government under which
tho United States has proceeded Tor
nearly century and half.
Senators Watson Qndiana) ana
Sherman Ullinois) addressed tho
Senate with regard to the alleged
tendency toward autocratic 1nterlcr-
cncc by the Executive with the or
binary avenues Of free communica
ton both in internal affairs and III
American communication with tho
outside world.
WOULD EXTEND FEDERAL
CONTROL.
A resolution introduced today by
Senator Lewis UlIinois) in which he
sought to commit the Senate to
ratification of the theory OF ultimate
Government ownership Of all monop-
olies, including the national resources
in fuels, oils and gas, furnished
text for both Senators, although they
Nv no means confined their criticism
to tho government control idea. Sen
ator Lcwis's resolution reads as fol
lows:
"Bc IT resolved by the United
States Senate, assembled, that 1t Is
the expression OF the United States
Senate that the policy OF tho United
. States Government for the future
should DO that Of Government own
crship OF interstate railroads, tele-
graphs, telephones and also national
lines OF communication necessary to
complete postal and Geographic ser
vice 10 the citizens Of the nation.
-AoD oUl luQl 'LonInJ poAIoSo3I,
eminent should possess and own all
natural agencies for the production
OF fuel produced and created from
the land and fuel produced from
natural agencies. 1t shall construct
and own ships and agencies OF water
transportation necessary for mer-
chant marine, all to be maintained
and continued in behalf-of the United
States and for tho advancement Of
its commerce, so as TO facilitate tho
dealings of tho citizens of the United
States in matters or trade and ship
ping with all citizens Of other coun-
tries.
Resolved, further, that the mat
ter OF the operation Of these agencies
heretofore mentioned is a subject to
be regulated and adjusted in each
instance according to the demands
and circumstances surrounding the
operation Of that particular agency
at the particular time Of the demand
for the use Of that agency, be it
railroad, steamship, telephone, tele-
graph, coal or oil.
USING WAR POWERS DURING
PEACE TIME.
Senator Watson opened tho attack
on the assumption of war powers
in peace time by saying:
Last week the press informed us
that the President Of tho United
States by proclamation had taken I'M
der governmental control and opera
ton the express companies OF the
nation.
''The President did not assign any
reason for that action and therefore
We are left to the broad field Of con-
lecture as to why it was taken. It
Is quite true that we arc safe in
assuming that the action was taken
under the act Of Congress passed in
1916, by which the President was
empowered to take over all the
transportation systems OF the coun-
try, and 1t Is safe to assume that in
this act he regarded tho express com
panics of the nation as part Of the
transportation system Of the country.
with that conclusion I have no
quarrel, but it is passing strange that
during all the time Of storm and
stress, during the period OF unpar-
alleled congestion, during the time
when wo were TRANSPORTING millions
OF soldiers, it was not thought cs-
sential by the President to take over
the express companies to relieve that
congestion. Now, when the Hun
has signed tho armistice. when Ger
many lies PROSTATE at our feet. when
the Sun Of Peace fills all our skies
he has taknn nYnr tho a<az,,