Evening star., 1918-04-18
HOUSING BILL NOT
Up IN SENATE TODAY
Silver Bill Given Precedence.
Senator Swanson Desires
Early Action.

When the Senate met today, instead
of proceeding Immediately to consider
alton of the housing bill, 1t took up the
Pitman silver bill. Senator Swanson,
chairman OF the public buildings and
grounds committee, in charge of the
housing bill, said that he would try to
have the housing bill taken up for con-
sideration as soon as the silver bill had
been disposed of, and providing that
the Overman bill, the unfinished busi-
ness of the Senate, could be tempora-
riiy laid aside 1t is Senator Swanson 5
desire to have the housing bill passed
today II possible.
Suggests Homes for congressman.
Opposition to some features of the
housing bill delayed its final passage
in the Senate yesterday. Senators de-
manded that amendments be- considered
and adopted. Among those who criti-
cised the measure were Senators Lodge,
Gallinger and Thomas
The last named, in a facetious vein.
offered an amendment which would
have provided that dwellings for sena-
tors and representatives and their
families be constructed by the govern
ment while it was going into the hous-
ing business in the District of CO.
lumbia.
while we are building for the gov
ernmenf clerks" said Senator Thomas,
we had just as well build houses for
the government itself. We work just
as hard as the government clerks and
we are hit by the scarcity of living
quarters in just the same way"
The amendment was voted down viva
voce amid considerable laughter
Conflict OF Jurisdiction between the
shipping board and Department of La
bor as to which would administer the
$50, ,000. 900 provided in the pending bill.
Senator Harding Of Ohio declared. has
program under the s50,00e.800 it was
authorized to spend last March. partic-
ularly at Newport News, Va, and Spar
rows Point, Md.
providing that the government should
not rent dwellings built for less than s
per cent of the invested capital was
adopted.
Suggesting that the President. instead
of the Department of Labor. should be
program, Senator Fall said:
Il have no confidence In the Presi-
dents cabinet members, nor in their
ability. In my Judgment they have
cient. I am not going to vote to clothe
them with any further power.
Il will vote to clothe the President
with absolutely. autocratic power. The
President stands responsible to the peo-
Pile for the conduct of the war. He
shall not hide behind the. skirts of
Hoover, or Garfield. or, William B. Will
son {Secretary of Labor), or Baker. The
President is the Secretary f2War. the
Secretary Of State and the Secretary Of
the Navy"
Permanency Of Buildings Discussed.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota asked
=. ,lor, IN ryfyr fho h,y- no
partment rowing commission" to con-
struct houses wherever 1t desired. Sen
ator Swanson said 1t was proposed to
provide housing only at certain points
where it was needed.
The question as to whether the build
ings erected under the authorization In
this bill are to be permanent structures
or temporary was raised in the debate.
Senator Swanson. in charge of the bill,
declared it'way the purpose to leave the
paStment Of Labor, which would have
charge of the building program. In
'scrile places, ehA said,,5jt, WAS obvious
that it would be ffdicufous to construct
permanent buildings. for the population
Of those places was sure to shrink. per-
haps to one-third its present size, after
the war. In other places. particularly
the big cities. like Philadelphia. New
York. Boston and Washington, 1t would
be wise to erect permanent buildings,
WHICH CSSAtooAAy SohAo oS SoAA ~ .
fair price.
A drawback to the erection of per-
manent buildings. however, Is the need
of speed in meeting the present emer-
gency. Secretary Wilson of the Depart
ment of Labor, during the hearings be-
fore the Senate committee, said it. had
not yet been settled whether the build
ings here should be permanent or tenn
porary in character.
Oppose Removal of Furnishings.
During the consideration Of a pro-
posed amendment to make it impos-
sible to remove the furnishings Of
colleges. museums, libraries. state or
municipal buildings, Senators Lodge
and Thomas declared there should be
no authority to take these buildings
at all. or their furnishings.
Senator Swanson agreed that this
might be wise. Senator Lodge pointed
out that recently more room was want
ed to house offices of the war risk in
surance bureau, and that the govern
ment officials proposed to take over
the National Museum and move out the
81, ,000, 900 collections in the museum.
. Senator Lodge denounced such a
proceeding, when. he said. facilities
could be found elsewhere. He. as a
member Of the board Of regents Of the
Smithsonian Institution which has
ct,o of ha tad