The sun., 1918-05-15
BILL
PASSES HOUSE
President Receives Wide
Powers by q Vote of
206 to 2.
GILLETT ONLY CRITIC
Authority Of Baruch and Ryan
Will Be Strengthened
at Once.
GILLETT ONLY CRITIC


WARRINGTON. May A.-President Will
son can 60 ahead now to effect his re-
organization Of the executive depart
ments Of the Federal Government and
thereby perfect the war machine accord
ing to his own ideas without further
hindrance from Congress.
A more sweeping victory even tnan
that in the Senate was won BY the Ad-
ministration in the House to-day. when
with only two votes In the negative out
Of the entire membership, that body
passed the much discussed Overman bill
giving the President authority to make
whatever administrative changes he
likes for war purposeA
The bill was passed without change
from the form In which it came from
the Senate. 1t now goes to the Presi-
dent, who may sign 1t Tomorrow Inc
President conferred yesterday with
Chairman Baruch Of the War Industries
Board and almost Immediately after he
tain changes in connection with the
status and functions Of the War In
dustries Board which will add greatly
to the powers exercised by Mr.. Baruch.
Principal among these will be transfer
to Mr.. Baruch of certain appropriation
and the powers incident thereto which
have been lodged by act Of Congress IN
various bureaus OF the several depart
ments Mr.. Baruch's control over ex-
penditures will become actual thereby
and his status as virtually q minister
Of munitions will be more fully estao-
lished.
Another change that will be made i'm
medlately under the new law will be the
| h. N ynhN
| D. Ryan Of all the powers the Chief
Signal OfYicer has exercised with respect
to aircraft. The change will place In
Mr.. Ryan's hands all further expendi'
tures in aviation.
| Among other sweeping changes In con-
Temptation - one which would combine
all Of the intelligence agencies Of the
Government under one head. This plan
is not yet perfected.
The Overman bill passed tho Hous'
by a vote Of 295 to 2. Representatives
Gillett (Aiass.). acting minority leader
and Sterling Ull). Republicans. were
! the only opponents who held out on thu
nnal roll call. Representative Long
worth tOhio) voted present
The House like the Senate rejected
by large majorities amendments to- ex
empt from the operation Of the bill th'
interstate Commerce Commission ant
the Federal Trade Board. Chairman
Webb of the judiciary Committee tolt
the House, however, that the Presiden
did not intend to transfer any OF thu
Jurisdiction Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Tho discussion developed sharp criti
cism from Republican sources regarding
the reticence OF the Administration o.
10 its war plans. Representative Gillet
complained that Congress knew littl
Of the Administrations programme AM
that last year the country was lulle'
into q sort Of unreasonable security.
'"This 10 . most extraordinary bill.
said Representative Gillett. ut give
away all the powers Of Congress
over the organization Of the depart
ments. Under II the President can a.
atm duties which have been given to
man confirmed by the Senate to one VIII
has not been. The only argument offere'
| n that It IL . war necessity. Unde
that argument We have already give
the President most extraordinar
powers.
IT appreciate the predicament o
gentlemen on the Democratic side whe
this seems to be made q sort OF tes
Of party loyalty, and I appreciate IN
emba rrassment on the Republican sid
of the chamber because public opinio
without carefully considering the Issue
involved will be apt to criticise failur
TO give tho President what powers at
asked"