Bisbee daily review., 1918-11-22
GOVERNMENT PLAN RODNDLY BERATED
 BY REPUBLICANS
Senators of the Minority Deal Hard Words for Taking Over of Cable Lines and Express Business
CBy Review Leased wire)


 WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-Presi- dent Wilson's action in taking over control and operation of marine cable systems and express agencies, were vigorously criticized today in the sen ate by republican senators. who said it was part of a plan to establish per manent government ownership.
 The speakers were Senators Wat sen of Indiana, Kellogg of Minnesota and Sherman of Illinois, and in the debate the president was criticized for his decision to go to Europe, and George Creel, chairman of the commit tee on public information, who it has been reported, is to accompany the president, also was attacked.
 Senator Watson denounced the presidents action in taking over cable lines as a breach of faith and charged that their control was inspired by Q desire for government censorship of dispatches during the peace confer ence so that the representatives of the European nations at the peace table may not know what is being said in the American congress about the conference.
 In the midst'of the debate, Senator Lewis of Illinois, the democratic whip, sought to reply to the republican sen- ators. but did not get recognition He did, however. offer a resolution which would put congress on record as favOring government ownership of railroads and telegraph and telephone lines.
 In declaring his belief that the pres ident's action was a breach of faith, Senator Watson said congress voted this extraordinary power for war pur- poses only.
 "Why is that step taken?" asked the senator. Tn my belief, it is taken simply because of the fact that the president is loath to give up any of the power that we have clothsd him with. and that those suboFdinates about him, including those of the l cabinet, do not intend to relinGuish ] that power unless compelled to do so { by legislative action. !
 We are left to the wide field of | conjecture as to why the president | saw fit at this particular time to take over the cables. Certainly no one will 1. claim that he is taking them over as | a necessity of war l take it for I granted that when the president , leaves these shores to all intent and 1 the cable lines will be cut. | I take it for granted that he does . not intend that any man at the peace | table shall know what is being said . in the house of representatives and | on the floor of this body and 1 take | it for granted that we are not to | know on this side what they are. do- ing.
 with George Greet at that end . all of the messages and | and with Albert Burle- son at this end controlling all the sources of information, its very yer biage, in fact, the country may well | be warned that it may take at least with grain of salt whatever is pub lished as to what happens on the other side
 Senator Sherman said there might . be some necessity for the president going abroad, but that he could not see it, and added, that no provision is made in the constitution for the ab- sence of the president from the ter ritoral limits of the United States. The White. House, he said, will be moved to Paris, and added:
 We are left to the tender mercies of a censored cable, controlled by Greet, as the dictator at the source of action"
 Senator Kellogg said there was no war necessity for taking over cable lines and express agencies as the has been signed and added, that in his opinion, the action lis part of a plan to fasten government . ownership of telegraph, telephone and cable lines on the country"
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