The Washington herald., 1918-08-31
SENATE VOTES
ON MAN POWER;
END DEBATING
Conference Report Passed
Both Houses, Bill Goes
to White House.
WILL BE ALAW TONIGHT
Solons Indulge in Acrid
Criticism; Anti-Strike
Clause Dropped.

The Senate adopted without
change the conference report on
the man-power bill. This last
legislative step in the new law
was taken too late to permit the
engrosscd bill to be signed by the
Speaker of the House, but it will
go to the President shortly after
noon today and will be a law be-
fore night.
Debate on the report revolved
about the action of the Senate
conferces in reccding from the
Senate "work-or-6ght" amend
ment.
Senator McCumber told the
Congress that it feared the politi-
cal power of organized labor and
that was the sole reason for drop
ping the anti-strike provision
from the bill. -s-s
MeCsnSer's Views,
. = IN members of the House and Sem
ate would vote according to their hon.
est convictions. rs expressed in pri-
vate conversation" he said. "a meas
ure Of this kind would have passed
the Congress by an overwhelming
majority a long time ago."
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the Military Affairs Committee and
the ranking member of the Senate
conferdes, defended the action of the
conferees and said that 1t was futile
to put further laws upon the statute
books to be overridden by the con-
struction arbitrarily placed upon them
by the Secretary Of War.
Senator Poindexter said that Con-
gress was above Secretary Baker.
and wanted to know IL Congress pass
cd a law. the Secretary could issue
a statement setting aside the law.
IF the Secretary Of War can set
aside one law he can set aside an
other" replied Senator Chamberlain.
Nelson Says AT His Mercy"
Senator Nelson asked II Senator
Chamberlain was of the opinion that
the Secretary Of War, by construc-
ton or otherwise. would override any
new law that Congress might pass,
and put himself above Congress.
Absolutely" replied Senator Cham.
berlain.
II heartily agree with that view" "
said Senator Nelson. Il believe that
In the present situation we are at
his mercy"
News With Rifles sa ons.
An article by a Washington corre-
spondent who. whether merited or
not, is credited with presenting the
views and propaganda of the War De-
partment, also aroused the ire Of the
Senate. The article was a promise
that all the colleges and universities
OF the country would be opened up to
draft registrants IS years old at the
expense of the government.
Senator Wadsworth said that the
thing was physical impossibility,
that he article was untrue and that
II was nothing more than propa-
ganda put out to please and soften
the temper of the people.
sherman's Comment,
Senator Sherman. of Illinois, took
up the fire against the Secretary
Of War and the attitude Of officials
OF the administration towards Con-
gress since the entry Of this coun-
try into the war.
There was some sentiment for an
additional member of the Cabinet"
said Senator Sherman, ito take
charge Of the aeronautic department
Of the military service. This was not
received kindly by the administrative
department. It was sad to be a re-
Election upon the Secretary Of War.
do not believe this was even thought
Of by those who were very urgent for
the adoption of the policy. It was
merely for the purpose Of expedltiny
and making efficient the airplane
service Of this country to be used
abroad"