New-York tribune., 1918-02-19
Attack Opens
In Senate ON
Overnan Bill
Watson Calls Blanket
Power for Wilson
"Unjustifiable"
Also Favors Curb
On r. r. Control
Final Vote on Railway
Measure Is Expected
on Thursday


strong attack on the Overman bill,
granting the President wide powers to
reorganize tho various departments
and bureaus. "Unjustifable" and "rep-
rehensible' were two of the terms he
applied to features Of the measure. He
objected especially to the clause con-
tinuing the extraordinary powers Of
the Chief Executive until year after
.he close Of the war.
This was the first assault on the
Overman bill made in open debate. 1t
is believed TO be only the first gun in
y great conflict. The Senator was
speaking On the railroad bill when he
took occasion to refer to the war
powers measure.
Plans were made to-day which Ad
ministration leaders believe insure pas
sage Of the railroad bill this week. Cn-
der an informal agreement. to be sub
mittcd to the Senate tomorrow for
ratification, debate will be limited to
five minute speeches, beginning at p.
m., Thursday, and it is expected that a
final vote can be reached before ad
journment that day.
This agreement followed the reading
Of a letter to Chairman Smith OF the
Interstate Commerce Committee from
Director General McAdoo urging the
necessity for prompt action IN the mat
ter and declaring that every days de
lay was interfering with the prosecu-
ton Of the way. Chairman Smith made
his debate proposal informally, after
suggesting that o'clock Thursday
afternoon be fixed as the time TO begin
voting had been blocked by an objec-
ton from Senator PoindoXter. The lat
ter said he did not desire 10 delay
action. but wanted to leave the way
open Tor discussion Of any amendments
that might be offered.
Watson Urges Curb
Debate on the bill continued to-day,
with Senator Pomerenc. of Ohio, and
Senator Watson, Of Indiana, both men,
bers of the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee, speaking in its support. Both
urged liberal treatment for the rail-
roads while under government control,
the latter declaring this course
preferable to having S1s,O00,00o,Vo0
worth of property plunged into lltlga-
ton. The Indiana Senator opposed
government ownership of railroads and
the indefinite extension of government
control. and urged the Senate to accept
the committees proposal TO INN. me
duration of government control to
eighteen months after the war ends.
Senator Pomerenc declared that the
present bill was war measure and,
for that reason. no effort should be
made in it to correct the evils OF the
TRANSFORMATION system.
Senator johnson, of California, VIII
discuss The bill tomorrow, dealing
especially with the question OF govern
ment ownership.
Senator Pomcrcnc said Congress
should remember that more than l,o00,.
900 people have money invested in rail
securities.
II realize" said he. "that railroads
cvaded taxes and that their managers
manipulated stocks, but Congress ought
not to approach this subject now as if
it we're going to penal:zc the railroads
for things committed years ago. Tho
railroads are owned by the people ol
the country. When Senator's pare com
pcnsation to the bone they arc striking
at the savings of over .00O,0 900 people
Would Limit Control
Senator Pomcrcno urged retention o1
that clause limiting Federal control to
eighteen months after the war. Per
sonally he favored surrcndcrDg The
lines within six months after the war
he said. TO pass the bill in its origlna
form and leave to future Congress
the question of terminating Fedora
control, he said would open the way
for permanent government operation
I Fixing of a definite time for turning
the railroads back will tend to stimu
late the value of railroad securities
Senator Pomercne believed.
Senator Cumminss contention tha
the standard of compensation proposed
in the bill guarantees an excessive re
turn was denied by Senator Pomercnc.
at is impossi bic for any man to know
! if this is excessive or not until h,
knows what the investment is" said he
pointing out that the Interstate Com
mcrcc Commission has been unable tt
do so in three years work.
owe can't by any legislation cure al
the ills that the railroad flesh has beer
heir to in the last century, he con
tinucd. ITS our duty to stabilize th'
values of these securities and not tea
them down to the bone"
An $1S,0OO,00 1000 Problem
Senator Watson's speech follows, il
part:
From the financial standpoint thi:
is the most colossal proposition cvel
presented to any Legislative body il
the history of the world.
at involves eighteen billions Of dol
lars in property.
"It Involves securities of an almos
equivalent amount which enter into, if
indeed, they do not form the basis O
the financial stability and the com
mercial prosperity of the nation.
1T involves taking this vast propcrt,
from the hands of those who made i
and those who own it. and commt:in,
1T to the operation and control of tn,
government.
at involves transferring the au
thorlty to make rates from the lcgis
lativc to the executive branch of tn,
government.
"And, if the time limit set forth i,
the last section be stricken out, it ma,
prove to be the first step in the gov
ernment ownership of all the trans
portaton facilities and all the methods
Of communication of the entire land" "
Referring to similar legislation
passed in the Civil War; Senator Wat
son pointed out that in 1860 Congress
authorized the President to take owe,
the railroads as a matter of militar,
necessity, but especially provided thai
government use of the railroads shoul,