The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-09
Committee Members Break
Rule in Reversing
Former Action.
SCORED IN THE SENATE
Failure to Hold Hearings Re-
suits in Proposition Be-
ing Sent Back.
specinl DeApnfcA 10 THx suN.

| telegraph and telephone lines as soon as
Congress has given MIN the necessary
| authority. This action will be based on
grounds other than the labor trouble,
| which alone has developed conditions
which, the President believes, fully Jus
tify him IN his step. It Is understood
| however. that military reasons have
! largely prompted the President In de-
manding action as quickly as possible
| by Congress.
With the telegraph strike temporarily
averted the President, 1t was indicated
| to-day, was still rs anxious as ever
that Congress act quickly. lie is under
stood to have expressed qualification this
/ afternoon to Senator Lewis tIll.) when
the latter informed him that the Sem
alto Interstate Commerce Committee had
voted to forego its plan OF holding ex-
| tended hearings and had reported the
J wire control resolution to the Senate.
| Mr.. Lewis said the view of the commit
| tee was that the President was Com
mander in Chief and that his wishes
should be respected
Committee violated Rules.
But Senator Lewis II appeared had
spoken a little too quickly. While he
was at the White House the measure
was sent back TO the committee through
decision OF Senator Hitchcock (Neb),
| occupying the chair. that the commit
tees action had been taken by fewer
| than a majority OF a quorum. Before
| this ruling the action Of the committee
| in voting TO report the resolution after
only two hours discussion and without
according a hearing to the parties in
terested had been denounced on the
Senate floor by leaders of both parties
Whether the committee, with a larger
attendance assured. will again vote to-
morrow to report the resolution without
hearings is uncertain in view OF the
condemnation its action evoked to-day.
While the President has indicated
that he intends TO take over the tele-
graph and telephone lines at once the
| question as to what officer shall adj
minister them appears still to he unde-
c!ded Opposition to Postmaster-Gen-
! eral Burleson appears to be growing and
IL coming from all parts of the country.
Organized labor, for one element, has
started a concerted drive against him,
preferring Mr. McAdoo.
BurlesOn Wants Control.
Mr. Burleson has worked necessarily
to bring the lines into his hands. The
! President, II Ia believed, will consult
both before making Anal decision. Sem
ator Lewis has bill which would Gre
ate a new Cabinet office to take charge
OF the wires and Of transportation.
which he hopes the President will favor
There IL suggestion that Mr.. McAdoo
might reinquish his duties as head OF
the Treasury to take such An office.
In the Senate this afternoon Senator
penrose (Fa.) took the lead in criticism
% the committees action In reporting
the resolution in such haste. lie char
aCterized this as high handed and
said IT showed cowardice on tho part
Of the majority members Of the COM
mittee. which set over the hearings
without more than few minutes notice
TO possible DIRECTORS and was predicated
on "rumblings from the White House"
Senator Reed (Mo.) and Senator Pom
creme fOhio) Joined in the condemna-
ton ot the committees preciptate ac-
ton In reporting the resolution extend
ing the executive authority without hold
ing the promised hearings. Senator Reed
! asserted that in no circumstances could
the stupendous work Of taking over con-
| troll OF the privately owned lines of
communication honestly, Justly or sclen-
| ti1cally he contaminated without a criti-
cal survey Of the properties. Their val
uation he said, could not he established
before the best court IN the land short
Of year. He said that the ramlfca-
tions OF the telephone business Of the
nation we're more complex and more in
trlcate. and the property values, In
trins,c and otherwise were involved In
more doubt. than those OF almost any
other business
Only a Corporate Guard.
,, Senator Penrose charged that only a
, corporals guard OF the committee had
, been present at to-day's short session
> determined it's reversal OF the intention
to hold hearings announced by the COM
mittee Saturday. He read the rule OF
, tine Senate which provides that no ac-
ton by a committee with regard 70 a
: report is regular except when taken by
"A majority OF a quorum. This would
have meant that five members Of the
committee instead OF four should have
voted for the report OF the Aswell reso-
, luton TO the Senate. reversing the com
. mittees previous verdict TO hold hear
ings.
Senator Hitchcock. occupying the
chair, held that Senator Penroses point
was we'll taken and the report of IN,
Senator Penrose demanded to know n
the committee had not permitted its
members to depart for their homes Sat.
urday. under the impression that hear,
ings would proceed as planned. He as
serted that Senator Cummins GowaD
; ranking Republican member. had done
So
Senator Smith asserted that the com,
- mittee'S action had been taken with due
, deliberation.
That the committee will now hole
hearings OF 81 me sort is question which
q probably will be decided when It re
sumes its session tomorrow. For III,
present 1t Is certain that unless the
hearings are held there will be precipi
tated an even bitterer fight on tho fioo'
. and "a possible ihuster. To-day the
stage was set for a flibuster II the com
h mittee's action had not been declared
!, irregular by the chair.
II Is also certain that suprem,
effort viii be made by the Republicans
A.. so to modify the resolution that It will
I to the President just what agencies III
| shall employ II may perhaps create
definitely board or commission for tn,
. purpose of controlling the telegrap l
+ similar to the railway control system.
BOSTON PLANS AIR DEFENCES.
War Department to Place Guns n
a pubItc Garden