Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-30
OVERMAN MEASURE
AMENDMENTS LOSE
BY NARROW MARGIN
Senator Smiths Proposals to
Exempt Federal Reserve
Board and Commerce Com
mission Are Beaten in Senate

iIIIOOlOiI HlO OCObCIi lli OOIiolO
WASHINGTON, April 28.-Victory
| for the administration in the long SEN
ate fight over the bill to confer blan-
ket authority on the president to re-
organize government departments and
war agencies was forecast late today
in the defeat, by narrow margins, of
amendments exempting the federal re-
serve board and the interstate COM
merce commission from the operation
of the law.
Both amendments were offered by
Senator Smith, of Georgia. and oppo-
nents of the bill concentrated their
strength on them. The first, to exempt
the federal reserve board, was reject
ed Al to 81, and the second relating
to the interstate commerce commission,
was voted down. AZ to 50.
With these tests of strength, which
administration leaders said, and sem
ators among the opposition admitted,
presaged the passage of the bill with
out limitations on the blanket author
ity insisted upon by President Wilson,
the senate adjourned until Monday,
when it was expected the bill would
be passed without important changes.
In the votes on the amendments 90
day, ten Democratic senators voted to
limit the presidents authority. Seven
Republicans, however, voted with the
Democratic majority against exempting
the federal reserve board. Another Re-
publican, Senator Rorah, of Idaho, join
ed them in voting down the amendment
affecting the interstate commerce COM
mission.
The roll call on the amendment to
except the federal reserve board, on
which leaders of the opposition had
stated they expected to muster their
maximum strength, follows:
For the Amendment - Democrats:
Chamberlain, Gore, Hardwick Hitch
cock, King, Reed, Smith, of Georgia.;
| Thomas, Underwood and Vardaman-10
Republicans: Borah, Brandegee, Cum
minis, Curtis, Dillingham;, France, Freling
huysen, Gallinger, Gronna, Hale, Hard
ing. Johnson of California; Kellogg,
Knox, Lenroot, Lodge, McCumber, New,
| Norris, Page, Poindexter, Sherman,
Smoot. Sterling Townsend, Wadsworth
| and Watson-27. Total for, 81
Against the Observation-Disclosures /:
Ashurst, Bankhead, Beckham, CuIberson,
| Fletcher, Gerry, Guion, Henderson, Hol
| lis, Jones, of New Mexico; Kirby, Lewis,
| Mcclellan, Martin, Myers, Nugent Over
man, Phelan, Pittman, Salisbury, Shat
roth, Sheppard, Shields, Simmons, Smith,
| VI AIlEOIdY OHlII, VI ldIuS OnlII,
| of South Carolina; Swanson, Thompson,
Tillman, TrammelI, Walsh, Williams and
| Wolcott-34.
Republicans: Baird, Colt, Jones, of
Washington; Mclean, McNary Nelson
and Warren. Total against, Al.
The vote on the amendment resulted
| in a parliamentary tangle which Vice
| President Marshall, who was presiding,
sought to straighten out by asking
|
and order a new roll call. Senator
Williams, of Mississippi, objected how
ever, and the vote was announced.
Before the roll call on the amend
ment began, Senator Overman raised
the point of no quorum. Mr.. Marshall
overruled him, declaring quorum pres
| ent, and ordering the voting to pro-
| coed. When the roll call was compleu-
ed Senator Reed. of Missouri, who sup
ported the amendment sought to pre-
vent announcement of the result on a
point of order that the presiding Of
| ficer should have ordered a roll call
to determine whether a quorum was
present when Senator Overman made
his point.
Vice President Marshall overruled the
| Missouri senator, but after brief de-
bate, he admitted he was in error and
asked unanimous consent to set aside
the vote and order a new roll call.
After the federal reserve amendment
had been rejected a similar amendment
exempting the interstate commerce COM
mission, was introduced by Senator
Smith, of Georgia. Its adoption was
urged by Senator Cumnins, who as
serted that people around the presi-
dent desire that the commissions pow
ers shall be taken away"
81 know that a movement is now on
foot to stop the work of valuation of
railroads which the commission Directs
he said, land know that influences are
| now at work to this end"
This was voted down, AZ to So.
The same alignment was made on the
amendment for exemption of the inter-
state commerce commission, except that
Senator Borah voted with the majority
and a few senator's who had voted pre-
viously were absent from the chamber.
Tie tide of today's debate which was
as spirited as any since the bill was
| first brought before the senate April 2,
swung apparently with increased force
| in favor of the bill. Senators Colt,
| Mclean and McCumber made addresses
supporting the measure, and declared
that they felt no apprehension that the
powers conferred in the bill would be
| abused by the president, fear of which
| mad been expressed by some opponents.
| Senator McCumber, however, voted for
| the amendments.
Before the final vote on the bill is
| taken next week, it is planned to have
| the senate vote again on the amend
ments defeated today as well as on
other pending amendments proposing
express limitations of the presidents
authority to co-ordinating government
| agencies. Senator Overman, however,
! as a result of today's votes, expressed
| confidence that the measure would be
passed in the form the president has
repeatedly insisted upon.