New-York tribune., 1918-04-23
Final Struggle Starts in the
Senate, With President
Opposing Compromise
Administrations
Record Defended
Fletcher and Shields Urge
Measure to Centralize
War Authority

WASHINGTON, April 22.-The Sen
ate settled down to-day to finish fight
on the bill proposing blanket authority
for the President to reorganize gov
ernment agencies in prosecuting the
war
"No compromise" was the word sent
by President Wilson in letter to Sen
ator Overman, of North Carolina
sponsor of the measure. Debate was
resumed by supporters of the Adminis-
tration, while opponents demanding
specific exemption of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and certain
other permanent bureaus from changes
prepared for further efforts to force
amendments.
| In his letter to Senator Overman
the President said:
81 thank you with all my heart for
standing by the bill which bears your
name without any compromise of any
kind"
Will Fight Amendments
Senator Overman afterward declared
he would oppose any amendment of
the pending measure and felt conf
dent of its passage, with votes to spare.
He conceded, however, that tae vote
on exempting the Interstate Com
merce Commission and possibly other
bureaus from it's scope would be very
close. A canvass of the Senate is in
progress.
In o-day's debate Senators Fletcher,
of Florida, chairman of the. Commerce
Committee, and Shields, of Tennessee,
a member of the Judiciary Committee,
which reported the bill, urged passage
Of the measure as a means of CEN
f,,C1 Il
war operations. They declared the
President is responsible for the con-
duct of the war and should be given
the necessary authority he asks.
Senator Sherman, of Illinois, Repub-
lican, crticising the bill. insisted that
what is needed more than additional
powers is "the proper exercise of pow
ers already in existence and selection
of competent men to exercise such au-
thority. He said the President now has
powers to do things that are not being
done, and characterized the bill as un-
wise legislation which would prove to
be positive menace to orderly ad-
mlnistration, even in war times"
Record as Whole Praiseworthy
Senator Fletcher admitted that there
had been mistakes and delays in war
preparations, but asserted that they
were comparatively negligible and the
whole record praiseworthy. Both he and
Senator Shields dismissed as unworthy
isof discussion the contention that the
President might abuse the broad pow
ers given him under the bill. The lat
ter said the present Executive has
earned confidence and that any other
must be trusted.
In legal argument, citing many
precedents maintaining the constitu-
tionality of the Overman bill. Senator
Shields said the legislation is needed
! by the President because Of statutes
limiting his authority and comforting
agencies. Because President Lincoln
is said to have exceeded his authority
to meet an emergency, Senator Shields
said, was no reason why ample author
ity should not be given the Executive
| now.
Senator Fletcher said the bill would
reduce circumloEcution, prevent delays
duplication and lost motion and cen.
tralze authority.
! ,"This' bin will accomplish that" he
added. "lf it is to be opposed, let il
be done frankly on that ground"
Captains of Industry Have Failed
Discussing the governments recort
in the war, the Florida Senator re
ferred to administration upheavals il
other countries with the comment tha
there has been no occasion for a singl,
Cabinet change here. He said he di,
not agree that there has been or i
need of business men-"captains of in
dustry"--in the War Department.
"Many of them have been of grea
assistance" he continued "Other
have hindered and hurt. The repor
j respecting the aviation section sup
ports this view and condemns in effec
the idea of civil control of importan
branches Of military operations. Her,
was splendid illustration of the foil,
of placing civilians in practical contro
of the air service. Humliating disap
pointment has resulted. Your Captain
of industry have failed in that unfor
giving delays have resulted from thei
conduct of affairs"
Pointing out that the army has bee,
expanded 700 per cent and the Nav,
coy per cent. Senator Fletcher added
"The absence of scandals, which max
their appearance in all wars, big O
little, is marked. There is no cause
as far as administration of nationa
affairs is concerned, for pessimisu
Considering what is happening on tn
other side, VIC cannot but feel tha
there is reason for OPTIMISM Our atti
tude should be one Of conservation an,
determination.