Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-05

fudl administration oruera nave par.
niyzed war and other industries, and
that food distribution also has been
inoihcient
In ratly denying Secretary Eakcss
statement that the government has y
plan for she war. the Senator said tho
Military Committee vat thunderstruck
by the War sccvctary's optimistic AS.
sctttons.
~ am afraid TO so too deeply into
shipping hGures.' he added. FOR one
might be charged with giving infor.
nation to the enemy. al who are In.
formed as TO the present supply OF our
shipping were ;hunders,ruck At the
statements OF Secretary Baker. Ills
.snGuine predictions az to our aetiity
to skip men to Europe and suppl? Their,
when there arc e1asEcrst,onG Of the
widest eort
To supply million mon in France,
supposins We could get them over
there. It Will require a,ooc,oto tons OF
shipping in constant use. Where is
that coming from, and when ia it COM
ing? We all know The total tonnage
now available is nothing like that
amount. We all fear II Will not ap-
p:oximate that year from now.
RAKER'S STATEMENT SHOWS
Co-0PERATIoN IS LACKING
"Te. The Secretary Of War is 20 on,
OF touch with the Skipping Board and
shipping authorities that he makes q
statement that is absolutely prcpos.
ferrous, ] have no doubt of his sin
certify. but his act indicates again the
extent to which one department is out
OF touch With another department."
Turning to Secretary Bakers war
plan. Senator Hitchcock said
Secretary Baker says We have plans
an. sorry TO disagree with him. II
there is one thins more conspicuous by
it's absence than any other In the
operation Of tive various departments
and bureaus in Washington IL
has been planning for the future. I
do not deny that tho various depart
ments have planned FAR as they
could in advance. but who has pre-
pared the master plan which wili bar
moniEc all the other plans? Nobody
Nobody could"
Referring 10 the presidcu,'s oppo-
sition 10 the two committee bills, the
Senator 81 id II was on the ground thai
the President alone has responsibilities
mere statement presents an absurdity."
Asserting that Congress has large
measure Of responsibility. Senator
Hitchcock said II would be "rnoustrot:s''
to hold the President responsible for
the 100000 tons OF freight piled up
IN New York. for tho 'brcakdoun OF
transportation the muddle and
tumble OF priority shipments, the
SHORTCOMINGS OF tho ordnance and
qusrtcrmaSter'c departments auffcr!nEs
OF the unnecessarily sick soldiers and
nine months delay in construction OF
tho government powder factory"
SUMMARIZES THE ENORMOUS
BURDENS on THE PRESIDENT
The Senator summarized the enor.
nous burdens OH the President, In
Guiding acting as his own prime min
lister. designing all the legislation fer
Congress TO phas, debating TIE indus
trial, financial and political activities
G: the country. and looking after ex.
penditures Of $3.50, o00. 900 a week
THE President does not want tho
committee 10 report tho cab!ne, bill
and he continued, III press reports
be true. he objects even to n discussion
o' this legislation in the Senate This
attitude on the part OF tho President
IL unfortunate, but not altogether uu.
natural
Tn the frat place the President be.
longs 10 the school OF political ph!o-
sophtrs who adhere to the belief that
all important legislation should orisj.
nate with and he proposed by tho exc.
cutire. cannot subscribe TO This
scheme OF government. although it ha 5
some obvious advantages. in that il
provides leadership order and FRO.
gram
Since he became President, Mr.. VII.
son has enforced his view upon Con
Eress 10 a large degree. and generally
with Good result. In the main, have
been one az those "ho hive follow, q
HE leadership anG..aunported his poli.
cies. and l expect co do 80 in the IN.
'ure. Now and then. however. an ca.
csption must be made
This is one Of those eases The
question al issue is nonpart,ean No
party leadership - involved Neither
IS any principle involved. The matter
at issue - purely a practical question
whether We can improve the efficiency
CT war administration BY adop,lu.
business methods III buying supplies
aho "hether Ne can get order out OF
confusion, AID action instead Of delay,
ny co-oEd!nating and bringing under
one head number Of great govern.
msnt bureaus now running almost in,
depenoently and often a. cross pur.
poses.
PRESIDENT DOESN'T KNOW
THE REAL SITUATION
asrts With Senator Chambtrlair
that The Frcsideu, Goes not know the
real situation lie cannot give two
months 10 an inveltieaticn such A. -,
nave done Like kius, SURROUNDED
h% court; he hears practically on,,
one side. The people who yomp,a y
90 not reach the prcs,dcr;. nor cvoy
members Of Ni, Cabinet. They como e
Senators and Representatives,.
The President ana Secretary OF Wa,
nave evidently realized the d.rec. @
the existing system and Attended :,
change It. without !egis!ation. bu
without success"