The Washington times., 1918-02-07
By W. V. BYARS.

considered in executive session. The
ladies' went away quite tired and,
perhaps with the exception Of those
wearing soHtaires, somewhat disap-
pointed.
The sequel came at about half
mast 3 o'clock in a bill introduced
bv Senator Overman OF North
Carolina. 1t was reported unoffi-
cially that it was brought by Post
master General Burleson direct
from the White House. No one is
expected to believe this, except I'M
officially.
In any event. the bill as intro
duced. is official in a sufficient
number of sections to make the
ministry of munitions and war
cabinet bills look like last years
bird nests. It authorizes the Presi-
dent to make a redistribution of
functions" in departments, bureaus,
commissions, and everything else in
the form of organization, provided
by law. and including Officers" of
all such organizations during the
period of the war. He may also
consolidate, combine, coordinate,
unity, or do anything else he
pleases for the sake Of speeding up
the war, all restrictions of existing
laws being suspended. With their
functions redistributed, everybody
would know exactly what to do, and
it would be what the President told
them.
Under such a bill, he might reds.
tribute the functions Of any Cabinet
officer or other official he pleases,
in any way whatever. Without re-
gard to any question of legislative
or legal precedent. or of Constitu-
tional law, the bill, considered as
politics, redistributes the functions
of the Armageddon Reserves. If
they want opportunity to speed
up this is opportunity sufficiently
wide open to admit them all
abreast.
Anybody who wants to help a
poor, tired, overworked President to |
meet his responsibilities can now
stop worrying over the difference :
between gross tons and net tons |
and study the redistribution of ,
functions. as defined by standard |
photographers.
Under the soldiers and sailors |
civil rights bill, passed by the Sem |
ate. men in the army and navy are
entitled TO moratoriums, or stays I'm |
legal process in suits. while in the !
service. Under the bill it may save |
their creditors trouble either to |
compromise or postpone proceedings ,
until the war is over.
The Senate discussed at length a
bill. based on the Mann House bill" !
intended to restore legal status to
outlawed civil war claims from the !
Southern States. II was opposed on
the ground that few such claims /.
now are honest-if they ever were.
4 motion to adjourn postponed de-
feat.
The Senate Naval Committee heard
strong argument from Commander
Wright, of the navy. in favor OF re- |
serving sufficient oil lands in Okla
hOma as well as in California for the
use of the navy. He told the COM !;
battleships, and ships OF all classes
now used actually for war require
oil A coal burning ship is no longer
a battleship. Before the Indian Az
fairs Committee the subject OF oil
lands I'm Oklahoma was also under /
discussion. There will be an active
fight on the 'Oil lands leasing bill"
Cgal
the House, aliens enlisted in the
army or navy of the United States (
are exempted from the alien immi-
grafton acts, and are allowed TO be-
come citizens after one year OF resi-
dence.
The House spent the afternoon IN
discussing what its supporters call
ed The Alien Stacker Bill" II ap-
plies only TO subjects o! the allies in
the United States. supposed TO be
cvadinS draft. Under il they might
be deported or condemned to forced
labor II was opposed as interfer-
ing with treaties now being made,
and with the provisions OF treaties
already in existence.
The annuity bill for District Of
Columbia teachers was reported
favOrably in the Senate, and the
snOw-shUveling bill passed. II is
severe enough. but il does not apply
to snow which mc!ts before il begins
operating.
SAMMY SHOOTS ?. KILLS SELF.
THE AMERICAN FRONT, France,
Feb. g DclayodJ.- Ono demented
SAMMY g. reported to hav" shot and
wounded two comrades and thcn
killed IIm-,lf t"dEy. 80 names have
been mad" public.
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