Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-15
LIBERTY MOTORS TO PRESIDENT
verm an Bill Now
Ready for Signature
Empowers President to Reoreanize
Government Departments and
Ageneies-House Vote was 296 to 2

=
Washington. May 1.-THE long fight
in Congress over the Oyerman bill, en-
powering the President to reorsanize
government departments and agencies.
ended late today with passage of the
measure unamerded by the House. 1t
now goes to President Wilson for his
signature.
The vote was c25 to ., Representatives
Sterling of Illinois and Gillett of Mass
achusetts. both Republicans, casting the
only negative votes.
An amendment to exempt the Inter
State Commerce Commission from the
! operations of the measure was defeate /
213 to ST.
What opposition there was in the
| House when the bill came from the
Senate, began to crumble yesterday
and today that hardly was in ev;-
dence Several amendments to limit
! the powers proposed for the President
We're VOID down with little debate.
| A proposal to exempt the Interstate
| Commerce Commission offered 'y
! Representative Walsh of Massachu
sets, Republican. was defeated pc
to 81 and one by Rep. Longworth Of
Ohio, Republican. to exempt the war
finance corporation and capital is
T, sues committee was rejected 109 &C
81.
| Representative Moore Of Pennsy!-
vania and Howner of Iowa. Repu0-
lican, sought vainly to insert an
amendment to induce the President &c
report to Congress on changes in dc
partments. while Rep. Gould of New
| York, Republican, wanted to amen
the section authorizing the President
to establish an executive agency tc
production so as 20 make compulsory
the establishment Of separate air
craft department.
| Representative Webb, chairman VI
/, the judiciary committee, announced
| that President Wilson had informed
him that he had no idea of using hi
powers to reduce the functions Of II,
! Interstate Commerce Commission. IL
that connection. however. he said. tnt
President called atatention to the
large number Of experts employed il
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and expressed the hope that IL
would be given authority to transfe
some of them to the railroad admin
iStration or to other department
where their experience would be o
great value. A similar transfer of eX
perienced men in the federal reserv'
board, Webb said, will aid the wa
finance corporation.
Representative Fordney of Michigan
Republican, told the House that he hat
made up his mind to vote against TIT
measure, but had changed his mind to
day after talking with an army officer
just what changes under the law arr
contemplated never has been indicated
When the president asked MIR. Overmar
TO introduce the bill he merely said he
needed authority to coordinate the ac
| riYities of various branches of the gov
eminent for the prosecution Of the war
And during all the long debate thai
preceded action i'll the Senate virtual!
no further information developed
There has been a general understand
ing. however, that among other thing!
various functions now performed by thu
departments will be transferred TO tn,
war trade, the war industries boarc
and other war agencies. Reorganiza
ton of the quartermaster department
and of the signal corps Of the army arr
steps which are said to have been con
tempiated under the law. but whicl
were taken without waiting for Con
gress to act.
When the bill was introduced soor
after the President had signfied his op
position to the war cabinet and mum
tons director measures of the Senat
military committee. champions of thu
committee bills declared that IT Uoul'
give the President power to do jus
what those measures proposed.