Evening star., 1918-01-30
BALKSAT INCREASE
OF EXECUTIVE POWER
Congress Questions Latest
Proposals of Secretary Nc
Adoo and Herbert Hoover.
MANY PROTESTS HEARD

Delegation of further drastic powers
over business and the ordinary act1Vl-
ties of American life, to the executive
branch of the government is viewed ask
ance by Congress, even when these pow
ers are asked as war measures.
The latest proposals. one by Secre-
tAry McAdoo, for creation of a half
billion-dollar corporation, with vast
powers over the entire business of the
country when it comes to the issue OF
securities and to financing various in
d1stries; ana the other by Herbert L.
Hoover food administrator. for law
giving the food administration still
further control over the use of food
stuffs and their prices. will meet hard
shedding, it was said at the Capitol to-
day.
Opposed to Granting More Power.
Ever since the session of Congress
opened indications that Congress was
opposed to granting further powers to
the executive, except where they deal
directly with the conduct of the war,
have been accommodating.
Senators and representatives have not
been satisfied with what they have
heard about the operation of the food
and fuel administrations. When the
Garfield order came recently prohibit
ing the use of coal in the country'S in
dustries temporarily, the Senate nearly
lifted off the lid. SO great was the in
dignation of members of both political
parties.
In recent days the Senate has given
evidence by concrete action that it.does
not intend b1indly to enact further
legislation placing bureau chiefs OF de-
nv NJ how
of the executive in charge of business
of the country.
Defeated Smith Bill, for Instance.
In the first place. lit defeated the
Smith bill, which would have placed
the control of the print paper and wood
pulp business under the President and
the Federal Trade Commission for the
duration of the war
In the second place, the Senate adopted
by an overwhelming vote the Hitchcock
resolution calling upon the fuel admins
traitor to hold up for five DAYS his coal
order. thus giving the country time to
be heard from. The failure of the fueI
administrator to grant this request has
not added to the friendly feeling be-
tween the Senate and the executive
branch
In the third place, by vote of seven
70 SIX, the Senate committee on inter-
state commerce yesterday adopted an
amendment to the administration rail-
road bill, specifically stating that the
government control of the railroads
snail cease within year after the Close
or the war. This. although Secretarv
McAdoo had himself appeared before the
committee and. argued in favor of the
provision as written by the administra-
ton providing that the cessation of row
ernment control of the roads should be
dependent upon future action of Con-
gress.
Presidential veto of measure ter
mfnating that control later would ne
cessitate two-thirds majority in Con-
gress to put such a measure through
1t was pointed out
Senators Wondering What Next
And now Secretary McAdoo has come
forward with proposal for a cor
poration which will have the entire
business OF the country within its con-
tro!. senators today are wondering how
Tar the administration is going with
It's proposals to have government con-
troll of the ordinary affairs of the ma
ton. in the hands of private individ
ua1s in the past.
No suggestion was made that the Sec
retary OF the Treasury had politics in
mind when he suggested this corpora
tlon, which is to have the say when is
sues Of securities are contemplated for
the various business concerns of the
country, but it was pointed out what
q tremendous power would be in the
hands of an administration which could
say TO the people of the country, you
snail or you shall not have money for
the further extension of your business
A democratic senator said today that
he believed the Senate would fight hard
before any further extension Of powers
was granted to the food or fuel ad-