The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-30
Overman Measure Receives,
Heavy Majority After
Hard Fight.
OPPONENTS GIVE IN
ON FINAL BALLOTS
Act Gives President Wider
Powers IN Handling War
Agencies of Nation.

Washington. April 29.-Rejectiny
aH as0endmeHts designed to limit the
presidents authority the senate late
today passed the Overman bill with
Its general grant of power for the ex-
G:utive to coordinate and reorganize
government departments and other
agenci:y during the war.
INC vote on the measure which now
goes to the house, was e3 to Is, many
seno otors who opposed the administra-
uor' IN the long fight over proposed
amendments joining the majority when
TIC test came on final passage.
only one Democrat, Senator Reed
OF Missouri, voted against the bill.
Republicans who voted against it were
Bfandegec, Cummins, Dillingham;,
France. Gallinger, Harding, johnson
81 california, Knox, Poindexter, Sher-
inatn. Sterling and Sutherland.
Vote for the Bil.
Those voting for the bill were:
Democrats Ashurst, Bankhcad,
Esckham, Chamberlain, Culberson,
Fletcher, Gerry. Guion. Hardwick,
Henderson. Jones of New Mexico.
King, Kirby, Lewis, McKellar, Martin,
Myers. Nugent, Oyerman. Phelan,
Iittman Pomerene. Salisbury, Shat
roth. Sheppard, Shields, Simmons,
smith of Arizona. Smith of Georgia,
smith of Maryland Smith Of South
Carolina, Swanson, Thomas Thomp-
son. Tillman, Trammell, Underwood,
Narlaman. Walsh, Williams and VOL
Cett-41.
Republcans-Baird. Borah, Colt,
Curtis, Fall. Frelinghuysen, Hale,
Jones of Washington, Kellogg. Len
root. McCumber. Mclean, McNary,
Nelson, New, Morris, Page, Smoot,
Townsend. Warren, Watson and
Weeks--22
Total for G3.
Republicans All Fought Bill
Nearly all OF the % Republicans
voting to pass the bill had. before the
final roll call, supported amendments
to circumscribe the presidents power
generally to war functions. Those who
continued their opposition to the
finish have based their attitude on the
argument that the bill confers un-
necessary autocratic powers upon the
President and is unconstitutional.
Administration leaders championsd
the measure consistently and would
not agree to any amendments limiting
the presidents authority
The only amendments added in the
senate were accepted by Senator Over
ran. in charge of the bill. One. by
Senator Wadsworth Of New York. Re-
publican, would authorize the presi-
dent to centralize authority over the
aviation program in one executive Of
ficer. and another. by Senator Jones.
Republican of Warrington. limits the
effect of reorganizations made under
the bill to six months instead Of one
year after the war.
Exetnds Wide Authority.
As passed by the senate. the meas
ure authorizes the prekident ITO make
such redistribution of functions among
executive agencies as he may deem
necessary and to utilize, coordinate
and consolidate any executive and ad
Eiinistrative commissions, bureaus
agencies, offices or officers now ex-
istiny by law, or to transfer any duties
c, powers from one existing depart
ment or TO transfer the personnel
thereof
These powers. however, shall be
exercised only in matters relating Il
the conduct Of the present war;
Tho measure also provides that II
the president believes any agency
should be abolished he shall report I,
congress. and congress will arrang'
for transfer of appropriations in an!
reorganization, limiting their expendi
ture to the purposes specified by con
EreSs.
Early consideration of the bill in TIN
house Is planned by administration
leaders.