Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28
SENATE SUPPORTS
PRESIDENT; NO CUT
|NBLANKET POWER
Test Votes on Amendments to
Overman Bill Give Victory
to Administration.
RESERVE BOARD AND
I.'C. C. NOT EXEMPTED
Measure Expsatsd to Reach Final
Vote Tomorrow and Pass by
IzfSs Minority.

The administration in the Senate yes
terday afternoon won the big fight over
the Overman bill, which grants the
President blanket authority to co-ordi-
nate and consolidate the various depart
ments and bureaus Of the government.
Senator overman's Plea.
BY vote Of IL to 81 the 'Hoke Smith
amendment exempting from the opera
tion of the bill the Federal Reserve
Board was defeated, after Senator Over
man. in charge of the bill, had said he
believed in his heart it the amend
nent) humiliates the President"
A few minutes later the Senate also
defeated the Hoke Smith amendment
exempting from the operation of the
bill the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. tho vote being AZ to IS.
Because q number OF senator's fndi-
cated they had amendments to- the bill
gave up the idea Of passing the bill last
night. and moved recess until noon
tomorrow. 1t is expected that the bill
will then be passed by large majority.
amendments have announced they will
support the bill on its final passage
whether 1t is amended or not.
Roll Call on Reserve Board.
Tie roll call on the Hoke Smith
amendment, exempting the Federal Re-
servo Board, was as follows:
Ayes: Democrats Chamberlain n,
Gore. Hardwick, Hitchcock, King. Reed,
Smith of Georgia, Thomas, Underwood
and Vardaman 10. Republicans -
b9,;a1,l b0rah; grandsgse cummins, Curtis
Galliager, Gronna. Hale. Harding,
johnson of California, Kellogg, Knox.
Lenroot. Lodge, McCumber New, Nor
ris. Page. Poindexter. Sherman. smoot.
Watson-27. Total ayes, 81.
Noes-Democrats, Ashurst. Bankhead,
Beckham, Culberson. Fletcher, Gerry,
Guion. Henderson, Hollis. Jones of New
Myers. Nugent. overman. Phelan. Pitt
man; Salisbury. Shafroth, Sheppard,
shields. Simmons. Smith Of Arizona,
Sn Smith =. OF Maryland. Smith Of South Csl,,-
NELL, Walsh. Williams and Wolcott, 81;
republicans. Baird. Colt. Jones OF wash
ingtca, Mclean, McNary, Nelson aad
Warren. z. Total noes. Al.
III Ihe vote on the amendment to eliminate
from operation of the bill was the same,
except that Senator Borah OF Idaho voted
no instead Of aye and Senator King
u Oldn IdlieQ 10 vote.
/. Significance of Votes.
The votes in the Senate yesterday were
regarded as sweeping victory for the
President. and that the Congress intends
to back him in the conduct Of the war to
the limit. ~
The struggle centered during the
greater part of the day around the
Federal Reserve Board amendment, II
was realized that upon the fate OF this
amendment would depend all efforts
senators Lodge. Hoke Smith, Reed.
those urging the adoption of the
ever. who hitherto has beea counted
against the Overman bill, announced
that he intended in the end to vote for
the measure. whether it was amended
or not
Senator Overman made an fmpas-
stoned plea to pass the bill without
amendment.
Senator Colt Upholds President.
Stating that he had full confidence
In the President. Senator Colt of Rhode
Island. republican. said:
II fear no dictatorship or the under
mining Of our Constitution. I voted
for this bill in the committee and
shall vote for it in the Senate. because
above all things I want to win this war
and because / not only trust our COM
mander chief, but believe that the
n. Nt0xI,