New-York tribune., 1918-04-25
Speaks for Substitute for
War Cabinet, Munitions
Director Measures
Williams Would Let
Wilson Be Dictator
Says President Alone Can
Stop Departments s'Pass-
ing the Buck

WASHINGTON. April "a. - Support
for the Overman bill, empowering the
President to reoYganize government de-
partments, came from both sides Of the
chamber to-day as the long drawn out
debate neared the final stage and pro-
ceeded under an agreement limiting
speech making.
Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon,
chairman Of the Military Committee,
for whose war cabinet and munitions
director bills the pending measure Writ
uxl,y is substitute, together with
Senator'S Borah. of Idaho, and Nelson,
Of Minnesota. Republicans. spoke for
the bill Senator Chamberlain, how
ever limited his support by stating
he would vote for an amendment to
exempt the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and Federal Reserve Board
from executive action.
For the Administration, Senator's
Williams. of Mississippi; Wolcott. of
Delaware, and others, made spirited
speeches in behalf of the bill.
Vote on Amendment To-day
Tomorrow voting on amendments
will begin. with the fight centred on
that exempting the Interstate Com
merce Commission. The rule under
which the Senate is working limits
each Senator to speeches of half
an hour on the bill itself and twenty
II
ator Overman tonight expressed hope
of reaching a final vote by Saturday.
Senator's Chamberlain, Williams,
Borah and Nelson all secuted the sug-
gestion the powers proposed in the bill
might be abused. Other legislation,
Senator Nelson said, has conferred
more "despotic" authority. while SEN
ator Borah declared the pending
measure would be helpful without per-
mitting change in government organi-
zation
Senator Chamberlain praised the ap-
pointment of Bernard Baruch as chair
man of the War Industries Board. He
said Baruch had "taken the bit into
his teeth" and organized the industries
of the country and .co0rdinated the
purchase of supplies, something that
had not been done before.
Commenting on results of his COM
rlittees investigation into war activi-
ties, the Senator said ne believed the
President and the country would agree
with him that every official criticised
by the committee has been eliminated
Or placed in another position He
added: IF it were not for the civilians
that have come in here the War De-
partment would be oundering in the
dark in its attempt to get ready to
fight this war"
Borah Supports Measure
Senator Borah declared the bill was
strictly war measure and that when
peace came departments reorganized d
would return to their former status.
ut is not within the power of the
President to work any permanent
change" he said, "and he cannot create
any. new agencies. The President
ought to have the right of redistribut-
ing functions Of the departments. The
only thing this bill does is to enable
the President to choose this or that
department for this or that particular
duty"
Senator Williams, of Mississippi,
democrat, said all the departments are
passing the buck" and that the Presi-
dent needed power to stop it.
THE sole object of this bill is to
harmonize executive action" said SEN
ator Williams, "to unity executive pur-
pose, and the sole way to win this
va war is to arm the Executive with sufi-
eient power to win it. Let him be a
Dictator IL he n)ooroc'