Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-07
PRESIDENT AND HIS FRIENDS
SEEK TO PREVENT PROPOSED
LEGISLATION.
COMPROMISE MEASURE WOULD
GIVE WILSON NEW POWERS
Nsulc PERM. Reorganization Of Any
Department Having 20 Deal With
Conduct Of Wa-Sase- Says Hitch
eeeSs Charges Are Wildly Esas-
se-stes sno Srepes:ereus."

Wasr..a-7on- rea, Almost Coin
c6e>; VIZ Secretary Bakers reap
s.a.-a.r>a before ,he senate military
aa.anittes Wednesday for Cross exam
nation On Ms .ace7, Statement. q what
America IS doing n me war. the ad-
III GlsZ-z ;gc2'S answer 20 coag- essional
agitation 20. i W. ca5!net and NUM-
mons di-ecio- us gwen by inroduc-
tlcn IN me senate Of bill transmitted
~ P-esi6su; Wilson whiCa would give
Ihe pres. den. Hlalke.. authority 10 re-
organ D and Coordinate all federal
Departments bureaus agencies. Off
Cisls and personnel. the new measure
was ,2ke1 % The aa!tol by = personal
representative Of the p-esl dent and in
I-o6uc@d ~ Senator 0ve-nlar demo
Graf soon after Mr.. Baker had suggest
90 10 the military committee that such
legislation was necessary. Il would
empower the president completely 10
make over The executive branch o. the
government; for the period OF the war.
rea-rangiag existing agencies and their
functions and esta blishing such new
ones as he might see IN.
There has been no inIination so far
OF any specific action under the bill
the president has in mind. nor Of how
quickly the measure Is 10 oe pressed
for passage. Mt was referred 20 the
judiciary committee O: which Senator
Overman is ranking democratic MEM
bar One move which some officials
say is contemplated is the appointment
Of rlos g - : -
board-a post now vacant-and the in
ve+stment Of the office with powers
similar 20 those proposed for the di-
rector OF munitions.
Questioned Three Hours.
The military Conmrreo d.l not get
far with its eXa ulination Of Ny. Baker
altho he was questioned for three
hours because ne dernurred a. telling
in open session the basis for MS asser-
ton that the prospects were not un-
compromising tor enough ships 10 put
a million and a haE American soldiers
in France this year. After much dis
Cusion during which Senator Hitch
cock, who has termed the secretary
statement wildly exaggerated and
prepusterous." insisted on an answer to
his questions. the committee agreed
that the information should be given
in secret SESSION and Mr.. Baker prom
Used to prepare a statement for the
purpose.
The examination then turned 20 other
subjects. When the war secretary left
the stand il was with the understand
ing thar ne would have experts at the
department prepare detailed informa-
ton which ne was unable 20 give con-
corning various phases OF his general
statement After this has been done
he may De recalled FOR further ques-
tioning.
In the meantime. the committee will
proceed with - general war inquiry
examining Thursday Major General
Wheeler acting chief Of ordnance re-
"a riding production OF chlorine powder
and other explosives
Ahead of Schedule
Secretary Baker told the Conuli ttee
that more American troops had been
gotten 20 France on Jan. ! than called
for by the schedule. He explained that
in his calculations as TO what could
be done, he did not rely entirely on
American shipping, out would go no
further at the public hearing.
IN explaining functions Of the reor-
ganizej war department bureaus. the
secretary said that while Edward r.
Stettinius, the new surveyor general
OF supplies. lacks technical legal au-
chority. he had broad powers in secur-
ing production. with larger duties than
England's 1nunition director.
Legislation is unnecessary TO secure
government coordination, NJ contend
ed, other than that he suggested. and
was proposed in the OTerman bill.
Introduction OF the OverHan bill
came as a surprise, and promises to
change entirely the character of the
controversy over war machinery re-
orga injection. Administration spokes-
men who, in view of the presidents
statement last week that he desired
agitation over the military commit
tees bill to cease were prepared to
check discussion as far as possible,
now will join in reorganization debate
as champions Of the new measure
which will be vigorously fought by
members who oppose granting the
president further powers.
Sessions OF the senate and house