The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-04

memory of the late Senator Francis
G. Newlands. :,
In the House the bill was passed
authorizing calling into the service
of the United States the militia and
other military organizations of the
Philippine Islands. It was explain
ed that this represents their own
wishes, and that they are not to be
subjected to compulsion.
The Speaker of the House and the
Vice President were notified by the
President of his appearance before
Congress in joint session at 1880 to-
day to deliver a message on the rail-
road situation.
Reports as to its. contents were
merely atmospheric. AS it was ex-
pected to deal, among other things,
with compensation for the railroads,
the Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce left the lead to the Presi-
dent. Its investigation under the
.Cummins resolution has been adj
journed to January z.
issues of the Congressional cleo
tons this year and Of the next
Presidential election developed sud
denly before the Senate Committee
on Manufactures yesterday. Food
Administrator Hoover had resumed
the stand. He was being examined
on sugar prices, and the difference,
If any, between fixing" and "stabil-
izing" them.
Chairman Reed insisted that they
had been fixed when there is no au-
thority Of law for fixing prices ex-
cept as Congress itself has done SO.
This introduced a question Of "fixa-
, ton" or "stabiliZation" in wheat,
| flour, and food prices generally.
Neither Administrator Hoover nor
Chairman Reed was prepared, but
with his records in reach, Senator
Reed had all the advantage and
forced the issue.
Hoover admitted the documentary
I evidence that he had said there was
nothing whatever in the bin, estab-
fishing his department and creating
him officially, to permit the fixing
of prices. He fell back on the word
sterilization" Reed forced him on
that issue until he said that ne
would not "quibble" fixatior
might be a part of sterilization, as
prices for -four and wheat were con.
trolled by the same methods as those
Of sugar.
Reed then asked him to point out
a single clause or line in the law
oil hNra nlan author.
ity for the control thus exercised
Hoover could find no direct authority
in the law for fixing prices, but in
ferred 1t from the preamble. Afte.
struggle over the preamble, Reed
assuming Hoover's surrender, asked
II he did not know that the exercise
of power in this way, when hot given
by law, would constitute in ordinary
times, gross and criminal usurpation
which would certainly be punished
Hoover answered that the power
was exercised "'by authority of the
President OF the United States.
Reed said that the Presidents coat
tails were broad" and that his great.
ness was recognized at home and
abroad, but the question Of authority
OF law had not been answered by
the witness In his own case.
The point had been made for the
record on an issue which will las
after all questions of arming and
clothing the troops have been for
gotten. The examination on sugar
was then resumed. It lasted all day
bearing on points already in the
record and forcing into print everJ
possible admission on two main con
tentions-that of fixing prices with
out authority from Congress and o.
so fixing them as to permit pos
sible corner on sugar and a genera
scarcity in the market. Mr.. Hoover
held his ground best in showing his
power OF persuading consumers anC
producers to work voluntarily will
his department for conservation o.
supply.
Congressional investigation con
tinued yesterday. Admiral Benson
testified on submarines before tn,
House Subcommittee on Naval Al
fairs, in executive session. Meye,
Bloomfield, chief of the industrial
department of the Emergency Flee
Corporation, testified on poor hous
ing and car-crowding around thu
great new shipyards. Crowding oil
trolleys and general failure Of trans
portation service had become ;
cause of serious delay in shipbuild
ing.
On Senator Nelson's recommends
ton the matter is to be laid befor'
the President The Senate commit
tee decided that he has power t.
take over trolley roads as full as tina
he has used in taking over steam
roads.
VI. F.. Driscoll testified before tn,
Senate Committee on Military AT
fairs that shoddy and cotton as nov
used in uniforms may decreas
warmth at times but not durability
lie was shown samples Of regulation
German uniforms. He bel eyed then
warmer and more fitted for servic
in European trenches than tn
American. He testified as an ex
pert, and as the president OF New
Jersey wOolen company which has
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