Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-30
SENATE, BY G3 TO IS,
PASSES OvERMAN BILL
Reed, OF Missouri, Only Democrat to
Join Republicans in Opposition
to Administration Measure.
KILL HARDING AMENDMENT
KILL HARDING AMENDMENT
Senators Refuse TO Limit P,csi-
dents Authority-Borah .AnsM crs
Argument That Congress IS Dele
eating Power by Legislation.

WASHINGTON, April 2a.-Thc over
man bill was passed by the Senate to-
night by the vote of 63 to 10. All OF
the opponents but one. Reed. OF Mis-
souri,. were Republicans.
The vote follows:
Ayes-Ashurst, Bankhead. Bcckharn
Chamberlain, Culbcrson. Fletcher. Ger
ry. Gulon, Hardwick. Henderson (New
MeSico), King. Kirby. Lewis Nickel
lar, Martin. Myers, Nugent. Overman
Phe!an. Pittman. Pomcrenc. Salisbury
Sanfroth Sheppard. Shields. Simmons.
Smith {Arizona). Smith (Georgia)
Smith (Maryland), Smith (South Caro-
lina), Swanson, Thomas. Thompson
Tillman. Trammell. Underwood. Var
daman. Walsh. Williams. Wolcott
Democrats. Baird. Borah. Colt. Curtis
Fall. Frelinshuysen. Hale Jones'
tWashington). Kellogg. I.cnroot. Me-
Cumber Mclean. McNary. Nelson, New,
Norris, Page. Smoot Townsend. War
rem. Watson. Weeks. Republicans
Total. GS.
Noes--Brandegoe. Cummins. Dilling-
ham. France. Gallinger. Harding. John
son California;. Knox. Poindexter
licans. Reed. Democrat.-Total, H.
SENATOR HARDING
ANSWERS SENATOR oVERMAN
Senator Harding. in speaking for his
amendment. aroused the ire of Sena-
tor Ovcrman by saying that the pur-
pose OF the bill is Ito cover up mis-
takes made by responsible officials
since we got into the war" Senator
overman challenged this statement
calling upon Senator Harding to name
any instance OF graft or misdcaling
Senator Harding corrected his state
ment by saying he meant the bill would
enable the President to transfer func-
tions from officials who had fallen
down." whereas the simpler remedy
would have been to dismiss them from
Office
'If the Senate is going to pass this
bill with every suggestion OF amend
ment rejected. Congress can only Mt
tinSly transfer its functions OF ap-
propriatinS money and adjourn and go
home" Senator Harding said
Il always have been a believer in
concentration of power. but you can
not have co-ordination unless you have
participation. and the trouble with the
governmental machinery has been Il
lack of participation by some depart
nents of the Eovernmcnt-they have
not been functioninG at all.
III T believed it necessary to win
the war. ! would vote to make the
government autocratic. but until am
convinced that such a thing is nee
cssary, I beg to be excused from sur
rendering the functions of this body
to create a smoke screen for the re-
treat OF our boasted popular govern
ment TO n dictatorship. | am willing
TO go to the limit in granting war
powers. But yet have to be con-
vinced of the necessities of the bill.
IF we had either the English or the
French system in this country We
would have an entirely different sort
of ministry at this time. and | am
very sure that we would have cor
rectcd some of the things which are
sought 10 be covered up by this bill"
Senator Harding digrcssed to repeat
II message he said the head OF an
Important government department had
sent to him in response to an inquiry
in the matter of the housing appro-
priatiOn. The message was. according
this official hoped he would not hear
OF the matter again.
Senator Ovcrman demanded the name
OF tho official in question, and senator
Harding replied that it was Mr.. Ed
lilz. who Is In charge OF the housing
program OF tho Department Of Labor.