The Washington times., 1918-04-17
Rv ". V. BYARS.

would be any real authority OF law
before tho passage of the acts he
was explaining All OF which is, of
course. incredible Could such things
occur in the United States OF Amer
ic2 in the twentieth century? Ger
tainly not Who will believe it?
The Senate finally adopted the con-
ference report on the so-called 'sa-
botage bill" It has been sent back
ward and forward between House and
Senate to give certain Senators op-
portunity to express the deep distrust
they feel for mere human beings who
are not capitalized and never likely
10 be. Several Senators seem TO be
honestly and earnestly convinced
that the entire uncap!talized portion
of the human race is a menace TO all
they suppose is civilization.
During the progress OF this
wholly uncalled-for debate. Senator
Hollis read letters from Secretary
Of Labor Wilson, Frank Morrison,
secretary, and Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Fedora
tion of Labor. They bore more or
less directly on the issue of com
pulsorv labor" in connection with
strikes during the war period. AS
tho civil war resulted in abolishing
slavery. they are not germane to any
question likely to come before the
country while "the Gettysburg
speech" is remembered.
The Senate passed the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation
bill, carrying some SO, 100000: The
principal amendment adopted during
the day has the effect of admitting
to the benefit of the increase of pay
department employees paid from lump
sum appropriations authorized prior
to January l, 1916. The language
is somewhat obscure, but it is sup
posed to work with accuracy to make
it sure that no increase of pay Is
voted to any one working under Mr..
Creel, or Mr.. Hoover, or any other
representative Of Government by bu-
reaus in tke new order Of the ages.
In connection with the proposed in
crease, Senator Townsend said that
he favored it for the clerks, but he
wished to have some assurance that
it was not being voted them
merely TO be taken away by the
profteers who had been preying on
Washington"
The Senate passed a bill TO pay
the necessary expenses Of soldiers
or sailors travelling on business IN
the line of duty. The Military Com
mittee reported favorably the bill
authorizing American troops TO &C
cept foreign medals with an amend
ment authorizing the President to
bestow similar medals.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman
OF the Military Committee, intro
duced a bill to suspend the func-
tions of the civil courts and estab-
lish court-martial trials for war Of
/ fcnses. The death penalty is au-
/ thorized. The bill is of course uncon-
stitutional and could have no effect,
if passed. unless the President had
previously suspended the habeas
corpus act. Editors guilty OF say
/ ing that our war preparations had
broken down. might be shot, under
B the bill.
After debating the rivers and har-
hors bill until closing time, the
( House postponed its final vote un-
til today, adopting amendments
in favor Of He'll Gate, Char
lesion harhor. and other harbors
perhaps needing improvements for
war purposes. The bill carries
something over S20,OO0,000, COM
paratively speaking, a mere pit
tancc. The appropriations Eor the
Mississippi and Missouri are
scarcely nominal The only feature
Of the bill which suggests with
diaval of ideas from Europe To
look after the future Of the United
States l. an admirable section un-
der which a terminal system. con-
rcctinC river and railroad business
may finally he established on the
Ohio.
We are to have a year of thir.
teen months Of four weeks each
with a new month TO be named
Sol" coming directly after June
This is provided for in House bill
introduced yesterday by Mr.. John
VI. c. Smith of Michigan. 1t is eX'
pected that the Garabed will Begin
working up to specifications in the
new month of Sol"
Ten new major generals were
nominated Yesterday for the national
army, as follows: William 7. Burn,
ham. James II. McCrac, Ernest
Hinds. Charles s. Farnsworth, Ed
ward F. McGIachlin, jr.; Willard A
lyolbrook, George Il. Duncan, Charles
l Il Malt in IanIns " Ma ndrnM and