The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-22
Sinister Motive Seen in Con-
troll of All News Crossing
Ocean During Farley.
ATTACK CREEL AND REDS
Lewis's Resolution to Commit
senate to Federal Owner
ship StaAs Big Storm.
Specia, Despatch to TIM suS


WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-The seiz-
ure of the cable lines when fighting
had ceased, but under the war time
authority granted to the President,
was the occasion for an inflammatory
outburst of protest in the Senate to-
day. Denunciation of the alleged de-
'cption of Congress in regard to the
need for the enactment of legislation
to permit such seizure as a war
measure and the non-exerclse of such
bowers until after The war was over
and peace in sight was pronounced
by Republican Senators, while the
Democrats sat by and listened with
interest to the clamcr without vouch-
gafing a reply.
The Interior motive of perversion
OF the news Of the peace conference
and suppression in Europe of Ameri-
can public. press or legislative opin-
ION not wholly in consonance with
the views of the President was
charged by the Republicans as the
H IpBSt III tht NuDiC sCiIuiNs
The taking over Of the express com
panies was coupled with the seizure Of
the cables. and both acts OF the Admin
stration were alleged by the critics as
exemplifications of the tendency to-
ward State Socialism in place Of the
constitaiional republican form OF gov
ernment under which the United States
has proceeded for nearly century and
. half.
Senators Watson Und) and Sher-
man (Ill) addressed the Senate with
regard TO the alleged tendency toward
autocratic interference by the Execu-
tive with the ordinary avenues OF free
communication both in internal affairs
and in american communication with
the outside world.
\ resolution introduced to-day by
Senator Lewis ull). in which he
sought TO commit the Senate TO a rati-
s. flcation of the theory of ultimate Gov
crnment ownership of all monopolies,
including the national resources in
fuels. oils and gas. furnished text for
both Senators, although they by no
means confined their criticism to the
Governmental control idea. Senator
Lewis's resolution reads as follows:
Be it resolved by the United States
senate, assembled. that II is the ex-
precision Of the United States Senate
that the policy OF the United States
fnr thu future should be
that of Government ownership of in
te-state railroads, telegraphs, tele-
phones and also national lines OF COM
mug!cation necessary 10 complete pos
tal and telegraphic service to the citi-
zens Ot the nation.
Resolved. further. that the Govern
ment should possess and owQ all nat
ural agencies for the production of
fuel produced and created from land
and fuel produced from natural agen-
cies. II shall construct and own
ships and agencies OF water transpor-
:atOn necessary for merchant ma
r!nr, all to be maintained and con=
tlnued In behalf of the United States
and for the advancement of It's COM
mcrce. so as to facilitate the dealings
OF the citizens of the United states
IN matters of trade and shipping with
al citizens of other countries.
Resolved, further, that the matter
.. the operation of tnest agencies
heretofore mentioned Is a subject to
~ regulated and adjusted In each in
stance according to the demands and
circumstances surrounding the opera
ton Of that particular agency at the
particular time of the demand for the
use Of that agency, be II railroad.
steamship, telephone. telegraph coal
or oil
Ist1 Nno DlnaA
senator Watson opened the attack on
tho assumption of war powers in peace
time by saying:
Last week the press Informed us that
the President of the United states by
Proclamation had taken under govern
mental control and operation the ex-
press companies of the nation.
The President d!d not assign any
reason Cor that action and therefore we
ar. 'efi 20 the broad field OF conjecture
a. ~ Why II was tahsn. II Is quite
rue that we are safe in assuming tnat
IT, action was taken under the act OF
Congress passed in 1916, by which the
Pres dent was empowered to take over
al Pie transportation systems OF the
r.Htry. aTpi It is safe 20 assume that In
h,s act he regarded the express compa-
no # the nation as part OF the trans.
p1T'ation system of the country.
with that conclusion have no quar-
Eei hut 1t Is passing strange that dur
Ing al, the time of storm and stress, dur
ne the period OF unparalleled conges-
ton, during tho time when we we're
'ra"eporting millions Of soldiers, II was
not 'hought essential by the Presidept
% 'aee over the express companies to
relieve that congestion. Now, when the
Hun las signed the armistice, when Ger
many lies prostrate at our feet. when the
Sln Of Peace nils all our skies he has