New-York tribune., 1918-07-12
Senate Expected
To Vote for Wire
Control To-day
Summer Vacation Date
Also Is Likely To Be
Decided Upon

W WASHINGTON, July 11.-Adoption
tomorrow by the Senate Of the House
resolution empowering the President
to acquire telegraph, telephone, cable
and radio systems and summer vaca-
tion for Congress, with national war
time prohibition legislation postponed
until after the recess, was the pro-
gramme framed to-day by Congress
sional leaders.
Senate debate on Administration wire
control was begun to-day after the
S11,000,00C emergency agricultural ap
preparation bill with its prohibition
amendment had been laid aside tenn
porarily. With a vote expected to-
morrow or not later than Saturday and
approval of the resolution without
amendment almost universally con-
ceded, leaders of the Senate and House
renewed negotiations to postpone the
prohibition issue and carry out original
plans for a recess or adjournment until
about August 12.
Prohibition Vote Next Week
Prohibition advocates assented to
temporary displacement of the agri-
cultural measure because the wire con-
troll resolution is regarded by the Ad-
ministration as an urgent war neces-
sity. The agricultural bill, however,
was kept in position to be called up
imme diately after disposal of the wire
legislation either before or after the
recess. If prohibition managers finally
ioto RI ho
prohibition legislation leaders believed
a vote might be reached early next
week and Congress then start on its
vacation.
The wire control resolution was de-
bated in the Senate virtually all day.
| Opponents emphasized lack of infor-
nation regarding its military neces
sity and insisted that further hearings
are necessary before intelligent action
can be taken.
Urged as Military Necessity
Pressing the resolution on the ground
chat President Wilson regards its grant
of authority as military necessity,
Senator Smith and Senator Underwood,
of Alabama, said no present eNigency is
known to require its use, but that it is
to arm the President with power if
there is need for its exercise.
Amendments proposing to except
telephone systems and telegraph wires
leased by press associations from the
resolutions operation were introduced
BY Senator Watson, of Indiana, Repub-
lican.
kilograms from business orgaAza
tions and telegraphers protesting
against the legislation and urging fur
ther hearings were presented by Sen
ators Kellogg, of Minnesota; Penrose
of Penns ylvania; Sherman, of Illinois !;
Pomerene, of Ohio, and Walsh, of Mon
tana. Senator Smith, of Georgia, pre-
sented one from Atlanta operators say
ing they were discharged because of
union membership.
Tired Of Drifting Process
at seems to me we are drifting into
an unknown field" said Senator Smith
of Michigan, speaking against the reso-
luton at the beginning of the debate
CAS- far as I am concerned, | have
taken the last step into socialism.
! am sick and tired of this drifting
process. | believe we are drifting from
sound economic government"
Senator Smith, of South Carolina, in
terrupted to declare his belief that au-
thority to take over control Of wire
communication is equal in Importance
rs far as the war is concerned with
the necessity for taking over control
of the railroads.
II am wondering if the people will
have the right to breathe after g
while" declared the Michigan Senator
II doubt it, if Germany is victori-
ous," replied the South Carolina Sen
/ ator.
Senator Watson, of Indiana, intro
/ duced amendments to exclude tele-
phone lines and all wires of press bu-
reaus or associations from government
control.
Senator Smith, of Michigan, de
clared that by giving Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson control over wire com
munication he could create censor.
ship over all communication, and asked
# the Senate was willing to place the
Postmaster General in such d position
that he could prohibit The Associated