Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-20


reconstruction" While no specific
''unscramblin" measures were in
that the Congress shall assert its
dorsed it was understood that in
dividual members of the conference
will offer a series of bills at an early
date to abolish the war powers of
the administration.
Abuse War Powers
After the conference had ad-
journcd Senator Sherman, of Iln-
nois, gave out an interview in which
he characterized the taking over of
the marine cable five days after the
virtual er = of the war as 'an arro-
CANT abuse of war powers" The
SenatH declared that the public
shoulu imm ediately associate the
seizure OF the cables with the de-
clared purpose of the President to
attend the peace conference with a
retinue of pTblici,. agents.
The President is going abroad"
said Senator Sherman "and l see
he is going 70 take Creel with him.
With the newly acquired power
Creel will pinch the cables and
5000 miles of salt water between
the cables will be under exclusive
control of the government and the
Transmission of information about
the peace discussions will be entirely
in the hands of the President and
Creel
There is only one autocrat left
and he heads the worlds oldest and
greatest republic. The press will be
tied, bound, gagged and hobbled by
this seizure of the cables.
From a domestic point of view
the seizure of the cables Is in line
with the administrations Socialistic
policy of taking everything it can
lay its hands on. 1t is, an arrogant
abuse of the war powers conferred
upon the administration by Congress
for use only during the present
emergency.
Publicity For Wilson
Senator Watson, of Indiana, voiced
vigorous protest in the conference
against the taking over of the cables.
He expects to make a speech elab-
Grating his views in the Senate on
Thursday. He said that he would
point out to the Senate that the
chief purpose of the seizure of the
cables after the cessation of hostil-
tiles is to give Creel control of all
the publicity in connection with the
Presidents visit abroad. 1t has
been announced that Creel and a
number of employees of the Bureau
OF Public Information will accom-
pany the President to take charge
of the publicity. No arrangements
have been made for the accommo-
dauon of regular newspapermen, al
though no obsta cles will be placed
in their way, it is tied.
Having made q favorable report
on the amendment to the Weeks
reconstruction resolution whereby
the appointment. of six committees
is provided for instead of one, the
Republican plans for demobilizing
the forces of the country from u war
basis to the new conditions of peace
to be entirely harmonious.
The six committee plan was pro-
posed by Senator Cummins of Iowa,
of the so-called progressive wing, of
the party, and indicates that the
Senators are working together on
lliG pliiiS lOl' ile1huflllS ItCOlSlIuC-
ton work. The joint committees
will deal with the rehabilitation of
the army and navy; foreign trade
and commerce; interstate transpor-
tation, domestic business; en-
ployers and employees national re-
sources.
Penrose to Head Finance
Although there has been some
talk on the 49, of Western Sena-
tors of opposition to Senator Pen
rose of Pennsylvania as chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee,
at the conference there was no indi-
cation that any such movement
would develop. 1t was conceded
by the rank and file that Senator
Penrose is the man for the job, be-
cause of his long experience on the
committee and because he H. ad-
mitted to be an authority on the
subject of taxation.
ANY opposition on the part of
western senator's is likely to meet
with an untimely end, for the senti-
ment of the party is strongly in
favor of rewarding the Republican
leaders who have established records
in the Senate and the seniority rule
on the committees will continue 10
stand.