Evening star., 1918-02-24
CONGRESS VIOLATES
AVOWED INTENTION
Delegates Greater and Great
er Power to Executive
Branch of Government.
DEMAND OF NECESSITY

When Congress reassembled after the
Christmas holidays, great deal OF
talk was heard at the Capitol over the
firm intention of legislators to with
hold further extension of power to the
executive branch Of the government.
The legislative branch, it would have
seemed. had become convinced that 1t
had delegated too much of its author
ity to the executive, and would curtail
such extension for the future.
What has happened since? The Con-
gress has in point of fact taken steps
as in seven-league boots toward dele
CATION Of power far in advance OF the
point where it had declared 1t would
stop. Necessities of the occasion arose
which warranted such action. demanded
it, in fact, in the opinion Of the legis-
lators.
The first act was to accept the ad-
miniseration's suggestion for legisla-
ton to effectuaate the taking over OF
the railroads by the government. CON
gress had heretofore authorized the
President to take charge OF the roads
in emergency, the emergency had un-
questionably arisen, the President mad
acted and Congress could not with
hold arming him with the details OF
autnOFlty 10 MAKE }sOou MS oSSoAApsAS~A
of control of the roads.
Give Federal Government Control.
Next followed the proposition to give
the federal government control OF the
issue of investment securities. Con-
sress gasped little at the comprehen-
siveness of the plan to restrict indus
trial expansion and to virtually com
mander for governmental purposes in
the future the available supply of pos
sible investment money. Upon full ex-
planation by the Secretary OF the
Treasury, and recovering from tne HTst
shock of surprise. Congress set about
to grant this great power to the eXecu-
tive-not a yielding of purely leglsla =
tive function. however, out a ooMh-
right endowment of eminent DOMAIN.
Quickly there came the request for
what was conceding to the executive
of authority which Congress had held
unto itself-authority for the President
to reorganize and consolidate depart
mental functions and activities Some
what unwillingly, it is true, but yield
ing to what was represented TO pc tne
force of circumstance and condition,
Congress is going to do that also.
Then, yesterday, came the reporting
of the Lever food bill from the House
committee on agriculture, which gives
the President vastly enhanced powers
to control the movement of food prod
ucts for the general good and the win,
ming OF the war. That this Dill Will
pass is taken to be a certainty, as 1t is
on a parity with the general plan OF
centralizing power, which has been
acquiesced in by Congress in respect
to the other bills.
Expanding the Program.
So, within two months after declar-
ing intention to put down the brakes
on centralizing power in the executive,
Congress finds itself expanding the pro-
gram. 1t is a yielding to conditions
rather than holding to theories. the
statesmen explain. The war has cast
into the scrap heap many stoutly held
theories and cherished traditions.
A conspicuous feature of this situa-
tion is the absence Of party spirit in the
consideration of the several measures.
Upon none Of these bills has there been
party division in committee, nor evil
dence of it in House or Senate. Men
are freely criticising features and sec
tions Of the bills, but commenting upon
them not from a political viewpoint.
In this connection probably the most
notable feature of bipartisan considera-
tfon attaches to the consideration of
the bills which place in the hands of
the Secretary of the Treasury powers
almost autocratic. and which are pecul-
iarly. in the circumstances susceptible
Of being used for political ends. There
has been no party division over this
consideration or possibility.