The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-20
SENATE PUSHING
BILL TO CREATE
WAR CABINET
Committee Completes Draft
Of Measure Conveying
Wide Power.
BAKER OPPOSES, Is HINT
Measure Expected to Become
Law Whether President
Approves or Not.
SpeciaI DespdfcA to Tnx Stx.

Special DssSufcA to Tnx StS.
WARRINGTON, Jan. 19.-The Senate
Committee on military Affairs has COM
pleted the ANAL draft Of . bill to create
war cabinet Recent developments
have occasioned many changes In the
form Of the measure. but az drafted and
informally approved by the committee It
was to-day placed In the hands Of Sec
retary Baker, who discussed It with the
President.
1t 10 not expected that an unqualified
Endorsement, even the slightest express
sion Of approval, will be At once uttered
from tho White House. 1t Is known.
however. to Senators who participated in
the formulation Of tho proposed law that
Secretary Baker. while not to be de-
scribed n enthusiastically for the meas
Gro, has come to realize that the action
OF the Military Committee 10 founded
upon . discontent with existing condi-
lions with which II will not do to trihe.
Tho President. while Withholding final
Judgment, was represented a. not being
favorably disposed to the plan because
Of tho belief that It might emba rrass his
personal direction oi war activities.
President ana Baker Confee.
Mr. Wilson went to Secretary Baker,
Office for conference after Senator
Hitchcock OF Nebraska, for the Senate
committee. had delivered a copy of the
war cabinet bill to Mr.. Baker and
earnestly urged its approval BY tho Ad
ministration. 1t was understood thai
Mr. Hitchcock was encouraged by thu
Secretary to hope that the Administra.
ton ultimately may acQuiesce in tn,
general plan.
A definite statement Of the President'i
hnal views il expected within a few
days. Senate committee members. Dem
ocrats and Republicans alike, are in
sistent upon adoption Of the genera
War Cabinet plan. They declare the,
will proceed with the legislation even 1
Administration approval is withheld, an>
express confidence of ita adoption BY tn
Senate and probably tbe House dsspit'
opposition By the President
| Tho submission Of the plan tosSecre
tary sker to-day in Its a1isped, ,forp
! vas the Sscond occasion Of ri bemS IL
proaclied on the subject At tho fifst in
terchange of views the Secretary was q
a mind to approve in some measune tn
suggestions for q War Cabinet which
involved. Then. however. the measur
provided for the creation Of q War Cabi
net-the word Council" had been con
demned by the Senate COMMITTEES, whic
scents in Council the suggestion @
discussion rather. than action-w4ich In
cluded two Cabinetcers. In the group q
five.
Cahinet Of Three Menbers.
Tho revised bill provides for Cabint
Of three members. without portfolio. wh
shall be the coadjutors and advisers {
tho President. superior to the Cabine
and in which the entire conduct OF II
war shall concentrate.
1t IL pointed out by its trainers ths
to-day. in addition to the ten depar
ments Of Government with Cabinet rel
resentatton At the White House tabl
there are the Shipping Board. the CouI
ell Of National Defence. the Food AZ
ministration. the Fuel Administratio
and the Directorshlp OF Transportatic
all WORKING at odd purposes. and II
only point OF conce entration possible Il
them Is tho President OF the Unite
States.
, The Senators hold that 1t is not h,
manly possible for any one man
coordinate and concentrate these vario,
. laborg.
a The new bill provides that the thr,
!. members Of the War Cabinet shall r
csive the saiaries Of Cabinet ofiicer
2 $4,000 year.
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