Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-05
CONTEST IS EXPECTED
OVER OVERMAN BILL
Ten or Twelve Democrats
Found Among Opponents
of Measure
By THEODORE rILLER

WASHINGTON, April with pos
sibly ten or twelve Democrats among
the opponents of the measure, the SEN
ate is scheduled to spend practically the
remainder of the week in heated discus
sion of the Overman bill giving the
president plenary powers to reorganlze
the various executive departments and
coordinate their work. The fight over
this administration measure, upon which
the president has insisted despite efforts
to change his views, will probably be
exceedingly bitter and may reopen the
entire unfortunate discussion of the con-
duct of the war.
There will be a non-partiSan align
ment against the administration bill, al
though Republican opposition FREEDOM
mates. Republican critics of the meas
ure will include Senators Dillingham;, of
Vermont; Cummings, of Iowa; Lodge, of
Massachusetts,; Wadsworth, of New
York; Harding, of Ohio. and Brandagee
of Connecticut.
Senator Hoke Smith recently issued
statement explanatory of his views
and announcing his desire to amend the
bill so that it will give the president
whatever power he needs in so far as
the war and navy departments and sub
ordinate agencies are concerned, but eX-
Guiding reference to executive depart
ments and independent bureaus and
commissions not directly concerned with
war work.
The statement of the senior Georgia
senator is representative of both Re-
publican and Democratic views in OPP
position. The coalition in opposition
raises the objection that the powers de-
sired by the president are too general
and broad. They will insist that con-
gress should not relinquish its super
visory powers over the activities of the
executive departments.
Opponents of the bill want the presi-
dent to specify just what changes in
coordination and concentration he de-
sires to make. In the absence of definite
promises from the White House, the op-
position will keep up it's fight The OPP
position contends if the president has
specific changes in mind, he ought to
seek congressional ratification and spe-
officially appropriate legislation.
Senator Overman, chairman of the jul
dietary committee, and the proponents
of the bill will take the broad ground
that the president is commander-in-chief
of the army and navy and the diplo-
matte spokesman for this country In
the world war. President Wilson, 1T
will be truthfully argued, is directing
this countrys participation in the war.
his 10 pIODdDiy greater
than that of any other man on earth
today. The record of the war will be
mainly his record. and the president
will be expected to stand or fall upon it.
The constitution and congress having
placed this great responsibility on the
shoulders of Woodrow Wilson, friends
of the Overman bill in the senate will
demand that the president be given
every opportunity to make good in the
supreme task. He has supervision of
the ten executive departments, it will
be contended, whereas congress is at
the other end of Pennsylvania avenue
and engaged on legislative duty. The
presidents appointees are on the va
rious boards and commission. He is
the chief engineer of the vast war ma
chine.
There is no doubt of the presidents
/ desire for the enactment Of the Over
man bill. For reasons which he has
not publicly explained, but which he
doubtless assumes to be sufficient, he
desires authority to reorganize the ex-
ecutive departments, to coordinate the
activities of this bureau and that, and
to transfer powers from one department
or board to another.
The bill was held in committee for
long time. The fight is now trans
ferred to the floor and the administra-
tion's forces are confident of winning,
as they have won time and time again
since the war began, and the president
has assumed burden after burden in the
conduct of the war. Senator Smiths
statement said the president was al
ready too overburdened He further
more insisted the bill would have been
reported unanimously from the judi
ciary committee had it's scope been con.
fined to the war and navy departments
and the shipping board.
From the outset an effort will be
made to amend the bill and pro-
tracted debate is inevitable. Probably