The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-07
JOLTEp INTO
NEW ENTHUSIASM
Torpedoing of Transport Has
Shocked Government Into
Greater Efforts to
Prosecute War.
THIRD LIBERTY LOAN
Full Speed Ahead Now to Remove
Menace Of Humanity From
Top Of Earth
Forever.
THIRD LIBERTY LOAN

TUnited Press Leased Wire Service.l
WASHINGTON Feb. 7.-Shocked
by Germany's dramatic stroke at
Americas transport lines, the AM
erican government today gathered It
self for the greatest effort 1t mas
thrown into the war.
Congress had before 1t President
Wilson's request for unprecedented
legislation giving him unparalleled
powers for reorganizing and co-ordin-
ating the entire government war
work.
The shipping board announced for
nation OF an inter-allied transporta-
ton committee to allocate tonnage
and speed up shipment of troops and
supplies to France,
Secretary McAdoo offered an Is
sue OF $5OO,O00,00O in Indebtedness
certificates bearing four per cent in
terest-the second issue heralding
the launching of the third Liberty
loan, which will be soon. Additional
issues Of $780, 900, 900 will be issued
every two weeks until, the next loan.
The war and shipping boards were
considering a plan to restrict I'M
ports and increase service of neutral
ships In transatlantic trade.
The shipping board put it squarely
up to labor to make the ship building
program a success.
Administration influence was
thrown behind the housing bill be-
fore congress in belief the fate OF
the shipping program now depends
largely upon homes for the workers.
President Wilson apparently is de-
termined to slash red tape merciless-
ly. In his request for legislation
which virtually would empower him
to break the fetters Of peace time
laws, reorganize the government and
create or disband bureaus and COM
missions as he sees fit, is seen move
to stop competitive buying between
the army and navy, empower the war
industries board to enforce its rul-
ings, now merely advisory, and CO.
ordinate various departments noT
working at cross purposes or dupH-
eating efforts.
And behind the scenes Of tremend'
GUS war activity, the senate military
committee went into executive ses
sion with Secretary of War Baker
and army officers to satisfy their
craving for knowledge of the scope
of the work under way.
Critics of the war department who
have crystalliZed their remedies into
met bills, declared that the presi-
dents action was at least partial
yindication for them. They say it is
an admission by the chief executive
that a shake-up is needed.
1--WE seek by mandatory legislation
to effect the reorganization the pres
ident has in mind" said one of them,
while the president seeks to do 1t
through permissive legislation"
1.-The president wants to reorganize
the whole government said Senator
Hitchcock. THE military affairs COM
mittee does not propose to go that far.
1--WE will continue our fight for the
Chamberlain bills because we believe
the organization and Capitalization
necessary can be accomplished with
out granting the president such broad
powers as he seeks.
That the measure will meet the
most stubborn opposition from the
minority side of the house was ad-
mitted. These opponents it was pre-
dicted would gather strength from
among the democrats.
An element in congress which
sprang up when the senate gnashed
its teeth in vain over the Garfield
fuel order, is strongly opposed to
granting any further general powers
to the president.
The war department fight spread
through both houses of congress to-
day.
Representative Carter Glass was
ready with the first prepared de-
tense of the administration that has
been heard in congress.
In the senate Senator Shields at
tackled the constitutionality of the
war cabinet and the munitions direc-