The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-25
Parallel Seen In
 Handling Crises
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seized by a forceful minority and used practically without restraint Roosevelt's new power rests on a different base. In the first place he has been overwhelmingly elect ed by the people. Tn the second his new powers are granted him freely by Congress in its judgment that they are necessary in the emergency, and those powers arc definitely set forth and limited.
 And though these powers oi government reorganization are greater than any previous peace. time powers given a president Woodrow Wilson was given some. what similar power in the Over man bill in 1918. This bill em- powered the president to redis' tribute functions of executive agencies, to transfer personnel work, or equipment from one bu- reau to another. He was given nc power to abolish any bureau, how ever. nor to eliminate its work and ali his changes were to revert to their former status when the war was over.
 There was some opposition even khen. but 1t was overridden. 50 efronr was the feeling for grant arg additional powers to the presi.. dent then that Senator Harding of Ohio. later himself to become president, proposed an actual dic- taforship by Wilson.
 wilson Got Authorization
 Wilson's war powers. Wnicn caused many to fear that the -,raaidancv was rising to dictator ship. were in practically every case specifically authorized ny Conwresg. and in proclaimine them. Wilson was always most careful to cite his congressional or constitutional authority.
 Here was q vast difference from Aven the war s.dictatorship" Of the Rritish. For in the Defense of the fRealm Act, the British Parliament nractically signed blank check to 4he cabinet to do anything if wish al fm prosecution of the war. when war came to America, great powers were also conferred on Wilson, but they were conferred piecemeai. one at a time as needed, and almost always in specific and limited terms. True, all powers Wilson asked congress to grant, 1t granted But the fact of their specific dele- gation remained.
 Wilson's first war proclamation after the declaration of war was m the "conduct of aliens," and had specific authority in an act If congress of 1798 which 1t cited The powers which enabled Wilson ko bring about the seizure of for eien ships, the draft, the espionage net. were all specifically granted by congress. On Aug. 10, 1917, when the fule and food conserva- fion act was passed by congress that body left to the president de- cision as to the means of carrying It out by proclamation.
 Roosevelt Cites War Act.
 It was to one of those wartime Acts' of congress that Franklin Roosevelt went when he declared the recent bank holiday. Congress on Oct. 6, 1917, passed an act to prevent the export of gold, and Authorizing the president to "regu- late or prohibit" theexport of gold under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe. In his procla. nation of the banking holiday, this act was specifically cited by F. D R. as the source of his power However, almost his first act on convening congress was to secure its specific ratification of this ac. tion. Opponents maintain this war time act is really no longer IT 8dorce.
 But extraordinary powers have been granted to or assumed by presidents in the past. Only five