The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-05
Fitzgerald Has Two Embargo
Measures. While Others Are
Aimed at Cold Storage
PENROSE THREATENS
ANOTHER FORCE BILL
Replies to Senator Owen In
sistence on Probing High
Cost Of Elections With De-
claration az to Supervision

Washington, Dec. with only
three months of it's life left the sec
ond session of the Sixty-fourth Con-
sress convened at noon today, facing
legislative tasks which only unpre-
cedented speed and herculean effort
can conclude before March 8.
The major tasks to be undertaken
by the national lawmakers are:
Enactment into law OF the railroad
legislation advocated by the Presi-
dent at the last session.
Passing supply bills for the govern
ment totalling s1.654.s19.s5403.
Army and navy legislation, the esti-
mates for which calling for nearly
half of the huge total
In addition, developments today in
sured a warm fight by many MEM
bers of Congress to secure an en-
barge on food. providing heavy PEN
alties for violations. It IL unlikely
that these efforts will meet with sue
cess, Democratic leaders pointed out,
because Of the opposition OF the Presi-
dent and of Chairman Adamson, OF
the House Interstate Commerce Com
mittee.
VIII Buckle Down TO Work.
Leaders Of both the House and Sem
ate. realizing the necessity of the ut
most speed in order to ge through the
mass of proposed legislation before
Congress. will buckle down to work
Immediately after the delivery of the
Presidents message tomorrow. 1t 10
planned to omit the customary holi-
day recess at Christmas, or at least
to reduce 1t in order to speed up"
Legislative solution of the high cost
OF living was sought in the House to-
day by the introduction OF dozen
measures all having as their object
curtailing OF the present soaring OF
the prices of necessartes OF life.
Introduces Embargo Bills.
Four of the bills seeking reduc-
ed cost OF living were introduced by
Mr.. Fitzgerald, of New York. chair
man of the House Committee on APP
propriations. Two of these. provid-
ing a food embargo, are bound to meet
with the early opposition of MEM
bers representing agricultural con-
stituencies. Further measures intro
duced by Mr. Fitzgerald and other
members provide stringent regula-
tions, not only regarding the ship
ments Of foodstuffs out of the coun-
try. but their accumulation in cold
storage and their transportation into
interstate commerce. Some of the
limited embargoes
Already there is the widest diversity
Of opinion as to the efficacy Of an
embargo in forcing down the ever
soaring prices of foodstuffs. No less
power than Representative Adamson,
OF Georgia. chairman Of the Commits
tee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce. to which all Of the embargo
bills were referred, 10 an announced
opponent OF the entire idea. This at
titude on the part Of the chairman OF
be s.,ffcient- to doom embargo @eg4sla-
ton to the oblivion Of q pigeonhole.
Says It's Un-AmeFlcan.
II shall not vote for an embargo on
foodstuffs," said Judge Adamson. II
am opposed to the entire idea It T.
lun-Amarican. will not lend my aid
to curtail the chances Of the manu-
facturers and producers OF this ccun-
try in getting the highest pricss they
can for their goods"
Each Of Mr.. Fft1gerald's bills pro.
vides a severe penalty for its infrac-
ton. The bill which lays an em-
barge upon the expectation OF food
stuffs for year provides for the
enforcement OF the act by the armed
military and naval forces OF the
United States as we'll as a fine Of up
to $4,000, and a maximum Jail SEN
tence OF ten years. or both. Similar
heavy penalties are found in the Fttx-
gerald bill doing away with inter-
state commerce in cold storage food
unless the day, month and year OF
their entry are marked upon each
article. and in the bill authorizing thu
President to suspend expectation Of
foodstuffs
When the various measures reach
confederation In committee and .
vote on the floor of the House they
are expected to receive the solid ops
position Of Representatives who speak
for the farmer vote.
Other legislation bearing on tho
burning question Of the cost Of living
was embodied In these measures in-
troduced BY the following representa-
tives:
Would Probe the CAuse.
Representative SABBATH, Of Illinois.
q bill asking for an investigation ~
the atforney-gsneral of tn cause 01
the Unreasonable advances In The
prices OF foodstuifA COTTON Goo0s,
wood pulp. paper. and coal. insofar -
they are effected hy comhinatt0n 4f
control Of Interstate ard foeoion
aH
NJ. sabath also introdncsa : m W
secure information RELATIVE ~ -
|produsts storedy g. sold eoaa1
hopees M