The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-17
SENATE URGES
AFO0D BOARD
OF 3 MEMBERS
Administration Official
Says President Never
Will Consent.
HE'LL STAND BY HOOVER
Five Drastic Changes or Defeat
Is in Store for Con-
troll Bill.
HE'LL STAND BY HOOVER

WASHINGTON, July 16.-President
Wilson will be obliged to accept a dras-
tic compromise in the terms of the food
bill in order to get that measure
through tho Senate An agreement has
been reached between Republican and
Administration leaders In the Senate
under which the bill is to be changed
radically and the powers that the Presi-
dent sought for Herbert c. Hoover alone
| are to be placed in the hands OF a COM
mission of three members whose appoint
ment must be confirmed by the Senate.
Some of the Senators who took part
| in the conferences which led to this
| agreement insisted that the President
! had given his approval to 1t after being
| convinced that the opposition to the
| delegation of unrestricted powers to the
Executive in connection with food con-
troll was OF such proportions as to in
sure defeat for the bill unless so modi-
! fed.
It was positively declared that the
! President knew exactly the terms oil
the agreement entered into by Senator's
Martin and Simmons and had agreed 10
IT, On the other hand, an official OF
the. Administration close to the Presi-
dent was equally insistent tonight that
the President would not stand for such
a plan as proposed in the compromise
reached and would rather have no bill
at ALL
| New Step in War LegislatiOn.
This compromise, which is likely to bt
announced tomorrow In the Senate. not
only means the most drastic change ye'
in the food bill but 1t marks new steI
in war legislation. 1t Is the first decided
halt in either branch of Congress to tht
practice OF comforting unlimited powers
on the President to be delegated by hin
to others without the consent of Con
gress.
II the President accepts the compromise
he undoubtedly will name Mr.. Hoover al
chairman of this Food Control Commits
sion and the Senate will confirm him
But It will retain and exercise its righ
Of confirmation not only In Mr.. Hoover
case but also in the case Of the other
with whom he must divide his authority
Furthermore. the plan agreed to b!
the Administration Senators, with tn
consent OF the President, will stipulat
that at least one of the men appointed
shall be a practical farmer.
Four Other Radical Changes.
| Wnlle Otner important CnanBes III III
bill are involved in the agreemen
reached, the constitution of Food Con
troll Commission far transcends tn
others in Importance in emphasizing tn
refusal Of the Senate TO grant the Presi
dent the authority without the check o
any powers he has been seeking to dea
with the food situation. The othe
changes to be made as a result of tn
| agreement reached are:
. THAT Congress. and not Mr.. Hoover,
shall establish the minimum price Of
wheat for the farmers,
THAT there shall be eliminated
from the bill steel and the products
thereof, timber and the products
thereof, copper, cotton, wool. fertilizer
in all forms, hemp. jute and sisal,
! leaving only food products, feeds and
fuels.
THAT the Smoot amendment, direct
ing the President to buy liquor in
bond, and the Gore section. which
gives him the communicating right
over this liquor and authorizing him
to pay a just compensation. giving
the owners the right to sue IL they do
not regard the price as a just one,
will both remain In the bill, leaving
,, their ultimate fate to be determined
in conference
THAT the licensing section shall APP
ply only to interstate commerce, leav-
ing intrastate business in food prod
ucts and other commodities covered
Continued on Third Pdoe