Bisbee daily review., 1917-07-24
OF
 ADVISORY FOOD
 BOARD IS ASKED
President Vigorously Objects to Clause in Administration Bill Charging It Shows Lack of Confidence.
(By Review Leased Wire).

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-President Wilson asked congress today to elim- mate from the food control bill sen ate amendment creating a joint com mittee of senators and representatives to confer and advise with executive of ficials on war expenditures.
 In a letter to Chairman Lever of the house agriculture committee, the pres ident pointed out in frank terms that such a committee would be likely to constantly harrass those directly re- sponsible for the conduct of the war. Retention of the section, he notified congress, he would be compelled to in- terpret as signifying lack of confi- dence in myself"
 Food Board Opposed
 MT. Lever and other house leaders are understood to be ready to make a determined fight against the provis- ion, which was voted into the bill near the close of the long senate debate. The house leaders alos are planning to oppose vigorously the senate's provis- ion for a food control board of three and there are many indications that in this likewise they will have the presidents unqualified backing.
 Mr. Wilson wrote to Representative Lever in response to a letter promis- ing to hasten the food bill through conference, and asking advice on the war committee provision The presi- dents reply follows:
 'I am very much obliged to you for your thoughtful courtesy in stating to me the circumstances of the persent action on the food administration bill, and l am particularly oblige dto you for calling my attention to section g. I deem it my duty to express my opin- upon the whole administration of the war very frankly indeed, since the pub lie interest manifestly demands that l should do so.
 Wilson Cites Precedent
 Section 23 is not only foreign to the subject matter of the food admin istration bill in which it is incorporat- ed but would, if enacted into law, ren- der my task of conducting the war practically impossible. I cannot be- lieve that those who proposed this sec. tion scrutiniZed it with care or andy zed the effects winch its operation would necessarily have. The constant supervision of executive action which it contemplates would amount to noth- ing less than an assumption on the part of the legislative body of the exc cutive work of the administration.
 There is very ominous precedent in our history which shows how such a supervision would operate. I refer to the committee on the conduct of the war constituted by congress during the administration of Mir Lincoln. It was the cause of constant and distressing narassment and rendered MT. Lincoln's efforts all but impossible.
 q am not, I beg you to believe, in any way questioning what might be teh motive or the purpose of members of such a committee: I am ready to as- sume that they would wish to cooper ate in the most patriotic spirit, but CO., operation of that kind is not practic- able in the circumstances. The re- sponsibility rests upon the administra- tion. There are abundant existing means of investigation and of the eff fective enforcement of that responsi- bility. I sincerely hope that upon the reconsideration of this matter both houses of congress will see that my objections rest upon indisputable grounds and that l could only inter- pret the final adoption of section 23 as arising from a lack of confidence in myself"
 Opposition Developing
 The section objected to by the presi- dent was embodied in an amendment introduced by Senator owen, Demo crat, to take the place of a similar pro- posal by Senator Weeks. Republican It was adopted by the senate 53 to 5I after a brief debate.
 The president and the executive de- partments, under the provision. would be compelled ito keep said committee fully advised as to such expenditures and contracts" and the committee could compel attendance of witnesses in such inquiries as it chose to make.
 Vigorous opposition is developing