Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-27
SENAT0RSPUT BAN
0NBEER ANDL|QU0R
Agriculture Committee Leaves
Wine Prohibition to Discre-
ton of President.
DRYs CALL 1T VICTORY

UR1S CALL II WCIUR1
Bone-dry prohibition. SO far as dis
titled spirits and malt liquor are con-
cerned. was voted into the food control
bill by the Senate committee on agri-
culture this afternoon.
,, The President is given discretion to
permit the continued manufacture of
wine, by action of the committee.
The committee, by vote of to I.
rejected the prohibition provision OF
the bill as drafted by a subcommittee
yesterday. The committee substituted
the House bill prohibition provision,
with the amendment allowing the Presi-
dent to pass on the wine question, by
a vote of to T.
The committee also voted an amend
ment to allow brewing, etc, for thirty
days after the bil1 becomes law.
The erect Of its action today Is to
prohibit the use of any foodstuff in the
manufacture of distilled spirits. beer,
ale and other malt beverages. The pro-
hibitionists regard the action of the
committee as a distinct victory for
them.
Copper. lead and their products. lum-
ber and timber are additional articles
to which government control would be
extended during the war. under amend
extended during the war. under other
amendments today by the committee.
The committee also approved exten-
sion of federal control in addition to
food. feed and fuel, to steel and iron
products. petroleum and it's products.
farm implements and machinery. fer
tilizers and binding twine materials, 8
recommended by its subcommittee.
Revising the House Bill.
Completion of the House bills revi-
sion about 3 o'clock today was planned
by the committee remaining in con-
tinuous session. Late this afternoon
Senator Chamberlain planned to report
the amended bill to the Senate. An ar
rangement for Senate recess while
the committee was completing the
measure was made.
Adoption of the Lever bills licensing
section. to make it applicable only to
foreign commerce was voted by the
committee as proposed by the subcom-
mittee. This was regarded one of
the most important amendments of the
bill and urged by its opponents.
President to Have Responsibility.
When the Senate committee on agrf-
culture today took up the House food
control bill. as amended by a subcom-
mlttee yesterday, the HOUSE
provisions had been changed SO as to
place upon the President the RESPONSE
bility of continuing the manufacture
of malt and vinous beverages during
the war.
For the House prohibition plan the
subcommittee substitute provides:
That from and after thirty days from
the date of the approval of this act it
shall be unlawful for any person. firm
or corporation to use in the manufac-
ture of any intoxicating liquors for
beverage purposes any perishable or
nom -perishable feeds, foods or food ma
terials. Whenever the President shall
find 1T necessary to conserve perish
able products named he is empowered
to permit the use of such products in the
manufacture of vinous liquors.
Whenever in the judgment of the
President the public interest would be
subseryed thereby he is empowered to
permit the limited use of the materials
mentioned in the manufacture of malt
or fermented liquors and to prescribe
the alcoholic content thereof"
Another section adopted would author
ize the President to take over any or
all distilled spirits now in bond. upon
payment OF reasonable and just price
to distillers, for redistillation into
alcohol for war, Industrial or other
n-beverage purposes
Besides the prohibition substitutes
other radical changes made in the
House bill included:
1T
addition to food. feed and fuels to
iron and steel and their products. pe-
troieum and its products. farm imple-
ments and machinery fertilizers and
hemp. sisal and jute
Limiting government commandeer-
ing OF mines. factories and other plants
to production necessary for military
purposes or public uses of the COM
Limiting federal licensing to prod
ucts and agencies Of interstate and
foreign commerce.
Limiting the power Of the govern
ment to commandeer foods. feeds and
fuels to supplies for the army. navy
or other military purposes "or public
uses of the common defense" but au-
thorizing their purchase for and sale
10 civilians by the government at rea-
Sonable prices to be fixed
y Extending the governments powers
to MAINTAIN minimum guaranteed
prices to producers to the s.orage or
sale and purchase of foods and fuels
for resale at prices necessary to main
tain guarantees
Modification of the blanket" powers
proposed by an amendment insuring
that government control shall not ex-
tend to individual rationinp or other
regulation OF individual consumption
Exemption Clause Added.
I Addition of new provision spe-
cifically exempt1ng products of farm
ers. stock ra1sers. gardeners and Coop
erative agricultural associations from
the control Legislation. so far az n
affects their production and storage Of
foodstuffs produced by them.
Addition Of a new section nrovidinp
that persons serving the eovernment
voluntarily. such as the national com
Gil of defense, who are tnanufa cturers
or producers. shall not. while so en-
gagged. sell to the government any Of
their own products. This would affect
many of the men serving on the COM
mittees of the defense counciTs ad-
visory committee.
Measure Debated in Senate.
Debate in the Senate on tho food CON
troll bill was continued Yesterday after
noon. Senator Knox OF Pennsylvania
Senator Nelson of Minnesota renubIi
cans and Senator Thomas of Colorado
democrat. strongly supported the meas-
ure.
OF the nations still remaining mute,
the Pennsylvania senator declared,
those who are not with us are against
US"
In such struggle" he said "eco-
nomic and political and moral pressure
upon neutrals is not to be overlooked as
weapon
The Constitution imposes no limita
tions upon the power Of self-preserya-
ton. We need not be afraid of Prus-
! sianiZing the United States Not forms
and names but results are the criteria
of human institutions