Omaha daily bee., 1917-07-06
SENATORS WILL
LIMIT DEBATE>0N
DRY AMENDMENT.
Threat of CIoture Rule in
Upper House Decides to
Take Up Food LegiSIa-
ton at Once.

Washington, July 5.-With resort
to the cloture rule threatened. the
senate by unanimous consent late to-
day agreed to begin consideration of
the prohibition section and of any
amendments or substitutes of the food
bill at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon
with debate limited.
Final disposition of the prohibition
issue before adjournment tomorrow
night and passage of the bill next
week is deemed assured. Senator
Chamberlain, in charge of the measure
announced that Saturday he would
seek another unanimous consent
agreement for final vote not later
than Wednesday or Thursday and be-
lieved it would be obtained without
using the cloture motion. Forty-two
senator's have signed the cloture
measure, which required only fifteen
signatures.
Limited to Ten Minutes.
When the prohibition question is
taken UP tomorrow each speaker will
be limited 10 ten minutes upon the
Gore prohibition amendment, prohib-
iting manufacture of distilled bev-
erages during the war and giving the
president authority to suspend manu-
facture of malt, fermented or vinous
intoxicants and to limit their alcoholic
contents. Upon amendments and sub
stitutes for the Gore plan each sena-
tors debate will be limited to five
minutes.
All the formal steps for a decisive
and spirited struggle on prohibition
have been taken. Senator Robinson
introduced the socalled "administra-
ton compromise" substitute today for
the Gore plan providing only that dis
tillation OF foodstuffs for Intoxicating
beverages shall cease. ....
Private polls OF the senate, leaders
of both factions admitted privately
tonight, indicate large majority for
the Robinson substitute.
May Sell Necessities.
After agreeing to proceed with the
liquor fight tomorrow, the senate late
today adopted Senator Kenyon's
amendment to section of the bill
greatly exceeding the governments
power to purchase and sell supplies
to secure reasonable prices. Under the
amendment IN addition to foods, feed
and fuel, the government would be
authorized to buy and sell, at mini
muns prices fixed, by the federal au-
thorities, all other "necessaries"
named in the bill. >
A determined effort will be made
to broaden it so as to insure that the |
government will have power to regu-
late coal prices and to take over and
operate coal mines.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio made
lengthy speech today on the coal sit
uation, reciting alleged exorbitant
coal prices and necessity for govern
ment regulation.
Prohibition also came in for some
attention. Senator Thomas of Colo
RADIO advocated national prohibition
when squarely and fairly presented"
but announced opposition to the pro-
posal for immediate bone dry" pro-
hibition because both of effect uoon
public sentiment and from the revenue
standpoint.
Riots Are Discussed.
Senator Thomas brought up the
race riots in East St. Louis as an in
dication of social unrest which is
manifested in various parts of the
country at times. He declared that
one-tenth of the population of this
country is black and said their loyalty
in the present crisis is essential.
Senator Sherman declared the dis
orders in East St. Louis were due to
the saloons.
ITS the worst saloon town in
America" he said, adding that the sa-
looms openly disregarded the laws and
for years the town had been an oasis
to the people of St. Louis, Mo-, who
came across the bridge on Sundays
to get liquor.
Il have no apology for East st.
Louis or for my state, or for any
other state which allows such condi-
tions to exist" he declared 81 am q