Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-26
SENATE May
widen FOOD
BILL SCOPE.
Amendments to Include Iron,
Steel, Oil, Copper and
Other Basic Materials Are
Offered in Upper House;
Committee Gets Measure.
WET-DRY BATTLE
.s.A,z WILL BE BITTER

.s,s.z. WILL BE BITTER
EsF
4 Washington, D. c., June 25.-
1 Democratic Leader kitchin pre-
dicted adjournment OF congress by
i August or August IS today In
/ announcing that after next Wed
nesday or Thursday he would ask
for 4 three days recess until the
senate has passed some Of the
house ,~7islation now before 1t.
Washington, D. c.. June 25.-senate
leaders today arranged to expedite the
food control bill passed Saturday by
the house.
Without discussion the bill was re-
Yerred by the senate today to the agri-
culture committee Senator Reed of
Missouri confined his attack upon it.
No additional committee hearings
bre proposed.
Chief among, the amendments pro.
posed are some extending government
control to iron and steel and their
products, OIL petroleum products, cop.
per, lead zinc and fertilizers.
LEWIS HAS SUBSTITUTE.
Senator Chamberlain said there Is
much sentiment for having the govern
ment control basic materials as well
rs food Half dozen amendments to
the bill were introduced today. Sena-
tor Lexis, Democrat, Of Illinois, offer
I'd substitute bill proposing that the
president shall have broad authority
to issue regulations for control OF food
ptuffs, specifically enumerating those
held for "monopolization" or unjust
prices"
The fate Of prohibition as war
time measure rests with the senate.
The food control bill as it 'pAssed the
house, with its drastic, prohibition
amendments added, will be accepted
as substitute for the bill drafted by
Senator Chamberlain.
A vigorous fight is promised over
the prohibition proposals, particularly
that permitting manufacture of malt
liquors and wine. Many dry sena-
tors strongly oppose extending the pro-
hibition to beer and wines, although
there is strong sentiment in the SEN
ate against further manufacture of
whisky, brandy and other distilled
spirits.
VILE 800 ! ~ ..
The bill, giving the president broad
authority to control the distribution Of
food. feed and fuel for war purposes.
and appropriating $152,500,000 for it's
enforcement and administration, was
passed by the house late Saturday
after far-reaching prohibition provi-
sions had been written into it.
The vote was 365 to 5, Representa-
hves McLemore, Slayden and Young
Of Texas. democrat, and Meeker, Mis-
soun, and Ward. New York, republi-
cans, voting in the negative.
Prohibition regulations OF sweep
Ing character were written into the
bill by the house.
After several hours of parliament
tary sparring, during which the pro-
hibitory proposals were thrown out re.
peatedly on points Of order, the prohi.
bition element got the upper hand and
forced adoption of amendments which
would forbid the use of any foodstuffs
during the war for making intoxicants.
and would give the president authority
to take over, in his discretion, all
stocks of distilled liquors.
KENTucKlAN DRY's HERO.
The amendment designed to cut of
manufacture of liquors was adopted
1872 to ia. It was submitted by Rep.
resentative Barkley Of Kentucky
democrat. and would provide that nc
food, food material or feed could be
used during the war for the manufac-
ture OF alcohol or alcoholic beverages
except for governmental, Industrial.
scientific, medicinal or sacramental
purposes.
On the amendment authorizing tho
government use of distilled spirits
there was no roll call and only few
scattered nays were heard on the viva
voce vote. Originally proposed by
Representative Webb Of North Caro-
lima. 1t was accepted by Chairman Lev
er of the agriculture committee and
was adopted on his motion. 1t author
ICES the president If. in his opinion, 1t
is necessary to conserve necessaries,
TO require any person having control
OF alcohol and distilled spirits to turn
over to government use such proper
tion of alcohol or spirits as the presi-
dent may deem necessary to meet the
requirements Of the government in the
manufacture OF munitions and other
hospital and military supplies.
NoN-INToxIcANTs SAVED.
AS originally adopted. the Barkley
amendment would have provided
against use Of foodstuffs in making
non-alcoholic drinks, but this feature
later was stricken out
There was a hot debate over the pro-
hibition features. Vets and drys ac-
cused each other Of unfairness, and
Representative Meeker, republican,
and Representative Kelly of Pennsyl-
vania, democrat, got into such a row
that their friends surrounded them to
prevent physical encounter and then
had the words they exchanged stricken |
from the record.