Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-08-09
FOOD CONTROL BILL
NOW UP TO Wilson
Senate Vote 66 10 7 on
Measure Already Through
House
DELLA. SENATORS
SUPPORT BILL

WASHINGTON. Aug. 9.-The food
bill passed through the last stage Of
legislative enactment at 4 o'clock yes
terday afternoon when u was finally
adopted by the Senate in form pre-
viously approved by the House.
President Wilson's signature now
makes It law, The vote was 66 to 7.
Those voting against the confer
ence report we're:
Democrats-Franco, on MARYLAND.
Harwick. Hollis and Reed Repub-
Iicans-Gronna, La Toilette and Pen
rose
Immediately after the final vote on
tho control bill ths Senate by a viva
voce vote also approved the confer
ence report on the first administra-
ton food bill, providing for a food
survey and appropriating to stimu-
late production.
Both bills are TO become laws TO-
morrow with President Wilson's ap-
proval. Senate and House leaders
tonight made plans TO that end the
delay being caused by adjournment
OF the House until Friday and neces-
sity for the signing OF tho bills I'm
open session by the presiding Off
GERS OF both Houses. The Senate re-
cessed last night until Friday so that
after Speaker Clark signs the bills
upon reconyenlng of the House they
may then be signed by the Senate's
presiding officer and immcd atey sent
TO the White House.
Sharp reduction in coal costs was
predicted by officials as a result OF
tho passage OF the food control bill
with the provision for government FIX
Ing Of fuel prices.
The Federal Trade Commission,
which the measure authorized the
President to designate as an agency to
enforce the provision. is ready to make
out a price scale al short notice. For
months the commission has gathered
facts as to production costs and in a
recent report to Congress pointed out
that prices were too high
Bitumlnous prices to tho general
public were fixed at SO In recent
agreement between producers mem
bers Of the commission and other
government officials. This price was
TO hold until final price was de-
termined on. Investigation has con-
WINGED members of the commission
that this price is too high and that
coal can be sold at much lower fg-
ure and still leave a handsome profit
for tho producer.
Prompt appointment OF Herbert
Hoover as food administrator and i'm
mediate operation under tho legisla-
ton Is predicted to follow. In addl-
ton to It's comprehensive provisions
for control Of food, fuel fertilizer and
farm equipment the control bill car.
ries drastic prohibition features
Thirty days after IL Is approved Il Will
bo unlawful 10 use foodstuffs IN tho
manufacture of distilled beverages or
10 import distilled spirits for beve-
rage purposes, and the President will
be empowered 20 commander for
military purposes distilled liquors
now held in bond and to regulate or
restrict the use OF foods IN the manu-
facture OF vine and beer.
THE final vote In the Senate was
secured by unanimous agreement 10
dispose OF tho bill late yesterday. and
after four days discussion OF the con-
ference report In addition to the
seven Senator's voting against the
bill. Senator Gore. chairman OF the
Senate Agriculture Committee. and
Senator Sherman. Republican, were
paired and did not vote. Both an.
nounced that had they been at liberty
10 vote they would have been regis
tered in the negative.
or the absent and paired Senators
announcement was made IN behalf OF
virtually all that they favored the
inal draft
Contrary to expectations. no motion
to recommit the bill with instructions
or other parliamentary objects were
offered before the vote.
The Senate's action virtually con-
cluded work OF Congress upon the
administration food legislative pro-
gram initiated last May. 10 uuts
into the Presidents hands for personal
use or delegation the most unusua-
and comprehensive powers and, &C
cording TO many members OF tho
Congress, marks the innovation of
national sociahstic experiment.
Contamination of the program FOL.
lowed the most bitter opposition and
acrimonious debate I'm many years.
centered in the Senate, after the Presi-
dent had prevailed upon Congress to
lay aside virtually all work and urged
conclusion of the legislation by July
1 TO deal with this years crops
The conference report on the food
bill had been before the Senate since
last Saturday and the bill itself since
june is. The House passed the meas
ure June 23 365 to s. after weeks
debate. Opposition led BY Senator'S
Reed and others and the fight over
the prohibition provision delayed he
Senate vote. 81 TO 6. until July 81.
further conferences requiring a week
during which tho President caused
elimination OF Senate amendments for
a food board of three members and
a congressional committee TO super
wise war expenditures.
The first food measure. for a survey
and stimulation OF production. also
was contested sharply IN the Senate
II was passed May IS by the House
and on June ? by the Senate IL
then was held in conference to await
the Senate's action on the control
measure.
The opportunities and the human in.
terest which the Want Columns hold
Ill. y. 4 -