Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-07-31
Senate and House Conferees
DeadIocked on Congress
sional War Committee.
ALSO SIZE OF CSIOOMMISN
Agree to Empower President
to Fix Coal Prices and to
Take Over Mines.

Washington, July 30.-Conferees
on the administration food control bill
reached a deadlock last night after an
all-day conference and leaders decid-
ed to confer tomorrow with President
Wilson on the two points remaining
In dispute senate proposal to es-
tablish congressional committee to
supervise war expenditures and to
create board of three food admins
traitors instead of one
Upon all other questions the con
ference committee reached complete
agreement. Final enactment of the
bill this week is hoped for by the ccn-
ferees, but not regarded as certain.
The conferees agreed that in ad IL
ton to foods, feeds and fuels the gov
eminent shall control "fuel, oil and
natural gas, fertilizer and fertilizer
ingredients, tools, utensils, imple-
ments and equipment required for
the actual production thereof: all de-
nominated as necessaries. The So
called control section of the house
bill, much broader than the senate's,
was adopted authorizing federal regu-
lation affecting speculation, distribu-
ton and movement of the designated
necessaries.
The prohibition section agreed to
yesterday, authorizes the president to
limit the alcoholic contents of beer
and wine and to command the distill.
ed beverages when necessary. This
was a substitute for the house bone
dry section and for the senate inhibi-
ton of distilled beverage manufacture.
The Smoot amendment directing
federal purchase of all distilled spirits
in bond was stricken out.
An additional section authorizing
communicating for Redistribution
whenever necessary for food conser-
walton or military needs was adopted
as framed by the senate with IT'S ex-
tension to distilled beverages in stock
as well as in bond.
The senate's provision fixing 81
bushel minimum price for wheat at
primary markets was adopted except
that il was made applicable to the
1918 crop and not this years., the 81
price being made absolute and bind
ing" until May /, 1919.
10 FIX COAL PRICES.
Senator Pomerene's amendment at
thorizing the president to fix coal and
coke prices and take over mines was
adopted after clause eliminating
such powers to military or common
defense needs had been stricken out.
Provisions for flair and reasonable"
compensation to owners of comman-
deered coaling properties was made
to read lust compensation" 70 per
cent payable Immediately and the
rest after judicial action.
The conferees substituted for the
senate's restricted licensing provision
the house plan for much broader fed
eral license regulation of importation,
manufacture, mining and storage dis
tribution of government controlled
necessities. The more rigorous Sec
ton of the house bill prohibiting
boarding of necessities was reinsert-
ed, with penalties of $1,000 fines and
two years Imprisonment. The house
section penalizing wilful destruction
of necessaries also was retained.
The houses drastic provisions
against monopoly Of necessaries and
authorizing regulation of grain ex-
changes were retained, but Senator
Nelson's amendment regarding future
trading ongrain exchanges was strick-
en- out. The so-called Pomerene-
Walsh amendment prohibiting storing
or holding of necessaries, except by