The Washington times., 1917-07-10

VAINLY SEEK
AGREEMENT
ONFOOD BILL

How to straighten out the food
bill tangle was the problem with
which the Senate Democratic steer
ing committee wrestled today. 1t
Is q difficult problem.
The committee talked it over for
an hour this morning, made no
progress, and adjourned until this
afternoon.
Postmaster General Burleson drop
ped in on the stearing committee.
His presence was not pleasing to
some Of the Senators, and two of
them departed. One Of them said
Burleson was 'fbuttin' in
I'VE can't even have a private con-
ference without him buttin' in" said
one Senator.
The Postmaster General stayed at
the meeting, but It was stated he had
no particular plans to present.
Oppose Cotton Control.
The tangle over the bill IL caused
in part by the Smoot amendment to
take over vhislxey in bond, and in
part By the fact q number OF Senators
do not want various articles included
under the definition OF 'necessaries"
and thus made subject to Government
control
Southern Senators, Off instance,
don't want cotton controlled. They
want II taken out OF the bill. Oppo-
sition has arisen to including iron,
steel, and other things.
Tho raonnhara NJ he 81
mittee talked over recommItting the
bill to the Committee on Agriculture,
and also over the plan of passing It
and letting differences with the
House and other subjects that are
making trouble be handled in confer
ence. Some prefer, however, to
thrash out the whole subject on the
door.
Chamberlain Demands Vote.
Senator Chamberlain says the bill
must either pass or be voted down.
He does not believe the votes can be
had to send It back to committee. He
believes he can muster two-thirds of
the Senate for cloture.
The Smoot amendment for purchase
Of liquors in bond. according to arEu-
ments Of Senator Shields and several
Chamberlain points out that It can cas-
fly be made constitutional in conference
by adding q provision for appeal to the
courts from the decision as to the
amount the Government shall pay for
the liquors.
Lodge Opens Fight.
Senator Lodge declared the bill
would strike at profits and thus I'M
dermine the financial foundations OF
the nations industry.
NO business can prosper" he said,
with the Governments hand hang
ing over IL. ready to descend at any
time and hx prices.
There is nothing so dangerous as
70 entrust unrestricted, unlimited
powers TO men on the theory that
they won't use them" he declared
apropos Of giving the President tire
mendous powers OF food control as a
sword to hang over the heads OF food
dealers.
Denouncing Government manage
ment OF business plants as most In
competent" he asserted that Govern
ment arsenals at Springfield, Mass.
end Rock Island had failed to supply
the army with weapons.
THE United States is turning to pri-
vate enterprise to supply our army
WIN 1hhtiu EAAt6s ne bulu II makes
no difference whether the privately
made goods cost a dollar or two more
than those made made under Govern
ment supervision-our soldiers must
be armed"
Lodge expressed grieved surprise
that the United States contemplated
forcing Cuba to lower the price OF
sugar by EMBRACING necessities to
that republic.
THAT would be an awful thing TO
do to the nation that followed US into
war" he exclaimed. Cotton control
he denounced as liable to destroy q |
big source Of revenue.
'our Liberty loan and our other
loans that are to be asked must be
borrowed from surplus profits" he
said. I'VE ought to go slowly and
carefully before entering upon a
course likely to wipe out this sur
plus"
The prohibition feature in the food
bill, Lodge said. would necessItate |
legislation for the raising OF $780, |
000. 900 additional revenue.