Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-17
WAR ARMY BILL
ADVANCES 4 STEP
House Adopts Conference Report
and Senate Will Do Like.
wise To-day.
ALL HARMONY NOW.
Amended shipping Dill rro,1aes Tor
Drastic Measures assiase rhove
Who Obstruet Commerce.

washington, Nay l6-Thc conference 70.
port on the war army bin was adopted by
tho Rouse without a record vote late to.
day. after Representative Dent had an
nounced that the Senate conferees had
agreed to the House provision increasing
the pay of enlisted men. Final action
must be taken by the Senate.
The section regarding pay as agreed to
oy the conferees provides that all officers
ana enlisted men of the forces to be rails
ed by conscription shall have the same
pay. allowances and pensions as the reg
ular army, and makes these increases in
the pay OF enlisted regulars: Those re-
ceiVing s!o to 21 per month, an increase
or $lo per month: those receiving $A an in
crease OF $l2; those receiving $50, $36 or $40.
an increase Of 3; and those receiving sE
or more, an increase of $6.
The Senate is expected to accept tho
conference report tomorrow or Friday
and then 1t will 90 to the President.
provision empowering the President
| to use the nations armed forces to pre-
vent any obstruction ''of the orderly con-
duct or movement of interstate or foreign
commerce during the war was written
into the administrations preferential
shipment bill to-day at a conference be-
| tween President Wilson and Chairman
Newlands and Adamson. of the congress
sional interstate commerce committee
Immediately afterward the revised
measure was introduced in the Senate
by Senator Newlands, and in the House
by Representative Adamson replacing
| the original measure prevented yesterday
by Representative Webb. The provisions
OF the Webb resolution. giving presi-
| dental authority to stipulate what COM
modities shall have preference in move--
ment of freight. are included bodily with
amplifcations in the new bill.
One provision added to the preferential
shipmen; section would make it a misde-
meanor punishable by a fine of $1,000 and
FIVE years Imprisonment for any carrier
or its employees to fail to comply promptly
with preferential shipment order An
other would give the interstate commerce
commission authority to fix a Just COM
lpensation for any extraordinary service
rendered by a carrier on complying with
such an order.
| The new section regarding obstruction
to commerce is cast in comprehensive
terms making a misdemeanor punisha bic
by fine Of 500 and imprisonment for six
months to knowingly and wiifully, by
physical force. threats or intimidation.
obstruct or retard. or aid in obstructing
| or retarding. the passage of the United
states mail. or any carriage, horse. driver
or carrier, carrying the same, or the
orderly conduct or movement in the Uni
ted States Of interstate or foreign COM
merce. or the orderly make-u up or move
ment or disposition of any locomotive,
car or other vehicle on any railroad in the
United States engaged in interstate OF
foreign commerce"
To prevent any of these offenses the
President would be authorized whenever
In his judgment the public interest re-
quires to employ the armed forces of the
United States
Re-drafting of food legislation pend
, ing in Congress to meet the views Of
the administration was forecast to-day
! in the request of the Senate agricul-
ture committee that the House commit
tee name sub committee to assist II
in drawing new bills
The administration program calls
Tor three measures. 01c TO promote food
production. another providing regula-
tory measures and the third giving au-
thority to insure preferential shipments
OF food supplies. The hrst two bills
arc pending in tfe House and the third
was introduced to-day in both houses
The first House bill probably will be
| allowed to stand es il is. but the Sec
ond will be changed to give to tho
President regulatory powers vested
In the Dill in the agricufural depart
mant The second hin also viii. au-
thoriZe creation OF an emergency food
agency to operate under direction OF
the President. 1t would he headed by
ono man with stan Of asalstants
many Of then; business men working
without pay and would be authorized
to utilize the services of other govern
mont artments and agencies. Hsr.
bert c. Hoover in all Likelihood will b
named to head this board.
The main things sought in the aA-
ministrntion program Of legislation.
outlined to-day by Secretary Houston
ARE: Power to increase production.
regulation of exchanges power to fix
prices. and to roquisition boarded sup
plies. power to regulate use OF grain
in the manufacture OF alcoholicA pre-
ventior OF speculation. licensing OF
distributing agencies and authority to
create an emergency food agency to
enforce food control measures.
It IS likely that authority to change
milling standards and power to direct
mixing Of grains in tho milling of flour
will be put In the emergency body
instead Of In the hands o: tho asri-
culture department.