Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-27
SENATORS REWRiTE CLAUSE OF
FOOD CONTROL BILL AS PASS.
ED BY HOUSE.
WOULD MAKE WILSON
WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE
President Would Say Whether Or Not
Beer and Wine Can Be Manufactured
Signs Of Waning Opposition to Re.
drafted Measure Manifest Among
Senators-Other Radical Changes.

Washington, June 27.-The admins.
tration food control bill passed by the
house was rewritten by senate agri-
culture subcommittee so as to give
President Wilson the power and re-
sponsibility of deciding whether the
nation shall be bone dry during the
war and to place iron and steel and
many other products in addition to
food and fuel under government con-
troll.
These and other changes are so sat-
isfactory to many senators who have
been opposing the original draft of the
Legislation that both advocates and OPP
ponents tonight predicted passage in
the senate by Saturday.
Power For President.
AS a substitute for the house prohi-
bitfon sections which, without qualifi-
cation, forbid the manufacture of food
stuffs into liquor, the subcommittee
adopted provisions which would pro-
hibit manufacture, during the war, OF
all Intoxicating beverages, and en-
power the president to commander
existing supplies of distilled spirits.
but would authorize the executive in
his discretion to permit manufacture of
matted, fermented and vinous bever-
ages, and fix their alcoholic content.
AS rewritten, the subcommittee draft
will be considered today from the ag-
riculture committee, and probably Will
be reported at once for senate discus
toll al,
Senators Gore, Smith of Georgia, and
others prominent in the bitter fight
against the legislation have announced
their support for the redrafted measure.
Opposition Waning.
Other signs of waning opposition
and prompt senate action came in yes
terdays debate on the senate floor.
Opposition senators leading recent dis
cussion yielded to Senators Knox and
Nelson. republicans. and Thomas. dem
ocrat. for speeches strongly supporting
the control legislation.
Future debate promised to center up
on the prohibition question, with leaders
an extremely close final vote.
For the house prohibition plan, the
subcommittee substitute provides:
That from and after thirty days from
the date of the approval of this act It
shall be unlawful for any person. firm
or corporation to use in the manufac-
ture of any intoxicating liquor for bev-
erage purposes any perishable or non
perishable feeds, foods, or food ma
ferials.
Whenever the president shall find it
necessary to conserve. the perishable
products named he is empowered to
permit the use of such products in the
Of vinous liquors.
Whenever in the judgment Of the
president the public interests would be
subserved thereby he is empowered to
permit the limited use of the materials
mentioned in the manufacture of malt
or fermented liquors. and to prescribe
the alcoholic content thereof.
~ Could Seize Spirits.
Another section adopted would au-
thorize the president to take over any
or all distilled spirits now in band. up
on payment of a reasonable and just
price to distillers. for Redistribution into
alcohol for war. industrial or other nom
beverage purposes.
The thirty day proviso is designed
to give that time to the president to
decide whether further manufacture OF
beer, wines and light beverages shall
be permitted and for consumers and
manufacturers to prepare for what the
president may decide. 8
Should the president not exert his
authority so as to exempt malt, fer
mented and vinous beverages from the