Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-24
PRESIDENT IS GIVEN
BROAD AUTHORITY IN
FOODSTUFFS CONTROL
Only Six Members of Upper
House of Congress Voted
Against Measure Made I'M
perative by War

~
WASHINGTON, July 21.-The ad-
ministration food control bill virtually
rewritten after five weeks bitter con-
test, was passed today by the senate,
81 to g. onferees from house and SEN
ate will begin work early next week
and leaders are hopeful the measure
may be in the presidents hands In ten
days.
AS revamped the bill gives the presa-
dent broad authority over foods. feeds
and fuels, the latter including kero-
sene and gasoline; provides for admin
istration by a food board Of. three
members instead of an individual; au-
thorizes federal fixing of coal prices.
requisitioning and operation OF mines,
and authorizes a minimum guaranteed
price of not less than So per bushel
for wheat. at primary markets. The
senate prohibition sections, prohibiting
manufacture OF distilled beverages dur
ing the war and directing the president
TO buy all distilled spirits in bond, was
substituted for the house bone dry"
provision and will be one subject of
dlfnculty In conference.
Senators voting against the bill were
France Maryland Hardwick, Georgia;
Penrose, Pennsylvania; Reed. Missouri;
Sherman, Illinois, and Sutherland, West
Virginia.
Score of amendments were disposed
or today but the principal features were
the Incorporation of the amend
ment authorizing he minimum
wheat price, and another by Senator
Pomerene greatly broadening the gov
ernment's power to handle the coal sit
| uation The government guarantee for
wheat would be payable at all princ1-
pal interior primary markets until July
| 1. 1919. The senate rejected 46 to 80
an amendment by Senator Norris ITO
have the food board instead of congress
fix the minimum price.
! COAL UNDER CONTROL.
The Pomerene coal amendment in
corporated by a vote of ~ to IL. d.
reefs the president, through the fed
| eral trade commission or other agency.
| to fix coal prices. wholesale and retail.
| regulate the entire industry and, IL
| necessary, take over and operate coal
mines and fix prices of labor
| On a final vote the senate refused,
60 to %, to place the bills administra-
tion in the hands of an individual. Sen
ators understood today the administra-
| ton would endeavor to have the con-
ferees substitute the original Mouse pro-
vision for single administrator. This
| will be another source of conference
trouble.
Appropriation in the house bill of
81 so 900 900 was left unchanged by the
senate. which added an appropriation of
$40, 200, 900 however, for federal pur-
chase and sale of soda nitrates for fer
tilizer.
Another important senate addition to
the bill provides for a joint congression-
al committee 20 supervise war expendi-
lures 1t was proposed by Senator
Owen. a Democrat, and incorporated by
a vote of SO to 81, several other DEM
ocrats voting with the solid Republican
membership.
BOARDING FOODSTUFFS.
The senate also added provisions
regulation of grain exchanges author
izing the president to close them If nee
essary to stop speculation in futures.
Although leaders succeeded in secur-
ing adoption of all their compromise
amendments, the small group of senators
who have persistently fought the bill
tonight claimed a share of success.
Chairman Gore of the agriculture COM
mittee, withdrew his proposed substitute
provisions had been finally adopted in
the measure before the senate.
The bill limits government control
virtually to the original subjects of the
house measure-foods. feeds and fuels.
In lieu of the house bills broad pro-
visions for licensing food dealers, the
senate bill limits federal licensing to the
following agencies, and these only which
have products in interstate or foreign
cola 81
age and packing house, farm implement
factories, coal producers and dealers al
wholesalers of designated necessaries.
MOUSE BILLS PROVISIONS.
The house bills provisions for federal
requisitioning of necesSarieS is limited
by the senate re-draft to food, feeds and
fuels, and other supplies for military
purposes only.
Government purchase and sale of food
stuffs, to maintain reasonable prices,
also is limited by the senate bill to fuel,
wheat. flour, meal. beans and potatoes.
The house provision for authority to
requisition factories generally was cur
tailed by the senate to factories, pack
ing houses, mines and other plants
needed for military or other public use
connected with the common defense.
A senate amendment regarding gov
eminent war supplies purchased through
the defense counctIS ADVISORY commits
sions, would prevent members from So
, liciting federal contracts in which they
? are pecuniarily Interested.
Among important provisions of the
house bill stricken out was that estab-
Fishing a general government control of
"all necessaries.
) Neither house nor senate draft con-
!; tains the original administration pro-