The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-07-14

PRESD.
ANXIOUS ~
B|LLBEPASSED
Asks Congress to Hurry the
Measure Along
DlSLIKES SUBSTITUTE
Senate Still Debating the Bill and
Make No Headway on important
Sections.
DISLIKES SUBSTITUTE

Washington, July 14.-ln a letter to
Senator Martin of Virginia, demOcra-
tic floor leader, President Wilson yes
terday gave his views on food control
legislation, advocating action along
the line of the original house bill for
government control OF foodstuffs and
fuel only He opposed the proposed
substitute bill of Senator Gore Of Ok
lahoma and emphasized his desire for
prompt action by Congress, The presi-
dent took the position that extension
of government control of steel, iron,
cotton, copper, wool, leather, alum
mum and their products is unneces
sary, Regarding the prohibition pro
vision it was also learned that the
president is not in accord with the
purposes of Senator Shoots amend
ment proposing that the government
buy all stocks of distilled beverages in
bond. This provision probably will go
to conference. Senator Martin said
the presidents letter would not be
made public and that it deal in a
general way rather than specifically
as to details of the bill before the
Senate. Senator Martin and other
leaders at once planned to have the
house bill perfected in accordance
with the presidents wishes. To that
end a meeting Of the democratic steer.
ing committee will be called probably
for early next week. The president is
said to have expressed a special con
cern over the delay OF the legislation
and to have urged prompt disposal OF
the bill after it goes to conference.
With the president and all the admin
istrations influence aligned against
the Gore substitute the leaders ex-
pressed confidence that they would be
able to amend the pending bill and in
sure its passage.
Debate in the Senate yesterday cen
tered upon the section prohibiting any
member Of the advisory commission,
board or council of the government
to sell supplies to the government
in which he is financially Interested
Senator Calder Of New York defended
the integrity of the members OF the
advisory commission of the defense
council, at whom, he said, he felt the
section was directed. He declared
that they are acting with purely pa
triotic purposes. Senator Sherman OF
Illinois declared that if the members
of the Senate or the House had done
what some of the members of the
commission are doing, we would be
impeached and sent to the penitenti
ary.' '"The committee had no desire
to bar business men from the service
Of the government" Senator Kenyon
of Iowa asserted. The committee hat
no desire to bar business men from
the service of the government Sen
ator Kenyon of Iowa asserted. "ThC
amendment only bars men from max
ing contracts or attempting to MAKE
contracts in which they are interest
ed"
Up to the present time" Senate
Penrose of Pennsylvania says, "Ther,
are no grounds for suspicion, an,
certainly none for scandal, in con
nection with the advisory boards
Their appointments were in the ne
ture Of commands and they Responder
from pure patriotism. ] believe tha
these men, whatever party they ma
belong to- are actuated by the higl
est motives of patriotism. and the
represent the brains Of America"