The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-01
BOARDING FOOD A FELONY.
Senate Takes Drastic Steps Despite Wig,
orous Protest.

Washington, d. G., June l.--Hoarding
storage or destruction OF food, fuel O.
other necessaries OF life to limit suppl,
or affect prices would be felony undel
an amendment to the governments frs
food bill adopted lin the Senate yester
day without a record vote.
| Several senators protested that the
provision was too drastic and would
prevent legitimate storing to equalize
markets, but all efforts to modify il
failed. When Senator Fall proposed that
| the federal trade commission be empow.
cred to decide whether storing is rea-
sonable, Senator Poindexter, author OF
the amendment, insisted that any such
change would weaken the effectiveness
of the measure as q weapon against spec.
ulators.
Violation of the section would be pun
ishable by imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary for not less than six months nor
more than three years. Holding by
farmers or others the products of land
cultivated by them is exempted
Consideration OF the administration
bill, which provides for a food survey
and stimulation OF production, neared
the final stage yesterday, but the intro
duction OF number OF amendments
shortly before adjournment probably will
prevent short final vote before Sat
urday.
Within a few days Herbert c. IIoov-
er expects TO put out an appeal to
Americas housewives to put more new
vegetables on their tables during the
next few months and thus conserve the
s,pply of staple foodstuffs.
With further trimming OF the 81 ,s00.-
0000 war tax bill, the Senate finance
committees revision work yesterday
reached the stage of detailed drafting,
with completion of measure aggregat
ing about 81 500 100000 next Wednes-
day or Thursday in prospect.
Several new sources of revenue were
drawn upon yesterday; other House
taxes were reduced and further substi-
tutions adopted The principal changes
affecting the general public included:
A new tax On parcel post packages of
one cent on each 25 cents or fraction
paid by shippers, and adoption of the
same rate for express packages as
substitute for the House levy of six per
cent under express transportation. The
shipper would pay the tax.
Reduction by one-half, or TO five per
cent OF taxes on amounts paid for land
or water sportation, including
charges for berths or parlor car chairs,
a loss OF revenue of S35000,-
300, 600
Adoption of excise, or consumption
taxes, payable eventually by the con-
sumner, of II cent a pound on sugar, |
Two cents on coffee, five cents on tea and |
.hree cents on cocoa.
Repeal OF the existing law levying a |
1919 per cent tax on war munitions, |
now beginning in S25,000,000 revenue,
because of the substitute plan for in
,reasing manufacturers excess profits
axes
With these and several other minor
.hanges, Chairman Simmons said the bin
low virtually is ready for technical re-
Irafting.
In an effort TO agree upon an equit-
bile tax upon newspapers, magazines
md other publications now transported for
ne cent a pound, the committee yes
erday arranged for a general confer
nee Saturday night. Chairman Sim
mons and other members will meet rep
OF the publishers and the
,ostoflioe department. The proposed
enersl two per cent tax on all adver-
ising and the Hardwick amendment,
by the department, to great
? increase postage charges on portions
/ the publications devoted to advertis-
~ will be discussed with view to
saehing some fair compromise.