Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-07-31
FOOD CONTROL
Conferees Barely Agree
on Single Manager
Senator Gore Criticises Personal Inter.
vention Of President and Says Full
and Free Conference Denied

Washington, July 30.-Yielding to
the urgent request of President Will
son, Senate and House conferees on
the food control bill today eliminated
the provision for a food bill of three
members instead of a single admins
traitor and consented to make one
more effort to agree regarding the sec
ton creating a war expenditures COM
mittee Of Congress.
The conferees had reached an i'm
passe on the two proposals when the
President intervened and there had
been indications that a final disagree
ment might he reported. Tonight the
war committee section, written into
the bill by the Senate and strenuously
opposed by the President, was the only
remaining problem.
Yield to President
The committee Will meet tomorrow
with the prospects strong that the
Senate members Will yield to the Pres
ident on this point also.
Before today's meeting the President
conferred az the White House with
Representative Lever, heading the
House members and Senator Cham
berlain the administration Senate
spokesman, and earnestly insisted
upon one-man food control and elm
ination Of the clause creating the ex-
penditures committee. Within an hour
after re-convening. the Senate con-
ferees Welded on the food adminJ
tration section. adopting the original
House provision for appointment by
the President of an individual admin :
istrator. not subject to Senate con-
firmation.
Bare Majority for Agreement
The agreement was reached by a
hare majority of one. Four senators
chamberlain, and Smith of South
Carolina Democrats. and Warren and
Kenyon, Republicans, voted to recede
from the Senate provision for a three
member board. Senators Gore and
Smith of Georgia, Democrats, and
Page, Republican, voted against re-
cedng The House conferees Repuh-
leans and Democrats alike stood SOL
idly for one-man control and also are
united on striking out the congress
sional war supervising committee.
Tits in Conference
The Presidents personal interven-
tlon. the confcrees declared. was large
ly instrumental in breaking their dead
lock on the food administration dis
pute. His course was criticized by
some members and some sharp tilts in
the conference We're reported. Sena :
tor Gore said tonight that the con-
ferees had been denied a full and
free conference"
Success of the food administra ton.
President Wilson told the conferees
leaders largely depends upon its man
acemont by one man. He said q larg-
CT board would seriously interfere"
with successful conduct Of the war.
There were persistent but unconfirmod
re ports that the President felt reten-
ton of either the three member board
or the congressional committee would
he sufficient cause for veto.
Senate's Reception Uncertain
Reception by the Senate Of the pro-
vision for an individual food admin
istration is uncertain, although Dem
ocratic leaders expect tho conference
report to be accepted. Further splr-
tied debate with criticism OF Herbert
II oover. the food administrator, is ex-
rected when the report is presented.
In Welding on the food administra-
tion section. the Senate conferees Sc
cured adoption of Il new section pro-
yidlnC for a board of three members,
cne Of whom would be the president
OF an AGRICULTURAL college, to fix wheat
prices based upon the standard pre-
scribed by Congress for next wear $
crop of not less than 50 per bushel for
No. ! spring northern.
The Conferees also formally voted to-
day to abolish the rule establishing Sc
crecy IN their discussions.
.CDEp WTNNEp