Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-19
FOOD LEGISLATION
MAY Be DELAYED
BEYOND HARVEST
Opening of Debate in Con-
gress Discloses Deter
mined Opposition.
FEAR OF FILIBUSTER
IN SENATE EXPRESSED
Some Extraordinary Steps by
President Only Hope of
fastening Action.
HOOVER TO APPEAR TO-DAY
VIII Explain Scope of Administra-
ton Measures Before Agricul-
turc Committee.
tBy Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON. June ls-Opening
OF debate to-day in both branches of
Congress on the second administrat tion
food bill-for governmental control of
foodStuffs and other nccessaries-dis-
closed determined opposition, particu-
larry by group of Senator's, which
| threatens to prevent it's enactment by
July |. as urgently requested by Prcsi-
dent Wilson.
Passage OF the bill by the House late
this week is confidently expected by
| administration leaders But advocates
as we'll as opponents in the Senate say
debate VIII be protracted there for
several weeks, and unless the Presi.
dent adopts some extraordinary steps
| to hasten action the law hardly can
| be enacted in time to set up the food
administration before harvesting be-
gins
Administration supporters privately
! expressed fear tonight of a Senate
! tilibuster. They are prepared, if
necessary to invoke for the first time,
tho Scnatc's new antiflibuster rules
HOOVER INVITED
TO ENPLAIN BILLS
In An effort to allay Senate opposi-
| ton. it was arranged to-day to have
an informal caucus tomorrow between
Senators and Herbert c. Hoover
chosen by the President to be food
administrator, with immediate charge
of exercising the powers sought. At
tho suggestion OF Senator Ransdell
Mr.. Hoover was invited to appear at
public meeting of the Agriculture
committee Tomorrow morning before
tho Senate convcnes, and explain tho
| Legislation.
| n fia1 80
administration spokesmen urged that
mobilization Of Americas food power
| IN the war demanded radical steps.
and veStinS of new and wide powers
In the President. The opposition pro-
tested that dictatorship and inter-
terence with business and individual
rights were proposed. and questioned
the constitutionality of the legislation
Both houses made the measure their
pending business, with the purpose OF
Keeping the legislation continually
under discussion until disposed of, ex-
cludinE virtually all other business.
The House held the first of series
or night sessions to expedite the de-
nate. and night sessions may be re-
sorted to later in the Senate
scANT ATTENDANCE
IN EITHER BRANCH
There was but scant attendance of
members in either branch, about
serenty-fre to 100 staying on the floor
in the House. and an average OF less
than thirty in the Senate.
Senator Chamberlain, Of Oregon.
chosen to have charge OF the bill In
the Senate. urged it as a war neces-
sity. declaring governmental control
OF food ms essential as men and mu-
nitions, Senator Sheppard. OF Texas
Democrat. and Senator Kenyon, of
Iowa. Republican. also spoke in be-
half of the bill.
In the House, Chairman Lever, OF
the House Agriculture Committee, also
emphasized the necessity OF the legisla.
ton. He said the President could be
trusted with the powers proposed, and
that they would be invoked against
crooks and not against legitimate
business interests"
The contest between German autoc.
| racy and American democracy" said
Representative Lever, "wiil be deter
| mined in the end by the character and
strength of the organization which one
can put against the other. A loose
jointed. unorganized democracy has NO
ghost OF a chance in contest with
such an autocracy as is Germany.
which organization can be overcome.
An organization. as the term is used
here. means not only the whipping into
| shape the man power of the nation,
the money power of the nation, but
as well every resource OF the nation
which may be used in the contest"
SITUATION WARRANTS
EXTRAORDINARY POWERS
Anticipating attacks on giving the
President extraordinary powers. Mr.
Lever contended the situation war
rantcd them. SO
I'VE must either confer the so called
autocratic powers upon the constitu-
tionai head OF our government. or be
prepared to have them assumed by
the German Kaiser" he said. mo war
was ever won by Il debating society.
The time is upon us for getting down
To brass tacks. Every man. woman
and child must be prepared to make
sacritices-srcat sacrticeS-and no man
is going to be permitted to stand be-
hind tinc-spun theories and technicali-
ties in his opposition to this measure.
This is no pink tea AFFAIR. nor Ia II q
ladies' sewing club matter 1t Is war
| against the most powerful autocracy
| the world ever saw.
THE supreme duty, as we'll as the
supreme necessity, is to feed our night.
ing forces, tho fighting forces of the
| allies, and absolutely provide neces-
saries at living prices for our own
people and as largely as we can the
civilian population OF our allies"
Opposition in the Senate was voiced
by Senator's Gore chairman of the ~vt.