The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-07-27
Uncle Joe" Cannon Among
Those Who Will Not En-
barrass President Now
WAR COMMITTEE OF
CONGRESS WANTED
1t Is on This Question That the
Minority Leader Is Making
Effort to Delay the
Food Bill

Washington, July 26-While Senate and
House conferees were beginning their
work today on the long delayed food con
troll bill sentiment among House re-
publicans erystallized against further de-
laying enactment by continuing Repub-
lican Leader Mann's fight for creation
Of joint congressional committee on
war expenditures
At an informal conference of repub-
lican representatives, it was made clear
to Mr. Mann, according to those pres
ent, that no partisan fight on the ques-
lion at this time could command the sup
port of the partys representation in the
House. Former Speaker Cannon and
Representative Miller of Minnesota made
the principal pleas against the party
leaders course, andt although no vote
was taken, the general agreement after
the meeting was that the fight for the
war committee amendment would not be
pushed
HOPE is FRIGHTENED
Hope of getting the measure through
conference and ready for President Will
sons signature next week was bright
ened somewhat by the development, but
the leaders pointed out that even with
agitation for the war committee amend
ment silenced in the House, the Senate
remained on record as favoring it, and
a fight there still was possible The
President has asked that the provision
be eliminated because he believes 1t only
will harrass those charged with conduct
ing the war
The conferees met twice today, but
accomplished little They pledged them
selves to absolute secrecy during their
deliberations, but it is known that they
passed over the unopposed Senate
amendments for the time being and dis
cussed generally differences between the
two houses over other amendments. In
cluded III these were the proposals for
a war expenditures committee and for
food control board of three members,
PROMPT ACTION PROMISED
Prompt action was promised by most
of the conferees, some predicting agree
ment by tomorrow night In other quar-
tiers, however. it was predicted that dis
agreement on some of the principal dis
putes probably would be reported. 1t
was declared probable that the House
conferees might be forced to ask for
instructions and vote on some of the
disputes.
When Senator Martin, the democratic
leader, late today proposed a recess of
the Senate until Monday Senator Ken
yon suggested that the conference nigh,
be ready sooner.
Decision of the House republicans to
take no further action at present on the
war expenditures committee amendment
was reached in meeting called by Mr..
Mann, who summoned all the republican
representatives together hurriedy after
adjournment of the House. There was
half hours bitter debate.
MANN STUBBORN
While MIR. Mann merely placed the prop
osition before the republicans, his re-
marks convinced members that he was
DESTROYS of continuing the republican
fight for a separate House vote on the
amendment, temporarily lost yesterday.
Once he interrupted Mr.. Cannon with an
intimation that he was not discussing the
issue, and later he advised Mr.. Miller
that he might have to run for re-elec-
ton on the democratic ticket"
Mr.. Cannon urged undivided support
of the President now, and declared that
if war expenditures committee was
needed later it could be created by sep
arate legislation. Mr.. Miller said he fa-
vored creation of a committee later but
did not think the food bill should be
delayed
Two republicans, Representatives Long
worth of Ohio and Cooper of Wisconsin
in speeches in the House today, urged
the desirability of a war expenditures
committee, insisting that the creation of
one would be no reflection on the Pres
ident.