Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-19
ONLY ONE AMENDMENT WAS
 DISPOSED OF WEDNESDAY
LIMITED DEBATE RULE
Senator Pomerene Declared No Serious Criticism Could be Lodged Against the Councils Advisory Commission No Person Employed by Government Can Participate in Army Contract Under the Law.

Washington, July 1S.-Senate con sideration of the administration food control bill, begun month ago to- day, Is approaching an end. Voting on amendments began today and to- morrow discussion will proceed under ten-minute limit toward the final vote to be taken Saturday.
 Only one amendment was disposed Of today but that, relating to sales by government agents of their own pro- ducts to the government, has been be- fore the senate almost exclusively for a week A re-draft of the provision offered by Senator Pomerene was adopted tentatively but probably f. nally, by a vote of 54 to r. It is de- signed to meet, especially, the supply purchasing situation of the defense council and its advisory bodies. Tomorrow, under the limited debate rule, the leaders expect to proceed rapidly with the many amendments, including those drafted in bi- partisan conferences in an effort to comprom- ise the situation over. the legislation Probably the first to be taken up will be the compromise proposal to create a board of food administration of three sa!ar1ed members in lieu of the origi- nal plan for one administrators. The actual effect of the Pomerene amendment written into the bill today was disputed by senators tonight Those who had advocated it in lieu of the original committee amendment de- S9I1SIaCIOrY the administration and council mem bers- Equal satisfaction was express ed by those advocating more drastic action, including Senator Reed, one of the most persistent critics of the coun- cil.
 Commission Not Criticised.
 During the discussion Senator Pom creme declared no serious criticism could be lodged against the councils advisory commission and that it's use fulness should not be crippled by the passage of the committee amendment which it's opponents predicted might prevent the prominent men who have been serving as commissioners with out pay from continuing in their .po- sitions. Senator Reed and others in sisted that all that was sought was to prevent contracts for their own sup plies from being controlled by the commissioners.
 Federal Employees Barred.
 As placed in the bill, the amend ment provides:
 That no person acting either as voluntary or paid agent or employe of the United States in any capacity including an advisory capacity, shall solicit, induce, or attempt to induce any person or officer authorized to execute or to direct the execution of contracts on behalf of the United States, to make any contract or give any order for the furnishing to the United States of work, labor or ser vices, or of materials, supplies or oth- CT property of any kind or character If such agent or employe has any pe- cun1ary interest in such contract or order, or if he or any firm of which he is an officer or stockholder or in the pecuniary profits of which he is directly or indirectly interested, shall be party thereto.
 "Nor shall any agent or employe make or permit any committee or other body of which he is a member to make or participate in making any recommendations concerning such con- tract or order to any council, board or commission of the United States of, without making to the best of his knowledge and belief full and com plete disclosure in writing to such council, board, commission or subor- d1nate of any or every pecuniary in terest which he may have in his con- tract order and of his interest in any firm. corporation, company or asso- citation being a party thereto.
 "Nor shall he participate in the awarding of such contract or giving such order. Any wilful violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be punisha b1e by a fine of not more than s10,000, or by imprisonment of not more than five years, or both"
 To this was added an amendment by Senator Reed providing that this section should not repeal the act of 1862. which reads:
 No officer or agent of any corpor- ation, joint stock company or associa- tiOn or firm shall act as an officer or agent of the United States for trans action of business with such corpora tion, joint stock company, association