Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-26
ADMINISTRATIONS
FOOD BILL PASSES
SENATE, 81 TO 6
Creates Bipartisan COMPRESSION
al Committee to Audit Gov
eminent OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
antees Farmers 81 a Bushel
for Wheat-COntrOl of Coal
Voted to President-Paid Food
Board of Three Provided For.

WdSHIHst OH, July IS.-IHc ioou au-
ministration bill, with its delegation of
sweeping powers to the President for
the control of foods, feeds, and fuels
during the war. was passed by the Sem
ate Saturday. 81 to 6. Under the guild
ance of the bipartisan Senate confer
ence that sprang into being early in
the week, the measure went through
with precision.
The six senators who stood out
against the bill were Reed of Missouri
and Hardwick of Georgia, democrats,
and Penrose Of Pennsylvania Souther-
land of Utah, Sherman of Illinois. and
France of Maryland, republicans.
Before the final vote was taken, the
bipartisan leaders had worked broader
features of control into the BILL ex-
tending it's operation specifically to
coal, fixing a minimum price of wheat
to the farmer of So a bushel, and EN-.
towering the President, in time of
emergency, to buy fuel. wheat. flour.
meal. beans. potatoes, and coal from
producers and sell to consumers.
The Senate accepted without change
the provision directing the President
to appoint a board of food administra-
ton of three MEMBERS in place Of the
single food administrator wanted by
the executive. AS the President may
designate the chairman, he may put
Herbert c. Hoover at the head of the
food control. but Mr.. Hoover's author
ity would not be supreme.
Opportunity remains to alter the bill
in conference, but Senate leaders were
inclined to believe tonight that the bill
would be reported out Of conference as
passed. because of the decisive vote by
whcih the Senate disposed of It.
A BIPARTISAN WAR BOARD.
AS evidencing the temper of Senate
leaders over what they consider a lack
OF intimate touch between Congress and
the administration in the prosecution of
the war, a new section was tackled onto
the bill by a vote of SO to 81 creating a
joint committee on expenditures in the
conduct of the war. to be composed of five
senators and five representatives. On the
committee there will be three democratic
and two republican senators, and three
democratic and two republican representa-.
tives.
This joint committee, while created
under the phraseology of the bill. tc
Safeguard the expenditure of appro'
priations bearing upon the war as made
by Congress-" will have broad power
of inquiry into practically every phase
of war activity. Senate leaders Intend
that 1t shall operate as a means OF
tamiilarizihs themselves with the al
mtnistfatlon's handling or the war.
BEFORE the maj vote large NUMBER
OF amendments were disposed or a rev
packed by the bipartisan conference
peing accented, the others thrown into the
discard. Inc maj vote, under the genera
consent agreement or TWO weeks ago. was
taken without debate
Senator Hollis OF New Hampshire hat
an amendment to section IL to STRIKE
out the price OF wheat to he produce
or sl.7b bushel-as hxed originally b!
the agricultural committeeman to pu
the price nxing IN the hands or the foo'
administration poard. rms was Vote'
down. 40 to ~.
senator chamberlain OF oregon submit
tea an amendment 10 section L. raising
the guaranteed minimum price OF whea
70 the FARMER from sLIo 10 WV pushei
ana authorizing the PRESIDENT 10 com
mandeer STOCKS or wheat In emergency
paying the prevailing market price u
the prooucer anu seiiihg tne wheat u
tne consumer ms was ADOPTED by
viva voce vote. Inc pi-partisah machih'