The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-02

washington, July 2.-The senate
contest over prohibition was compli-
Gated somewhat today when the agr1-
| cultural committee endorsed Senator
| Cores substitute stopping distillation
Of beverages and giving the president
authority to suspend manufacture of
! beer and wines. The ADMINISTRATION
compromise of Senator chamberlain
was rejected by the committee.
Despite the committees action, ad-
ministration leaders planned a contest
| in the senate to prevent giving the
president any power to stop produc-
ton of beer and wine and beneVed
they would be successful. altho: II
necessary, many CO them are Wiling
! to accept the Gore plan.
! The agriculture committee stood SIX
! to five on the Gore substitute ana
voted eight to four against the Cham-
| berlain amendment. The committee
| IS composed largely of those with pro-
| hibitionist leanings.
President Will Accept.
Senator Sheppard, of Texas. told
the committee the president would not
object to receiving authority regarding
beer and wine. The statement was
made upon authority of Postmaster
! General Burleson. The Gore subst-
.u+. would give the president power
to fix the alcoholic content OF the hsht
| beverages.
The general understanding in the
committee is that, should congress
give the president power to stop prev
ing and wine making, he does not
propose for the present, at least TO
exercise it.
House Sits Idly By.
Washington, July 1.-The third
| month of the war congress started to-
day with the house idle and the SEN
ate in an executive jam.
I,iI rCyI o
the upper branch, while the house
fans itself and thanks the fate for
+ rules which curtail debate in boiling
Washington weather
The senate, for the time being at
least, is confused by prohibition.
sharp differences between the drys
threaten again to precipitate acrimo-
NOUS and more dreary debate
This forenoon the senate agricul-
ture committee met to compromise. II
possible. on a dry amendment to the
food bill, which despite legislative
peregrinations is still the regular BUSH
ness.
Agree Only on Whisky.
Senator Chamberlain. in charge of
the bill, wants whisky prohibited. with
no reference whatever to beers and
wines.
Senator Gore wants whisky prohib-
tied, with authority lodged with the
president to stop beer and wine pro-
duction when necessary"
This power must go somewhere"
Gore said today.
Lloyd George cut barley consump-
ton in highlands beer production
from 100000 to 100000 bushels
by having control of it. I will fight
for it"
Both sections claim to reflect the
administration viewpoint. However,
: Senator Chamberlain says, lit looks
like a floor fight any way you put it,
If Chamberlain yields to the Gore
plan, some vets will revolt, and a
group of drys led by Borah will not
stand for adding the beer control bur
den to the presidents responsibilities.
I'll vote bone dry before III do
this Borah said.
And, if Gore yields to the Cham
berlain plan, the radical drys will re-
volt.
Hoover Urges Speed.
Over Sunday Herbert Hoover con-
ferred with committee members rel
alive to changes in the bill and the
measure is now in such shape that
Chamberlain hopes to get vote on il
beyond control. He made an effort
today to get a vote by tonight and the
effort proved unsuccessful. He will
keep trying, however, to curtail de-
bate and if evidence of a fihbustel
develops, friends of the bill are GO
ing to make their first effort to in.
woke the new cloture rule on the SEN
ate.
Include Cotton, Wool, Leather.
Washington, July 1.-The senate to-
day amended the food bill to include
control of cotton and its product This
would hit clothing. The vote was "A
to 80.
Then the senate voted to include
wool, skins. hides and their products
thus placing control over all wearine
: apparel, including shoes