The Washington herald., 1917-06-16
wilson PUSHES
FOOD MEASURES
Tells Congress Immediate
Action Must Be Taken
on Lever Bills.

President Wilson yesterday served
notice on Congress that action must
be taken at once on the Lever food
bills. which will give him power to
regulate food prices.
The President considers the food
bills the most Important legislation
now pending and has decided that If
necessary he will go before Congress
and demand the passage OF the bills
at once. He considers It of prime i'm
portapce that they be made law be-
fore July ], as the harvesting season
already is beginning in some sections.
and with two weeks more leeway the
speculator will have time to buy up
foodstuffs and put prices at exorbit-
apt figures.
The Presidents determination to
push the food bills through became
known yesterday afternoon after he
had had conference with Senator
Martin, majority leader. The Presi-
dent has talked with both Republican
and Democratic leaders within the
last few days, but he has not OBJ
tained the results he had hoped for.
Determined stand.
Senator Martin declined to say what
conclusions were reached, but it is
known that the President has taken a
determined stand and that the ad-
ministration leaders will use whip and
spur to get the food legislation passed
before 1t will be too late to have an
effect on this years production.
There has been strong opposition in
both House and Senate to some fea-
lures OF the Lever. bills, one of which
aims 10 increase production, the other
TO give President Wilson. through
Herbert 9. Hoover. whom he has
designated as food administrator,
power to regulate prices.
An attack on the food control bill
was made in the House today by Rep
resentatlye Haugen, Republican. of
Iowa. He fled a minority report al
leging that the proposed measure dis
crtminates against the farmer. His
principal complaint was that the orig
NAL bill contemplated control of all
necessar1es OF life, whereas the bill
finally reported from the committee
oy Chairman Lever, of the Committee
on Agriculture, aims only at the con-
troll of foodstuffs, thus making the
farmer the particular target.
This Is the first outright attack
MADE on the Lever bill by a member
OF the House Committee on Agricul-
ture, but Representatives Young, of
Texas; Ward, of New York, and Will
son, OF Illinois, also are formulating
'ASWS. 1nSy are HlelhuSlo o
of the committee. 1t is not known
whether they will file separate reports
or JOIN IN the gathering opposition
which will be expressed in the House
when the bill comes up for debate
Fnvors Minor Changes.
II is understood that the admins
tratlon Is willing to have minor
changes made in the bill, but Presi-
dent Wilson insists upon its passage
IN one form or another. In the Sem
ate there Is no objection to Mr..
Hoover as food controller, and the
majority OF the members are in favor
OF tne main regulatory provisions.
A Republican Senator who has talk
ed the food situation over with Presi-
dent wilson let 1t be understood that
ne and the majority of Republicans
favor the idea of having a food ad-
mlnlstrator and central purchasing
agency which will act with the pur-
chasing agents of the allies and by
eliminating competition bring prices