Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-07
GORE FOOD BILL
PASSES THE SENATE;
NO OPPOSITION
Carries 100000 to Stimulate
and Regulate Production
Gives President Power to Close
Exchanges Where Gambling
Is Done in Grain Futures.

Is Done in Grain Futures.
| Washington, June 3.-The Senate pass
ed Saturday, without a dissenting vote.
the Gore bill, with its $11,000.000 APP
preparation, to stimulate and regulate
the production Of food. One of its
strongest features is the bestowal upon
the President Of power to shut UP ex-
changes where gambling is done in grain
futures. Gambling Of that kind during
war time is>lnade an offense punishable
by fine of $500 or one years imprison-
ment.
| agriculture was shorn Of some Of the
features embraced in 1t when as the
Lever bill 1t passed the House. Among
them was a drastic clause for a food
census. providing that the department
Of agriculture might confscate the bust
ness Of any food dealer wholesale or
retail refusing to divulge information as
to his store Of foodstuffs. The Gore bill
| imposes an obligation to divulge this in
formation. making 1t punishable offense
ton.
thorized to purchase seeds in time Of food
scarcity and to sell them to farmers at
cost. an appropriation Of $2.500.000 being
provided for this purpose. An amendment
that the government be authorized to buy
up the entire fsh industry and sell fish to
consumers was killed by an Overwhelming
vote to-day.
One Of the sharpest fights on the bill
thA re,> r;,, h.
President power to close grain exchanges.
1t was concentrated upon an amendment
offered by Senator Nelson Of Minnesota
which modified one offered by Senator
Thomas last week. Under Senator
Thomas's amendment the President would
have unrestricted authority to decide
whether a wheat or grain exchange was
gambling in futures and to close it at
once, This struck the majority Of sena-
tors as too drastic and it was voted
down.
FAVOR TAX ON ADVERTISING
War taxation of publishers advertising
receipts rather than an increase of their
postage rates was vigorously urged Sat-
urdy by representatives of national pub
fishing interests at an informal confer
ence with the senators engaged in re-
drafting the war tax bill.
Newspapers. magazines. trade. religious.
farm and many other publishing inter-
ests Joined in the plea which will be re-
ported to the finance committee on Mon
day when it resumes its revision of the
House war tax measure. A confidential
draft of committee changes is being print
ed, and the committee plans to decide how
publications shall be taxed. to place the
xii IL, A. -.
| Senate before the end of the next week.
Senator Simmons. chairman Of the
finance committee Senator Penrose.
| senior republican members, and Senator
Smoot received the publishers representa-
tives to-day to thrash out the whole ques-
ton Of war taxes upon publications hav-
ing the second class. or cent pound.
mailing rate. The publishers were asked
to suggest a taxation plan. and the
unanimous recommendation In favor OF
| levying upon advertising receipts was the
result after an hours discussion. The as
sertion was made that increased postage
rates would put many publishers out of
business. and that they could not be pass
/ ed along. while a tax on advertising re-
ceipts could be met by increased advertis-
ing rates.
|
wick and Endorsed by the postoftice de-
partment. to leave present postage rates
on news portions of publications and
heavily increase those on the advertising
carried. was condemned by the publishers
as more detrimental to their interests than
the House zone system. already rejected
by the committee.
In asking the publishers views. Sena-
AAv, GtvSav Il ~
mittee was determined to levy war taxes
OF some sort upon publishers. He pointed
out that letter rates were to be increased
one-half. postcard rates doubled and
parcel post shipments taxed. adding that
there was strong sentiment in Congress
In favor Of exenpting second class mail
from the increase
| NEWSPAPERS WILLING.
| "Newspap ers are not DESTROYS of escap-
ing a tax" the committee was told by
Ebert H. Baker Of the Cleveland Plain
Dealer, chairman of the legislative COM
mittee OF the American Newspaper Pub
fishers association, But we would rather
have a direct tax on advertising receipts
at fair rate. Such a change might be-
come permanent All of US prefer to have
the postage question handled separately
I from war tax legislation"
To statement by Senator Penrose
that thousands of letters were being re.
ceived by members of Congress protest.
ing against increasing letter rates II
second-class rate were allowed to stand
Mr.. Baker replied that the One-Cent Let
ter Postage League. contributed to by
manufacturers. was behind a propaganda
Of that kind.
This seems to be the psychological
time, however," Senator Simmons in.
ter5ected. for publishers to accept a
postage raise that is inevitable. Print.
paper prices are high. and the increase
decided on might be less now than wher
conditions are changed"
A draft Of an amendment suggested by
Senator Simmons proposing to increase
second-class rates by 25 or so per cent
1 Ia or 1-2 cents a pound-with a tax
on advertising receipts of IL per cent.
was quickly disapproved by the publish
ers.
ut WN>pot wise or American to in
crease sec6nd -class postage" said Altar
H. Richardson OF New YORK;. representing
the American Periodical Publishers as
ISOLATION. 1T 10 not justified even by wal
conditions and would be most unsatis
factry." Mr.. Richardson cited the post
office departments surplus last year. ever
with mailing on second class publication,
Ia