The weekly soliphone., 1917-07-19
COMPROMISE NEAR
 ON FOOD BILL
Amendments, Drawn in Joint Con- ference, Hold Center of Stage.
 May Remove Objections.

| WaSnlnStOn, July IS.-@Sentlment lin the senate toward compromising differences on the food control bill apparently crystalized today on a
 group of amendments drawn up at
 joint conferences of democratic and republican leaders.
 While on the senate floor anoth- CT day was spent in criticism of the defense council and other executive bodies, a reprint of the bill was
 made embodying the leaders pro posals which are expected to remove
 many basic objections and develop general support
 Principal revisions recommended ! by the leaders are for limitation of
 government control of foods, feeds
 and fuels, including kerosene and gasoline; creation of a special
 board of food administration of
 three salaried commissioners, in
 stead of administration by an in diyidual; fixing by congress of a basic minimum price of $1.75 per
 bushel for No. 1 northern wheat; extension of government licensing
 to elevators, farm machinery, fac 1 tories, packing houses, coal mines and dealers, fertilizer producers and wholesalers of such products, and
 secure reasonable prices, of fuel,
 wheat, flour, meal, beans and po- Itatoes only.
 Voting on these proposals and
 other amendments is expected to
 tcgin tomorrow. Among the first to come up probably will be that under
 discussion today, restricting sale to the government of products in
 which the volunteer advisers of the
 defense council are personally in terested.
 .I SENATOR M'KELLAR CRITICIzES. Senator Mcclellan (Democrat) of II Tennessee made a long speech crit
 icizing the contract policy of the
 councils advisory body. The seven per cent commissions for supervising construction of army cantonmen r camps, he declared, will milk the , government" of about $250,00p for leach of the 16 camps. He charged that inside rings" dominate con [ tracts for the army, let without competitive bids.
 , World-old standards of honesty and , ethics, declared Senator Johnson ! of California, Republican, require , that government representatives shall not serve in dual capacity [ for themselves and the government. Senator Townsend of Michigan, an r other. Republican, warned that ca I host of vultures are focking to Washington, to secure war con 9 tract and that the opportunity for grefters might develop a public - scandal.
 t Shoe contractors were the basis 3 of criticism by Senator Kenyon of
 Iowa, Republican.
 During the days debate, Herbert q Hooover, the food administrator, also S was criticised by Senator Gore and S warmly defended by Senators Cham berain and Myers. Senator Weeks e attacked the shipping board and - the fleet corporation for not hasten . ing action on the shipping program
 BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE. ., The opinion was general tonight . that the bipartisan compromise v amendments would go far toward . solving the senates difficulties over l the legislation. A considerable fac V ton plans, however to fight fol 0 government control of iron anc - steel products an dothers favor a /; food board of five instead of three Q members.
 The amendment creating the f board as drafted by the leaders e provides that:
 t "The president is au- | thorized and directed to appoint by e and with the advice of the senate
 three. commissioners, at an annua n salary of $7,50O, who shall consti - ute board of food administration V and who shall perform such duties t in carrying out the purposes of this
 act as the president shall direct
 One of said commissioners shall b'
 farmer actually engaged at tho e time of his appointment in the cul n tivation of the soil. The presiden ., shall designate the chairman o e said board Said commissioners shal T hold office at the pleasure. of thu Il president during continuance of tn
 war"