The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-07-10
SENATE At SEA ON FOOD BILL
Important Changes Must Be Affected
= Likelihood That Prohibition
Clause May Be Modified, and
Many Items Of Control
Eliminated.

Washington, July "a reoccurrence
of opposition to prohibition legislation
written into the food control bill, to-
gether with stubborn protests against
the proposals for government regu-
lation Of the iron, steel, cotton and
other industries, completely upset the
plans of senate leaders today and
promises to force important revisions
of the measure.
Failing again to secure unanimous
consent for limiting debate or setting
time for a vote, the leaders submit
ted the motion, held In reserve for
several days to invoke for the first
time the senate's cloture rule. They
also arranged a democratic steering
committee meeting for tomorrow to
draft changes in the bill 80 as to make
sure 1t will not be defeated when a
final vote Is secured.
The culture motion, submitted by
Senator Chamberlain as manager Of
the bill, went over until Wednesday
under the rules. 1t bears the sigma
lures of twenty-one senators, all but
three of them Democrats. For the
adoption, q two-thirds vote will be
required. Before 1t comes up, how
ever, the Democratic leaders hope to
effect such changes as will satisfy the
bills opponents.
In open debate and many private
conferences during the day opposition
grew against the measure. Criticism
was directed particularly against Sen
ator Shoots amendment, adopted Sat-
urday, providing for government pur-
chase of all distilled spirits in bonded
warehouses, but many other sections
of the bill came in for attack as WELL
At tomorrow's steering committee
meeting plans will be considered to
eliminate steel, iron, cotton and some
other products from the government
control provisions Of the bill and tC
4 amend the Smoot provision.
The prohibition question was dis.
cussed at length in today's debate
with leaders of both "wets" and "drys'
declaring 1t unconstitutional in its
provision to give distillers lust ant
fair" compensation for liquor to bt
Communicated. Senator Kenyon, who
voted for the amendment and has beer
prominent in the prohibition move
ment, told the senate the provision
was not worth the paper it is writ
ten on"
That great harm has resulted to tn,
wheat market since the food legisla
! tion has been under discussion wa
charged by Senator Nelson.
Citing the drop in prices here h
. declared that the government mus
. buy the wheat or the farmers woul,
suffer, the millers being unable to alb
; sorb all the crop. Senator Penrose de
. nounced the bill as awkward and alb
.. surdly ungrammatical and q disgrac
to crowd of school boys" in some re
. spects.
The senate accepted the committe
amendment empowering the govern
ment to take over and operate pack
} ing houses, oil and gas wells and pipe
! lines in addition to mines, factorie
and other plans II necessary to sc
cure an adequate supply of necessitie
=: for the army and navy. An amend
ment to permit the board Of media
B ton and conciliation to pass upon tn
wages to be paid employees of plant
commandeered by the government wa
also adopted without record vote.
II the bill is recommitted, there ma
! be an attempt to add a section givin
government control of coal and raj
I way supplies.