New-York tribune., 1917-06-24
Control of Supplies
Put in Hands of
Wilson
Vote, 365 to S;
Debate Bitter
Measure Cuts Manu-
facture of Liquor;
Authorizes Seizure

Washington. June % The Admin
istration food control bill, giving the
President broad authority to control
the distribution of food feed and fuel
for war purposes, and appropriating
Sl52 100000 for IFS enforcement. was
passed by the House late tonight after
farresching prohibition provisions had
been written into il.
The vote was S65 TO ;. Representa-
tives McLemore, Slayden and Young. OF
Texas. Democrats. and Meeker. Mis-
souri,, and Ward. New York, Repub-
licans, voting in the negative.
The prohibition provisions adopted
would prohibit the use of foodstufs
for the manufacture of alcoholic bev-
erages ,,and would give the President
authority TO take over for war pur-
poses all liquor now on hand. They
were put into the measure during the
evening in committee of the whole, and
when the bill came up in the House
proper the anti-prohibition faction did
not demand that they be voted on
again.
Fight in Senate Ahead
The bill now goes 10 the Senate,
where it probably will be substituted
carly next week for similar measure
already under consideration. Leaders
hope to get the measure TO conference
by July l.
Few important changes were made
by the House outside the prohibition
section. The control powers Of the
President were limited 70 articles spe
cifcally mentioned in the blu insteao
of giving him blanket authority; vol
untarv aids in control work we're made
subject to the penal provision; all per
sons in the food administration, except
those serving without compensation,
we're placed under civil service, and the
President was required to make an an
nual report on the operation OF the
bill.
Authorizes Liquor Seizure
After several hours of parliamentary
sparring, during which the prohibitory
proposals were thrown out repeatedly
on points of order. the prohibition ele-
ment got the upper hand and forced
adoption Of amendments which would
forbid the use Of any foodstuffs during
the war for making intoxlcants, and
would give the President authority TO
take over, in his discretion. all stocks
of distilled liquors.
Then the House settled down to a
long night session. with the prospect
that n final vote on the bill might bs
taken some time between midnight and
morning. The leaders were determined
to vote before adjournment.
Opponents Plan Hard Fight
Action on the prohibition amend
ments was taken in committee of the
whole. and opponents of the proposals
Immediately began mastering their
forces for a reconsideration when the
bill comes up for discussion in the
House proper. Should the proposals
finally survive in the House, a fight
will be made on them in the Senate.
although much prohibition sentiment
has been apparent there and equally
farreaching amendments are pending.
The amendment designed TO cut of
manufacture Of liquors was adopted,
1872 to ia. Il was submitted by Rep
resentative Barkley, of Kentucky, DEM
ocrat, and would provide that no food,
food material or feed could be used
during the war for the manufacture Of
alcohol or alcoholic beverages, except
for governmental, industrial, scientific.
medicinal or sacramental purposes.
No Rollcaii on Other Clause
On the amendment authorizing gov
ernment use OF distilled spirits there
was no rollcall, and only a few scat
tered nays were heard on the viva voce
vote. Originally proposed by Repre-
sentative Webb. OF North Carolina, it
was accepted by Chairman Lever Of this
Agriculture Committee, and was adopt
cd on his motion. It says:
The President is authorized, if in
his opinion II is necessary TO con-
serve necessaries, 20 require any
person having control OF alcohol and
distilled spirits TO turn over to gov
ernment use or redistillation such
proportion OF said alcohol or spirits
as the President may deem necessary
70 meet the requirements of the gov
ernment in the manufacture OF mu-
nitiona and other military and hos
pital supplies IN so far as such use
or redistilation would dispense with
the necessity Of utilizing products
and materials suitable for foods and
feeds in the future manufacture cf
alcohol or distilled spirits for the
purposes herein enumerated.
Upon the failure OF the person TO
comply with the Presidents require
ment. the President is authorized 10
reuuisition and take possession OF the
alcohol and distilled spirits required
TO be turned over. and TO pay for the
! same a just compensation, TO be de-
termincd BY the President, and II the