South Bend news-times., 1917-07-24
WILSON BALKS
At. FOOD BOARD
Asks Senate Cut Out Proposed
Committee Which Indicates
Lack of Confidence.

WASHINGTON. July 24.-Prest
Wilson asked congress Monday 20
eliminate from the food control bill
a senate amendment creating a joint
committee of senators and represen-
tauves 10 confer and advise with eX-
ecutiVe officers on war expenditures
In letter 10 Chairman Lever Of
the house agriculture committee the
president pointed out in frank terms
that such a committee would be
likely 10 constantly harass those di-
rectly responsible for the conduct OF
the war. Retention of the section.
he notified congress, would be com
PEELED 10 interpret as signifying "a
lack OF confidence in myself"
Mr.. Lever and other house lead
ers are understood TO be ready 10
make a determined fight against the
provision, which was voted into the
bill near the close of the long SEN
ate debate. The house leaders also
are planning 20 oppose vigorously
the senate's provision for a food
control board OF three members in
stead of one administrator, and
there are many indications that in
this likewise they Will have the
presidents unqualified backing.
Wilson Replies to Lever
Mr. Wilson wrote 10 Rep Lever in
response TO "A letter promising to
hasten the food bill through confer
ence and asking advice on the war
committee provision. The presidents
reply follows:
Il am very much obliged to you
for your thoughtful courtesy in
stating to me circumstances of the
present action on the food admin
istration bill and 1 am particularly
obliged to you for calling my at
tention 70 section 23. l deem il my
duty 10 express my opinion about
that section and its effect upon the
whole administration of the war
very frankly indeed, since the pub
lie interest manifestly demands that
/ should do so.
Section % is not only entirely
foreign TO the subject matter of the
food administration bill in which il
is incorporated but would, if en-
acted into law, render my task Of
conducting the war practically inn
possible. 1 cannot believe that those
who proposed this section scrutinized
il with care or analyzed the effects
which its operation would necessar-
ily have. The constant supervision
of executive action which it con-
templates would amount 10 nothing
less than an assumption on the part
of the legislative body OF the execu-
tive work of the administration.
There is a very Ominous prece-
dent in our history which shows
how such a supervision would oper-
ate. l refer TO the committee on
the conduct Of the war constituted
by the congress during the admin
istration Of Mr. Lincoln. II was the
cause of constant and distressing
haraSsment and rendered Mr.. Lin
coins task all but impossible
Il am not, / beg you 10 believe, in
any way questioning what might be
the motives or the purpose of the
mem bers of such a committee, | am
ready to assume that they would
wish TO cooperate in the most pa
triotic spirit, but cooperation OF that
kind is not practicable in the cir
cumstances. The responsibility rests
upon the administration. There are
abundant existing means of investi-
cation and Of the effective enforce
ment Of that responsibility. / sin
cerely hope that upon the reconsid-
Grafton Of this matter, both houses
Of cor gress will see that my objec-
tiOns rest upon indisputable grounds
and that I could only interpret the
final adoption of section 3 as aris-
ing from a lack Of confidence in
myself"
The Objectionable Amendment.
The section objected 10 by the
president was embodied in an
amendment introduced by Sen.
owen, democrat, 70 take the place
of a similar proposal by Sen.
Weeks. republican. II was adopted
by the senate. 50 10 81, after a brief
debate. Briefly it would create a
committee Of five senators and five
representatives to ascertain just how
contracts were being let and money
spent in the conduct Of the war and
10 report to congress whenever il so
desired.
The president and the executive
departments under the provision
would be compelled ito keep said
committee fully advised as 70 such
expenditures and contracts" and the
committee could compel attendance
of witnesses in such inquiries as it