New-York tribune., 1917-06-23
Anti-Liquor Advocates to
Make Final Stand
To-day
Prompt Action
Is Looked For
Control Bill Denounced In
Senate, but Its Passage Is
Deemed Certain
From Tn. Tribune Buresul

in preparation by prohibition adVo-
Gates for determined effort to insert
a stronger dry provision before the
final vote tomorrow.
The section which would authorize
the President to limit, regulate, pro-
hibit or reduce the supply Of food ma
terials or feeds used in making alco-
bolic liauors falls short Of the de-
mands of most of the anti-lquor ele-
ments. A majority hope for absolute
prohibition Of the use Of grain for bev-
craze purposes during the war. They
are not agreed on any one proposed
amendment, however, and their divi-
sions may result in leaving the present
provision unchanged.
Prompt Passage Looked For
Except for the prohibition drive,
nothing was in sight tonight to pre-
vent passage of the measure to-mor-
row in the House, and the outlook IN
the Senate for quick action also was
considered good.
Promising plans for compromises on
disputed points in the Senate caused
Chairman Gore of the Agriculture
Committee and Senator Chamberlain,
in charge of the bill, to express belief
that it would be ready for conference
by July /, the date by which President
Wilson urges that the legislation should
be enacted.
Formslity of debate proceeded in the
Senate, with Senator Reed, of Missouri,
after late start, occupying most Of
the afternoon in opposition to the
measure, while other leaders continued
informal conferences looking to COM
promises.
Denounced by Reed
Senator Reed denounced the bill as a
violation of constitutional rights. He
said he favored punishment of food
spectators and hoarders. but main
tanned ii is mot necessary to punish the
vast multitude of people in order to
reach the occasional criminal"
This bii! is not the innocent, mild,
gentle and persuasive measure watch
has been presented TO the public" he
said. at does in fact create not only
q food dictatorship but also a business
and wage dictatorship. In some re-
spects it is without precedent or paral-
lei in the legislative enactments of any
modern nation, republican or monarch
icsl."
The Senator said that if SPECTATORS
have been able TO control the food
products Of l00,000,000 people, and the
facts are so well known as to war
rant Congressional action and to de-
rand the appointment of food dicta-
toi. why is it the conspirators have
not been brought to condign punish
ment"
A plan for adjournment tonight un-
I'll Monday TO allow further confer
erees was abandoned because of the
universal desire TO conclude the
lengthy speeches several Senators are
planning in order to proceed to amend
ments by the middle or latter part OF
next week, after the House bill has
been received.
Price Fixing Urged
Among amendments presented was
one by Senator Borah, proposing that
retail and wholesale prices of bread
hour and other foods be proclaimed by
the President. and that the prices OF
steel. coal, oil, farm implements, fer
tiiizers, meats and clothing usually
sorn by wage-earners be fixed by the
Federal Trade Commission.
Senator King proposed substitute
Dill auth0rlyfnp tho Dros.Io-.
empt food and fuel used by this coun
Try and the Allies and to reouisitior
lroducts OF coal and ore mines. to fl,
prices OF certain products, and te
eNaohsh government food warehouses
IN the House Representative Towne-
isiled by an overwhelming majority q
substitute complete bill for the Ad
ministration measure which woul,
nave eliminated all OF the control feat
ufes. Representative Lenroot waped ,
vigorous fight against the lcensin,
provision, holding IL was unconstitu
tional and illogical. He was defeated
l23 to &C.
Among the important amendment,
accepted by the House was one by Rep
iesentative Lenroot 20 eliminate tho
blanket control power Of the Presi.
cent over necessaries and limit il IA
the articles mentioned in the bill; an.
ether by Representative Moore. OF
Pennsylvania, 70 extend penal sections
20 persons or agencies who volun.
teer their aid to the President in con
troll work; another by Representative
Anderson, OF Minnesota, striking from
the bill the power Of the President 10
prevent "uneconomicsl manufacture
and inequitable distribution Of neces.
sgries,' and conspiracy section
added by the committee.
Teeth Left In H."
Chairman Lever accepted the
amendments, expressing himself as well
pleased with the bill IN It's amended
form.
at still has plenty Of teeth in it,"
he said; most Of the charges made
thus far bring the bill back 10 the
form in which most Of the committee
originally desired IT, We accepted
some Of the provisions now being
changed b. the House in order 10 get
the bill on The foor"
The new conspiracy section pre-
yides;
THAT any person who conspire,
agrees, or arranges with any other
person, 20 limit the facilities for
transporting. producing, manufactur-
inr, supplying, storing, or dealing in
any necesssries, 90 restrict the supply
or distribution o. any neeessaries, 70
pYevent, limit, or lessen the manu-
fseture or production Of any neees
saries, or 70 enhance the price OF any
necessaries, ahall. upon conviction
thereof be fined not exceeding 10000
or be inprisoned for not more than
two years, or both"