Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-10


The democratic steering committee
Of tho Senate today wrestled with the
problem Of untangling the snarl in
which the administration food control
has become involved owing to the pro-
hibition and other amendments adopted
by the Senate.
After discussing the situation for an
hour. the steering committee adjourned
until 3 o'clock without having accom-
plished anything.
Two plans have been suggested. one
to recommit the bill and have the COM
mittee on agriculture use the knife on
the Objectionable amendments; the
other to pass the bill as quickly as
possible and leave to the conference be-
tween tho Senate and House the duty
of Strengthening out the matter.
Il Hopelessly Divided.
The committee on agriculture is hope
lessly divided In its own membership
on what should be done. and to re-
commit the bill might cause long de-
lay. with little result On the other
hand. many Of the senators would
rather have the bill perfected in the
conference committee
Postmaster General Burleson. spokes-
man for the administration. attended the
meeting Of the steering committee and
attempted to throw oil on the troubled
waters Not long after Mr.. Burleson en-
tered the committee room Senators Reed
and Hitchcock came out Of the meeting.
It 70 we'll understood that number Of
the democratic senators are FESTIVE under
White House domination. They prefer to
settle this question Of food control
without Interference from the other end
Of Pennsylvania avenue.
Says He Will Force Vote.
Senator Chamberlain, after attend
ing the meeting of the steering COM
mittee. announced his intention OF
keeping right on with the bill and
The Senate must pass this bill or
defeat it." he said. He added that he
did not believe the supporters of the
plan to recommit the bill could mus
ter the votes to recommit. He also
said he believed his motion to estab-
lish cloture, which must be voted on
tomorrow, would carry.
30 far AZ the Smoot amendment Is
concerned. which provides for taking
over the distilled spirits in bond and
paying for them at a flxed price. the
constitutionality Of which has been
he had no doubt the amendment could
and would be Strengthened out in con-
ference.
Suggests Way Out.
He suggested that it would be FEAST
BILE to work out a plan whereby the
owners of the spirits would be given
an opportunity to appeal to the courts
If not satisfied with the price offered
by the government. Section 10 of the
bill as now before the Senate provides
for Communicating this liquor and the
machinery for taking 1t constitutional
~. Part Of this section, he said. could
easily be added to the Smoot amend
ment.
Further Delay in Prospect.
The smoet amendment directing the
President to take over all distilled spir-
into the food control bill Saturday by
the Senate, today promised to tie up
the bill and cause further delay.
The constitutionality of the Smoot
to be paid for the distilled spirits. was
assailed yesterday afternoon by Sena-
tor Shields Of Tennessee. Senator Reed
Of Missouri and others, who quoted
presidents to show that such an act
was confiscation of property without
due return
While the debate was proceeding in
the Senate, conferences were held by
Senate leaders. including Senators Mar
tin, Simmons and Hoke Smith. to find
elephant It was confidently predicted
by these senator's that the Smoot
amendment would be lost when the bill
goes to conference. or that the entire
food control bill would be reeommitted,
be rewritten. II the bill Is recommit-
ted, it is likely an effort will be made
also to strike from 1t provisions
which have been added by the Senate
giving the government control over the
tries. which have been the subject of
strenuous objection.
Senator Chamberlain. in charge of the
bill. and other senators are opposed
ever. and prefer to have these matters
left to the conference committee, be-
lteving that they will be Strengthened
out by 1t.
Files Motion for Cloture.
Senator Chamberlain made another
effort just before the Senate took
to NJ q time for voting on the bill. but
without success. He promptly filed
motion for cloture. signed by twenty
one senator's.
of the Senate that eloture motion has
been filed on any bill. and the motion
was made under the new rule adopted
after the twelve willful men" had de-
feated the armed neutrality resolution
by q filibuster. The Senate must vote
on the motion tomorrow. without de-
bate. II adopted. each senator will
be limited to one hours debate. 1t re-
quires two-thirds majority to adopt
the cloture, and there was grave doubt
that 1t would receive such vote
However, Senator Chamberlain feels
that 1t will put on record senator's who
are delaying q vote on the measure.
The cloture motion was signed by the
senator's: Colt, Rhode Island;
Pemerene. Ohio; T.llman. South Caro-
lima: Swanson, Virginia; Chamberlain,
Oregon: Owen, Oklahoma; Hollis, New
Thompson. Kansas: Robin
son. Arkansas; Jones, New Mexico: Ken
driek. Wyoming; Husting. Wisconsin:
Shafreth Colorado: Beekham, Ken
tuoky: Gerry. Rhode Island; Ashurst
Arizona: MyerA Montana: johnson.
South Dakota; Mclean. Connecticut.
and Mcclellan Tennessee.
At the same time Senator Chamber
lain had read into the record a. SINH
lar melton for eleture signed July Q
by forty-hve senator's. merely to show
that fer several days many Of the sena-
tors had been anxious to bring the de-
bate to q close and vote on the bill
Cites Ono Amendment.