Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-17

Goes to Conference.
Washington. May ls.-Congress be-
gins the sixth week of war tomorrow
with the calendars of both houses still
filled with legislation which the admin
istration feels 10 essential to the sue
cessful conduct OF the conflict with
Germany.
The Senate after two weeks debate
on the espionage bill drawn by the de-
partment of Justice Is expected to pass
that measure tomorrow
The House probably will conclude
discussion Of the $1,000. 100000 war
revenue bill early tn the week and send
1t to the Senate where two days Of
committee hearings have indicated that
many changes are to be made in it's
structure before 1t goes to the White
House for the Presidents signature.
The espionage bill has been stripped
of the press censorship section which
caused much Of the opposition to its
passage. The injection of an amend
ment last night prohibiting the use of
cereals or grains in the manufacture
of intoxicants during the war. although
a bitter pill to the foes of prohibition.
probably will not greatly delay ulti-
mate passage of the entire measure.
Plans of leaders in the Senate are
not clear as to what measure of the
several important ones shall be taken
up after the espionage bill, but it is
probable it will be the food control bill.
Conferees on the war army bill called
to meet again tomorrow because the
House after once rejecting the so-called
Roosevelt amendment, now wants to
put 1t in, are not expected to take long
at their task and tomorrow the bill
may reach the Senate floor. Since the
Roosevelt amendment originated In
that body 1t is possible that the army
measure can be disposed Of without
much debate and early in the week
sent to the President.
In the House an effort may be made
to put food control legislation through
after the war revenue bill
In both houses the food legislation
is expected to cause much debate and
arouse some decided opposition. 1t is
almost certain that measure will be
passed giving the department of agri-
culture money and authority to make
food survey Of the country and te
curb speculation in food products.
HOUSE WANTS ROOSEVELT.
Refusing to adopt the conference report
on the army draft bin the House record
ed itself Enthusiastically to-day in favor OF
accepting the offer of Theodore Roosevelt
to organize force of volunteers for serv
ice In France. BY vote of us to 17S thu
House sent the army bill back to confer
ence with instructions to it's conferees Il
include in the bill the Harding amend
ment, originally adopted by the Senate
authorizing the President to accept no
exceeding four infantry divisions OF vol
unteers.
1.-The President Is further authorized t.
raise and maintain by voluntary enlist
ment, to organize and equip not to ex
coed four infantry divisions. tho offScer
Of which shall be selected in the name
provided by paragraph 8 Of section / O
this act provided that the organization o
said force shall be tho same as that O
the corresponding organization of tn
regular army. and. provided further, tina
there shall be no enlistments In sal
; force Of men under q years of age at tim
of enlisting. and, provided further, tina
no such volunteer force shall be accepte
in any unit smaller than division"
When the House action on the amend
ment was reported officially to the Senate
Chairman Chamberlain of the militar
affairs committee, without debate. OF
tained permission to withdraw the repol
from the senate and resume conferene
on the bill.
! predictions that the unframed Rooseve
volunteers would move to certal
} slaughter in France TO assertions tn,
nothing would SO instill enthusiasm
!. this country and In Europe as Colon
! Roosevelt at tho head of a division
the streets OF Paris on route to Il
trenches.
! STRICTLY NON-PARTISAN.
n Forty-ave democrats voted with II
: majority Of the republicans for Il
( Roosevelt amendment. Thirty repub
: cans voted against 1t. Announceme
!. Of the vote was greeted by loud appiau
= on the hoor and in the galleries. wi
= cries of "Hurrah for Teddy"
The action OF the House recommitt
l. the army bill to the conference COZ
q mittee. A meeting Is planned Monday al
a the Roosevelt amendment Is expected
y meet the approval OF the Senate CO
q ferees. who yielded to the House ma
e ayers when they demanded its elimin
n ton. 1t is asserted by some membe
n Of the House that the action to-day ope
q up the entire bill to further consider
ton In conference, but It IL not believ
% the conferses will make other mod
!. cations.
rs ANTHONY LEADS THE FIGHT.
1t Representative Anthony. republican.
n Kansas. who refused to sign the &C
T. ference report because of the elimir
10 ton of the Roosevelt amendment, 8,
"a cessfully led the fight to send the |
ot back to conference.
Despite efforts to conduct the debs
u along non-partisan lines, partisansl
entered into the House fight. Rep
- sentative Caldwell of New York,
IN democratic member of the military co
uittee. alleged that the entire purp'
Of the night over the Roosevelt aInel
J. ment "was to make . martyr Of
he colonel II he was not permitted to q
n "He will be a candidate for the Pm
Ir- dency four years henco." M. Caldv
or said
to Uncle Joe" Cannon supported
he amendment with tho announcemeut q
he was not q political follower Of
former president. had not voted
es him In 1917, and did not expect ever
en- vote for him for president
y II want Theodore Roosevelt to "a
tho heartso6 .AmeE1cas xrnco1ns