The sun., 1917-05-24
POLL SHOWS DRY
BILL WILL PASS
Food Control Measure Fa-
vOredb by Senator's and
Representatives.
FOR WILSON TO DECIDE
Radical PrOhibitionists OPP
pose Leaving Liquor Ques-
ton to President.

! w
WASHINGTON, May 23.-That President
Wilson's food control bill. with all the
sweeping powers 1t will confer on the
Presidents food administrator. will pass
the House and Senate is indicated by a
partial poll of Congress taken by Chair.
Agriculture
Although it may be necessary for the
supporters Of the bill to make certain
minor concessions to obtain the support
, or some Of the members Of Congress a
survey Of the prohibition sentiment seems
to assure that If any change whatever
Is made in the provision which gives
4 the President power to limit or prohibit
the use OF grains in the manufacture OF
alcohol the amendment will make the
provision even more drastic than Il Is
at present rather than minimize its ef-
feet
| The Lever bill as 1t stands provides
that whenever the President shall find
that the Limitation. regulation or prohibi-
ton of the use of foods. food materials
or feeds in the production OF alcohol or
non-alcoholic beverages, or that the re-
duction of the alcoholic content of any
! beverage is essential in order to secure
| an adequate and continuous supply OF
| food. he is authorized from time to time
to prescribe and give public notice
| thereof, the extent of the limitation
regulation. prohibition or reduction SC
necessitated."
! Want Prohibition at Once,
Many of the most radical prohibition
| members OF Congress do not want 10
leave the decision with the President
but prefer that Congress should take
anirmative action at once. They believe
! the situation warrants the immediate
| prohibition Of the use OF cereals and
other foodstuis in the manufacture OF
, liquor and they will try to get Con-
| gress to adopt An amendment to this
, effect.
Representative Howard Of Georgia will
introduce an amendment to the Lever
| bill which will direct the seizure Of all
cereals. molasses. syrups. sugars and
| other food products in the possession
or control of breweries ane dlstileries
-hNOPeAch VI this would take
the discretionary power entirely from
the President and make it obligatory to
stop the manufacture of all kinds OF
malt and fermentec liquors at once.
House ProhibitionistS are bound how.
ever. not to originate In the House any
bill which cannot be regarded as strictly
war measure. The only exception tc
this are bills having the expressed APP
proval OF the President. So in order for
the House to consider legislation de.
signed to prohibit the sale of distilled
liquors during the period of the war
measure which many of the members
wish to get through. 1t must first be
recommended by the President or must
come to the House from the Senate
Members said frankly tonight they had
no hope OF getting through an abso.
lute prohibition measure unless the
President or the Senate came to thelr
assistance.
With the revenue measure out of tn,
way. the food bills will be rushed
through as rapidly as possible The bill
having to do only with the encoura ge.
ment OF production and the expansion nj
The activities Of the Department of Agri.
culture will receive first consideration
and probably will be passed by the
House this week
Gore Bill Favored.
| The Gore bill "to provide furtbAr fo,
the national security and defence by
stimulating agriculture and facilitat,np
the distribution Of agricultural prod.
! ucts' was favorably reported to the
| senate to-day. AMI at once took its pIacs
as the unfinished business before tbs
senate. only short time was devoted
| 10 DEBATE, and the Senate. after a brieI
| executive session. adjourned with IN,
measure still the order OF business
the new bill. which devotes itself ex
clusiVely to stimulation of agriculture
INDUSTRY. II Is hoped by the chairman OF
the committee can be held safe from
complication with food control measure,
| now before Congress. Chairman Gore
while having no assurance that senarate
enactments can be effected, is neyerthe.
| less proceeding on the theory that tbs
| days are short within which iegislatior
can be passed looking to increase n,
production through stimulating the crop.
OF 1917. Speedy action could be had or
| this measure, whereas interminable de-
bate and discussion Is certain to marh
the progress OF food control legislation
| The report on the Gore bill of to-da,
! said:
THE bill as introduced authorizes a
! food census or survey. The purpose Is
to ascertain the existing stocks and sun.
plies OF foodstuffs in the country. 1t Is
| desirable to look the facts in the face a,
this information would be of great ser.
vice In the formulation of our future
policy with reference to production. con.
servation and related problems. II
might also be of some service in connec.
| tion with any governmental policy af.
| fecting the importation and expectation
| OF foodstuffs.'
May Purchase Seeds.
The Secretary of Agriculture is An.
I thorized to purchase seeds for distribu
tion In such restricted areas as NAV
exist where the demand for such Federal
aid Is necessary. The bill also creates
two additional Assistant Secretaries of
Agriculture. The bill appropriate,
s13,722,00o for the various purposes sci
| forth therein.
Senator Reed attacked the bill as
useless and unconstitutional piece OF
| legislation.
IL am against this food census" an.
nounced Senator Reed. "on the ground
| that II Is invasive OF the constitutions
rights of the Individual No one want,
to accord an agent OF the Agricultural
Department the right to walk into hi,
storehouse or granary and pry into the
personal business OF the producer.
refuse to concede such a right constitu
tional or judicial. There Is no constitu
tional or judicial right for such ar
impudent and unlawful inqulsition."
Senator McCumber. North Dakota. ex
pressed the view that the right way Il
cheaper food was to encourage produc
ton through adequate imposts on tn,