New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-21
House May Vote Saturday.
Sending Original Meas
ure to Senate
Borah Takes Stand
Against Lever Act
New Yorker Applauded for
Twitting Others on Ma
tional Survey

F-om The Tribune Bureau
u..bington. June 20.-It is now
u.,sd that some sort Of food con-
80, bill-not exactly the one demand
ID Nv the President will be passed in
.L-ss or four weeks. The House may
-. nv Saturday and the disposition
there is to put the measure up to the
senate in its original form.
Ssrs.or Borah, Of Idaho, leading
p.,rbl;can and influential on both
~ Of the chamber, took q decided
,osi,ion to-day against the bill IN lts
Ipysssnt form The situation demands
1. declared. q food controller VINO
oil act as purchasing agent for TINS
copntrv and the Allies and who VIII
nyovide against boarding and speculat-
me and have authority TO take over
bnsrded stocks and 10 distribute them.
Favors Such a Bill
bill calling for such a controller.
.sid Senator Borah, he would heartily
support. and ne believed the sober, sane
business men also would support It.
But. he added, Congress ought not TO
he stampeded into the enactment OF q
measure full Of glittering generalltles
and which would not produce the re-
suits desired.
"The bill before us" said Senator
Borah. "as il stands will bewilder the
business world and benumb the initla-
tive Of the country"
During the debate in the House to-
night Meyer London. Socialist. Of New
York. gained much gallery applause by
twitting his colleagues on their re-
fusal last December TO consider ms
resolution for O food survey.
~ support this BILL" said Mr.. London,
"brcause its socialistic principles Will
become the permanent law Of the land
I, is inevitable. This bill opens up a
new road along which national legisla-
lures will be compelled TO travel.
"If speculation is a bad thing IN wal
times. is il a good thing in time OF
peace? Why. when peace is restored
sbonId we revert to former condi-
tions" -,
Elimination of the Spectator, Mr.
Iondon declared, will have little effect
m food conditions. A remedy will %
forrd he declared, only when the
power 10 dictate food prices Is taKei
nom the small ring of capitalists wh'
now control the supply.
Senator Kenyon. Republican occu
MED most Of the day in the senate II
support Of the bill. He emphasized
the necessity for broad government
control Of foodstuffs as a war measure
defended the bills constltulonaht!
and fayed spectators, whom ne cnar'
acterized as "highwaymen and alile'
Of the Kaiser"
"If this thing is going on-the cor
nering of food and fuel he SAID, we
are going 70 have hunger and brea'
riots in this country, or somethih'
worse"
Senators Gore. Reed and Vardamar
Democrats, continued as the princlpa
critics of the bill They were Joine
by Senator Borah, who questioned IN
measures constitutionality, and SAID ]
was full of glttering generalltles
which would "bewilder the bushes
world and paralyize the initiative o
the country" He advocated, however
regulation of speculation and govern
mental purchasing of food supplies.
Gore Predicts Famine
Senator Gore insisted tnCt tne OIL
would force farmers prices down
cause famine next year from under
production and loss this year OF $3.50,
100000 70 wheat and corn producers.
In the House. Representative Meek
er, Of Missouri, Republican, assaile'
the bill and questioned the ability o
Mr. Hoover, the Food Administrator
while Representative Lenroot. of Wis
eonsin, Republican, opposed the broa'
powers the measure would confer upol
ihe Executive.
Among many amendments propose'
was one by Mr.. Lenroot limiting 1t
operation to the war period instea'
Of 20 one year after the war. Rep
resentative Lever agreed 70 such al
amendment.
Senator Kenyon proposed Senat
amendments which would remove al
possibility Of seizure of food in IN
hands Of agricultural producers, or IN
stitution Of rationing or limitation o
individual meals.
Senate opponents of the bill are con
ferring informally toward agreemen
upon amendments which they conten'
are necessary 70 prevent interference
with legitimate business.
Criticisms OF Mr.. Hoover drew
speech in his defence from Representa-
tive Kahn. Of California, Republican
who paid tribute 20 his work in Bel
rium.
During Senator Kenyon's long speecl