The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-23
HOUSE WILL VOTE
TONIGHT PASSING
FOOD CONTROL GILL
No Doubt Now That Power To Fix
Prices of Necessities VIII BE
Given Government
SENATOR REED MAKES
ATTACK ON MEASURE
says He Does Not Believe War with
Germany Has Abolished the Consti-
tuition OF the United States.

Washington, June 22-with unex-
pected speed the Lever bill creating a
food dictator showed its way along In
the house. of representatives today.
Section 3. establishing governmental
control of necessities was passed
early IN the day with few changes.
The house expects TO vote on the bill
tomorrow night.
In the senate, Reed OF Missouri.
assaiied the bill He said /. eudeavor-
ed to create a 'populistic Utopia and
he begged that the American people
be allowed to govern themseivs."
Various amendments were submit
ted in the house. Mr., Lever in charge
OF the bill. put in an anti-conspiracy
section which carries a $4,000 hne
and perhaps two years in jail. This
would apply TO any one conspiring to
limi. facilities for transportation.
manufacture. supply. storing or deal
prices
There was tight over the presi-
Dental power TO license business
Lenroot. of Wisconsin, made an
unsuccessful battle to kill this part OF
the bill. Anderson. of Minnesota, made
change in the licensing system, con-
fining II to authority OF the president
to make regulations for such issuance.
Montague OF Virginia. amended tho
lii so the power OF necessaries be
specifically "as herein after stated
thus avoiding use of any power not
II entioned in the bill.
There was but one amendment in
the senate.
Borah. Of Idaho. offered a price
fixing section. This allows the federal
commission 10 make wholesale and
retail prices for steel. oil. coal, farm
implements, fertilizer, -four, bread.
meat and clothing for iaborers-
The price must be 'reasonah BILE
and any sale above the fixed rate
would be punished.
II am willing TO make any sacrifice
and do anything necessary TO win this
war" said senator Reed. but I am
not one OF those who believe that with
the war, Germany has abolished the
constitution OF the United States l
insist the war can be won without vio-
lating the constitution
ut is unnecessary to interrupt bust
ness and deprive farmers OF the free
and open market 1t is not necessary
TO punish the great multitude OF
honest people so as to reach the oc-
casional criminal, II legislation were
necessary. il has already been enacted.
The espionage bill allows the presi-
dent to control all shipments. The
government can control the price OF
foodstufrs because IT can control the
Price OF surplus
"Hoarding can ne punished under
the Walsh amendment in bill origi-
mating in the house. passed by the
senate and sent back to the house for
approval The Nelson amendment
prevents speculation in grain ex-
changes So nearly all the evils now
being paraded before the public can
be dealt with.
Saws 1t Is Without Precedent.
The bill creates not alone food
dictatorship. but a business and wage
Dictatorship. In some respects 1t Is
without precedent in the legislative
euactments Of any modern nation. re-
public or monarchy. The right to
control what people may eat amounts
to almost the power OF life and death
Such a bill would be treated with
mingled establishment and derision il
II were not for the fact that for
weeks the public has been told that
the present high cost of living Is due
TO wicked food spectators and that
the hill proposes to put the villains out
Ul puSiHCSS.
But il the spectators exist in such
numbers and have been enabled to
control the food products Of 100000,
600 people then the fact Of the con-
spiracy could not be concealed
IF this is so we'll known why have
not the conspirators been punished ?.
What has become Of the great federal
trade commission? 1t was loudly
heralded as the complete remedy for
all forms OF unfair competition. What
has happened to the department of
justice? The forty-eight states have
all agencies to indict the culprits.
There must be more than 5000 pros
ecuting attorneys In power to drag
before as many grand Juries the
wretched culprits. Yet instead OF a
perfect flood Of indictments there has
been only an occasional prosecution"
The house defeated by a large vote
a substitute bill offered by Towner. of
Iowa. This cut out the license system
and instead Of giving the president
power to control food. merely made
boarding. raising prices. etc.. penal
offense.