Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-19
FOOD CONTROL BILL
NEARLY IN SHAPE
Senate Consideration Begun
Month Ago Is Approach
ing an End.
VOTE TAKEN SATURDAY.
Measure IL Amended Modifying Pro.
vision against u. s. Agents Selling
Own Products to Government.

Washington. July 1s.-Senate considera-
tion Of the administration food control BILL
begun a month ago to-day, is approaching
an end. Voting upon amendments began
to-day. and tomorrow discussion will pro-
ceed under a ten-minute limit toward the
final vote to be taken Saturday.
Only one amendment was disposed Of to-
day but that, relating to sales by govern
ment agents Of their own products to the
government, has been before the Senate
almost exclusively for a week A redraft
Of the provision offered by Senator Pom
creme was adopted tentatively but prob
ably finally by a vote Of "a to II. 1t is
designed to meet. especially, the supply
purchasing situation of the defense coun-
Gil and its advisory bodies.
Tomorrow. under the limit debate rule.
the leaders expect to proceed rapidly with
the many amendments. including those
drafted in bipartisan conferences in an
effort to compromise the situation over
the legislation Probably the first to be
| taken up will be the compromise proposal
to create a board Of food administration
of three salaried members in lieu Of the
original plan for one administrator.
The actual effect of the Pomerene
amendment written into the bill to-day
was disputed by senators tonight. Those
inal committee amendment declared it
was entirely satisfactory to the adminis-
tration and council members. Equal sat
isfaction was expressed by those advocat-
ing more drastic action. including Senator
Reed, one of the most persistent critics Of
the council.
During the discussion, Senator Pomerene
declared no serious criticism could be
| lodged against the councils advisory COM
IYynic nd thot itc P,,1p N,,1I
be crippled by passage Of the committee
amendment which its opponents predicted
might prevent the promnen. men who
have been serving as commissioners with
out pay from continuing in their position.
Senator Reed and others insisted that all
that was sought was to prevent contracts
for their own supplies from being con-
| trolled by the commissioners.
AMENDMENT AS ADOPTED.
AS placed in the bill. the amendment
provides.
| THAT no person acting either as q volun.
tary or paid agent or employe of the
United States in any capacity. including
an advisory capacity. shall solicit. induce.
| or attempt to induce any person or officer
authorized to execute or to direct the
execution Of contracts on behalf Of the
United States. to make any contract or
give any order for the furnishing to the
United States Of work. labor. or services,
or of materials. supplies. or other prop
| erty Of any kind or character. IL such
agent or employe has any pecuniary in
terest in such contract or order or II he
| or any firm of which he is member or
corporation. joint stock company or as
sociation Of which he is an officer or
stockholder. or in the pecuniary profits
Of which he is directly or indirectly inter-
ested. shall be party thereto.
'Nor shall any agent or employe make
or permit any committee or other body
of which he is a member to make or
participate in making any recommended
| tons concerning such contract or order
to any council. board or commission of
the United States, or any member or SUBJ
ordinate thereof without making to the
best Of his knowledge and belief a full.
and complete disclosure In writing to such
council. board. commission or subordinate
OF any and every pecuniary interest which
| he may have in his contract or order and
OF his interest in any firm. corporation,
company or association being a party
| thereto.
| Nor shall he participate in the award
ing OF such contract or giving such order.
Any wilful violation OF any OF the provi-
sions of this section shall be punishable
by fine OF not more than $4,000. or by
| imprisonment Of not more than five years,
| or BOTH"
To this was added an amendment by
Senator Reed providing that this section
| should not repeal the act Of 1862 which
| reads:
mo officer or agent Of any corporation.
joint stock company or association and
| no member or agent Of any firm or per-
son. directly or indirectly interested in
the pecuniary profits or contracts Of such
| corporation. Joint stock company, asso-
ciation or hrm shall act as an ofiicer
or agent of the United States for the
transaction OF business with such cor
poraton, Joint stock company. associa-
| ton, or hrm."
Amony many amendments submitted
but not acted on during the day was one
by Senator Pomerene giving the Presi-
dent authority to take over and pool
or regulate. through the trade commits
| sion, coal, coke, petroleum and its prod
ucts when in his judgment it is necessary,
| and to fix the prices and provide for dis
tribution. Senator Kellogg offered an
amendment fixing the minimum price for
| wheat at $500 a bushel, and Senator
McCumber proposed one under which the
amount Of compensation for any farm
product requsitioned by the government
be computed at the same rate as that
| paid for other products. such as STEEL
iron and copper. plus reasonable rate
| Of interest.
Senator Weeks offered as an amend
ment to the bill his plan for Joint
| congressional committee on the conduct
Of the war. already embodied in a
| separate bill.