Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-24

Dry Provisions.
 Washington, July 23.-Administra- ton house leaders are preparing for determined fight In conference on certain features of the food control bill as rewritten in the senate
 The senate amendments to provide TOT joint congressional committee on the conduct of the war and for a board of three members to control food will be singled out for deter mined attack At the White House there were indications today that President Wilson will throw his per sonal strength against the food board proposal, inserted by senators to limit the power of Herbert Hoover No statement was forthcoming as to the administration view on the proposed congressional committee. but it B known strong influences are opposed to it.
 Liquor Amendment Opposed.
 Vigorous opposition Is developing also to the senate liquor and S2 a bushel wheat amendments. Prohibi- ton advocates in the house want to force acceptance of the house bone promise on a provision giving the president some control over beer and light wines and the power to com mandeer distilled liquors either In oi
 
 members are opposed 10 leaving any minimum price for wheat in the bill
 The House conferees.
 Indications are that the house con- ferees will be named tomorrow. 4 prolonged deadlock may ensue, but 90 determined are the house administra- ton leaders that they have decided to pay no heed to urgent appeals for speeding up the bill as long as the objectionable joint committee and food board features are retained. They will insist that to assign three men to a food board instead Of vesting the powers in one man would only delay results by scattering authority.
 Efforts probably will be made in the house when the bill comes up to- concur in all of the senate amend ments, but administration leaders are confident of their ability 10 block such a move.
 The President Acts.
 President Wilson asked congress to- day to eliminate from the food con- trol bill a senate amendment creat- ing a joint committee of senators and representatives to confer and advise with executive officials on war expen- ditures.
 Tn a letter to Chairman Lever, of the house agricultural committee. the president pointed out in frank terms that such a committee would be likely constantly to harass those directly re- sponsible for the conduct of the war. Retention of the section. he notified he would be compelled 10 in- terpret as signifying "a lack of con- ndence in myself"
 Mir Lever and other house leaders a determined fight against the provi- sion, which was voted into the bill near the close of the long senate de- bate. The house leaders also are planning to oppose vigorously the sem ate's provision for a food control board of three members instead of one ad- rninistrator. and there are many indi- cations that in this likewise they will have the presidents unqualified back ing.
 Presidents Letter 10 Lever.
 Mir. Wilson wrote to Representa- promising to hasten the food bill through conference and asking advice on the war committee provision. The presidents reply follows; your thoougtful courstsy In stating to me the circumstances of the present action on the food administration bill and I am particularly obliged to you I deem it my duty to express my opinion about that section and trs effect upon the whole administration of the war very frankly indeed, siLSs the public interest nhnIeStlY uFiiaup1 that I should do so.
 "Section g Is not only entirely for sign to the subject matter of the food administration bill in which fl Is in- corporated but would. if enacted Into law, render my task of conducting the var practically impossible. cannot believe that those who proNosed this section scrutinized 1t with care or analysed the effects which It's op- eration would necessarily have.
 "The constant supervision of execu- i've action which it contemplates would amount to nothing less than an assumption on the part of the leEisla- i've body of the executive work of he administratio
 "There is a very ominous precedent n our history which shows how suck , supervision would operate. I refer o the committee on the conduct of the var constituted by the congress dur nr the administration of Mir. Lincoln. t was the cause of constant and dis ressing harra ssment and rendered MT Lincoln's task all but impossible
 The president said he was not ques- ioning what might be the motives of ;lIch a committee but he did not think cooperation of that kind practicable 1nder the circumstances