Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-21
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
FELT ON FOOD BILL
Administration Leaders Predict
Enactment Of Measure Within
Two or Three Week.
DEBATE ON IN BOTH HOUSES
Senate Opponents Conferring In
formally Toward Agreement
Upon Amendments.
DEBATE ON IN BOTH HOUSES

10 max" ltS"if f"it among opponents <
of tho food control bin. and predicted
enactment of the measure within two
or three weeks.
Debate continued to-day in both
branches. with the House again sit
ting until late at night TO close gem
eral debate. with "a view 10 proceed
ing under the fve-minutc speech rule
tomorrow, and taking final vote
by Saturday. In the Senate there was
serious discussion, with larger attend
ance. The amending stage proha bly,
viii be reached there next week. after
the measure, as il passes the House
is substituted for the Senate draft
Despite the continued opposition and
the certainty of some amendments.
ultimate enactment of the legislation
IN some form is conceded even by its
opponents. Senator Chamberlain said
tonight it was possible that the bill
would he finally enacted by July l.,
as desired by tho President but few
shared his optimism. the general opin-
ION expressed being for two more weeks
At least Of Senate debate
EMPHASIZES NECESSITY
FOR BROAD CONTROL
Senator Kenyon. Republican. occu-
pied most Of the day in the senate in
supper. Of the bi!l. He emphasized
necessity for broad government con-
troll OF foodstunS as war measure
defended the bills cons,itutionality,
haycd specula ators whom he char
acterized as 'hiShwaymen and allies
OF the Kaiser"
III this thing is going on--the cor
nering Of food and fuel" he said. we
are going to have hunger and bread
riots in this country. or something
worse
Senator'S Gore. Reed and vardaman.
democrats. continued as the principal
critics of the BILL They were Joined
by Senator Borah, Republican. who
questioned the measures constitu-
tiona'ity. and said 1t was "full OF
GittcrinE generel!ties." which would
"eewilder the business world. and
paralyze initiative of the country"
he advocated, however, regulation OF
speculation and governmental pur-
chasing OF food supplies
Senator Gore insisted that the bill
would force farmers prices down,
cause famine next year from under
production. and loss this year OF $3.50
co"'eoo 10 wheat and corn producers
MEEI<En QUESTIONS
ABILITY OF HOOVER
In the House. Representative Meeker.
of Missouri. Republican. assail.d the
o'i!. and questioned the ability of Mr..
Hoover. the food administrator. wh;Ie
Representative Lenroo,. Of Wisconsin
Republican, opposed the broad powers
tho measure would confer upon The
executive.
among many amendments proposed
was one by Mr.. Lenroo, limiting i,s
operation To the war period instead
OF 10 one year after the war Repre-
sentative Lever agreed to such an
amendment Senator Kenyon proposed
Senate amendments which would r,
move all possibility of seizure of food
IN the hands of agricultural producers
or institution Of rationing or l;,nita-
tion of individual meals
senate opponnets Of the bill are con.
ferring informally toward agreement
upon amendments which they contend
are necessary to prevent interfe-ence
with legitimate business.
Criticisms of Mr.. Hoover drew /,
speech in his defense from Representa.
tive Kahn of California. RepubIican
VINO paid tribute to his work in
Belgium
Under the bill. Senator KENYON said
during the debate, he believed the
president could take over factories.
such as packing houses. Senator
frandegee suggested that to make
such communicating efficient, COM
Wandering of workmen in such fac.
tories also should be provided for.
vARDAMAN OPPOSES
GOVERNMENT EDICT
senator Nardaman said he would
rather follow Mr.. Hoover's idea to have
the cooperation of the housewives VOL
unfairly IN the campaign for food econ
omE rather than to issue some govern
mental edict
would rather the President tell me
what ! can have to eat, rather than
have Germany overrun the country
interjccted Senator Myers.
Il suppose that remark is directed at
me- replied Senator Nardaman 81 do
not have to defend my patriotism. and
| have no fear of any Kaiser, German
or otherwise. holding sway over this
country. am opposed TO American
methods being used"
Senator Kenyon, answering consti-
tutional arguments. contcnded that de-
cision of the Supreme Court laid down
the principle that many things which
were private property in peace times
became affected with n public interest
under war conditions. and during such
an emergency the could be regulated
and used for public purposes. He
agreed with suggestion of Senator
Nick ellar that penalties should be put
upon all acts which are made offenSes
under the bill.
Amendments providing for the nam
ing. of an American food board. which
will take over and transact all bus
mess by buying and selling OF ncces-
Continued on Second PagcD
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