Williams news., 1917-07-26
WILSON FOOD ACT
 PASSES SENATE
22,O0O Planes And 100000
 Men To Be Provided

Washington - The Administration Food Control bill, virtually rewritten after weeks of bitter contest, was pass ed by the Senate S1 to 6. Conferees from House and Senate will begin work immediately and leaders are hope full the measure may be in the Presi- dent t's hands in ten days.
 As revamped, the bill gives the President broad authority over foods, feeds and fuels, the latter including kerosene and gasoline; provides for administration by food board of three members instead of an individual; authorizes Federal fixing of coal prices, requisitioning and operation of mines and authorizes a minimum guaranteed price of not less than $2 per bushel for wheat at principal interior primary v markets.
 The Senate prohibition sections pro- hibiting manufacture of distilled bev- erages during the war and directing the President to buy all distilled spir- its in bond was substituted for the House "bone-dry' provision, and will be one subject of difficulty in confer ence.
 Scores of amendments were disposed of but the principal features were the incorporation of the amendment auth orizing the minimum wheat price and another by Senator Pomerene greatly broadening the Government s power to handle the coal situation. The Govern ment guarantee for wheat would be payable at all principal interior pri-
 T.,1- DI,a Senate rejected, 46 to B, an amend nlent by Senator Norris to have the food board, instead of Congress, fix the minimum price.
 The Pomerene coal amendment in- corporated by the overwhelming vote of 72 to 12, directs the President, through the Federal Trade Commission or other agency, to fix coal prices, wholesale and retail, regulate the entire industry and, if necessary, take over and operate coal mines and fix prices of labor.
 On a final vote the Senate refused, 60 to g, to place the bills admins tration in the hands of an individual. Senators understood the Administra- tion would endeavor to have the con
 
 provision for a single administrator.
 Government purchase and sale of foodstuffs to maintain reasonable prices, also is limited by the Senate s bill to fuel, wheat, flour, meal, beans and potatoes.
 The bill limits Government control virtually to the original subjects of the House measure - food, feeds and fuels.
 The House provision for authority to acquisition factories generally was cur tailed by the Senate to factories, pack ing houses, mines and other plants needed for military or other public use connected with the common defense.
 Another important Senate addition to the bill provides for joint congress sional committee to supervise war ex- penditures. It was proposed by Sena- tor Owen, a Democrat, and incorpor- ated by a vote of 5 to 31, several other Democrats voting with the solid Republican membership.
 The Senate also added provisions against hoarding of foodstuffs and for regulation of grain exchanges, author izing the President to close them if nec- essary to stop speculation in futures
 The House bill appropriating $640, 000,000 for the aviation service, was passed by the Senate without amend ment or "a record vote, and with less than an hour s discussion. It now goes to the President.
 The Senate's only dispute, with many members expressing desire to pass the bill immediately, was over ar amendment of Senator Hardwick ot Georgia to strike out a clause author izing drafting of the men of the aerial service. The amendment was rejected 66 to 12.
 Details of plans for expenditure ot the huge sum appropriated have beer withheld, but it is known that it pro yides for about 22,OOO airplanes ant nearly 100000 men,
 Licenses under which German chemi cal firms have been exporting to tht United States through southern Europ can neutral countries serums, vaccines anti-toxlnes, and other biological pro ducts, were formally revoked by tn, Treasury Department. The order o1 revocation cites the inability of Treas ury inspectors to inspect the plants O the companies because of the war.
 Since the above was pot in typ the President has signed the Avia ton bill.