Arizona republican., 1917-06-03
FOOD BILL DRASTICALLY RESTRICTS STORING OF FOOD STUFFS AND ALSO
 MAKES DRIVE AT SPECULATION
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON. June 2.-The first of the administration food bills. all ready passed by the house, passed the senate late today without a record vote Numerous amendments were at tached.
 The bill as finally accepted by the senate provides for a comprehensive survey of food resources and for the stimulation of agriculture and restricts drasticallv the storing of foodstuffs, fuel and other necessities and specu- lation. The restrictive provisions were added by the senate. The bill carries a total appropriation of approximately s11. GOO. 900 compared with $14,770.000 as it passed the house.
 Hoarding or storage of food. fuel, or other necessaries of life in order to limit the supply or affect prices would be made a felony under the senate amendment but farmers who hold their own products would be excepted. The amendment restricting futures trading, written by Senator Nelson and voted into the bill, 37 to 17 just before passage provides:
 If at any time during the pendency of the existing war between the United States and the German empire, the president of the United States shall find that dealing in futures or about any grain exchange unduly or unrea- sonably raise or enhance the price of wheat or other food cereals to the in- jury of the people of the United States, he may at once request the traders in such exchanges to discontinue for time specified by him all dealings in futures.
 Tn case such request of the presi- dent is not promptly complied with then he is hereby empowered to order such dealings in futures as last afore said to be entirely suspended and dis continued for such limited times as he may direct, and if such order is not promptly complied with, he may by proclamation declare such exchange closed and thereafter it shall be un- lawful to utilize or permit to be util- ized such building or room as a grain exchange or for any person being trader in grain on such exchange to engage in the business there conduct ed on or at such closed exchange.
 Any person violating any of the provisions of this act shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500. or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine and i'm prisonment."
 The senate also voted to curtail the inquisitorial power given the secretary of agriculture in the investigation of food resources. The house bill would compel the attendance of witnesses and the submission of books and other rec ords under heavy penalty. The senate agriculture committee attended the provision to give the secretary general authorization to investigate the food situation, making it the duty of any person when requested by the secre tary to answer all questions necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this section" The house appropriation of S2,522, 900 to pay for the survey was accepted
 The section authorizing the govern ment to sell seeds to the farmers was amended to provide that sales be for cash only. The power to compel per sons having seeds at their disposal to furnish them to the government was curtailed greatly and the appropriation carried for the work was reduced from $5,77S,0 to $2,500,000.
 The house appropriation for eradi- cation of livestock diseases was elim- mated and an appropriation of $SS0, ,000 was added to stimulate livestock pro- duction.
 : The administration bill empowering the president to require priority of 1 Continued on Page TWo)