Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-27
POWER PLACED
WITH PRESIDENT
BY SENATE BILL.
Up to Him to Say if Beers
and Wines Shall Be
Manufactured.
ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION So. 4
OF DISTILLED SPIRITS
iS&
Measure as It Comes From Houso
Rewritten by Agriculture ,ls
subcommittee.
SPEEDY PASSAGE PREDICTED
Even It's Opponents Admit That 10
VIII Receive Favorable =
Vote by Saturday. &s
SPEEDY PASSAGE PREDICTED
Isy Associated press.l

TBv Associated Press1 Sl
WASHINGTON. June 26.-The adm:n.R
istration food control bill passed .bX :
the House was rewritten to-day byaS
Senate Agriculture subcommittee so as
to give President Wilson power and !,
the responsibility in deciding as to
whether the nation shall be bone dry
during the war and to place iron and
steel and many other products. In addt-
tion to food and fuel. under governsS.
ment control. These and other changes
satisfactory to many Senators
who have been opposing the original
draft of the legislation that both advo-
Gates and opponents tonight predicted
passage in the Senate by Saturday. r
EMPOWERS PRESIDENT
TO COMAiANDEER SUPPLIES
AS substitute for the House prohi-
bition sections. which without qualiica~
tion forbid the manufacture Of food
stuffs into liquor. the subcommittee
adopted provisions which would pro-
hibit manufacture. during the war, Of
all Intoxicating beverages and empower
the President to commander existing
supplies of distilled spirits. but would I.
authorize the executive. in his discre-t
ton. to permit manufacture OF matted,
fermented and vinous beverages and Az
their alcoholic content. S
AS rewritten, the subcommittee draft
will he considered tomorrow by the
Agriculture Committee. and probably
Will be reported at once for Senate
discussion without material change.
Senators Gore. Smith. OF Georgia, and
others prominent in the bitter fight
against the legislation have announced
their support for the redrafted measures.
Other signs of waning opposition and
prompt Senate action came in to-day's
debate on the Senate floor. Opposition
Senator'S leading recent discussion
yielded to Senators Knox and Nelson,
Republicans. and Thomas. Democrat,
for speeches strongly supporting the
control legislation. Further debate
promised to center upon the prohibi-
tion question. with leaders predicting
an extremely close final vote. rs
UNLAWFUL TO MANUFACTURES .s8t
ANY INTOXICATING BEVERAGE
For the House prohibition plan tho
subcommittee substitute provides:
THAT from and after thirty days
from the date OF the approval of this
act 1t shall be unlawful for any per-
son. firm or corporation to use In the
manufacture of any intoxicating liquors
for beverage purposes any perishable
or nonperishable foods or food mate,
riais. Whenever the President shall
find 1t necessary to conserve perishable
products named. he is empowered to
permit the use OF such products in the
manufacture of yinous liquors. f.
Whenever in the judgment Of the
President the public interest would be
subserved thereby, he is empowered to
permit the limited use of the materials
mentioned in the manufacture of malt
or fermented liquors and to prescribe
the alcoholic content thereof"
Another section adopted would au-
thorize the President to take over any
or all distilled spirits now in bond,
upon payment of a reasonable and
just Price to dstillers. for redistilia-
tion into alcohol for war, Industrial
or other nonbeverage purposes.
The thirty-day proviso is designed
to give that time TO the President to
decide whether further manufacture of
beer. wines and light beverages shall
be permitted. and for consumers ana
manufacturers to prepare for what the
President may decide.
Should the President not exert his
authority so as to exempt malt, fer.
mepted and vinous beverages from the
sweeping prohibitory provisions. and
should commander distilled spirits In
bond. bone dry" national prohibition
of both manufacture and consumption
would result, entailing a loss Of Fed.
eral revenue estimated between $400..s
900 and 100000, 900 and new taxa.
| tion measures. as we'll as local revenue
reductions. N8
SOME RADICAL CHANGES ss
MADE, IN H0y2r urVVS
Besides the prohibition substitutes,
other radical changes made In the
House bill include: s,i
Extension of government control In
addition to food, feed and fuels. to iron
and steel and their products. petroleum.
and It's products. farm implements and
machinery. fertilizers. hemp. sisal and
jute. 5fS3
Limiting government communicating
OF mines. factories and other plants 10
production necessary for military putt
poses or public uses OF tho comE,oH
| defense" sss5. y "a
Limiting Federal Licensing 70 prod