New-York tribune., 1917-07-31
Wilson Wins
Fight for Single
Food Dictator
Congress Conferrees Aban-
don Three-Man Board at
Presidents Demand
Senate Is Expected
To Affirm Change
Knotty Problem of War Ex,
penditures Committee
Still To Be Settled

dsHlHBtOH, July oV'-I leiulHS U
the urgent request Of President Wilson,
Senate and House conferrees on the
food control bill to-day eliminated the
provision for food board Of three
members instead of single admins
traitor and consented to make one more
effort to agree regarding the section
creating a war expenditures committee
Of Congress.
The conferrees had reached a dead
lock on the two proposals when the
President intervened, and there had
been indications that a final disagree
ment might be reported. Tonight the
war committee section, written into
the bill by the Senate and strenuously
opposed by the President, was the
only remaining problem.
The committee will meet tomorrow
with the prospects strong that the
Senate members will yield to the
President on this point also.
fresldent CdllS Leaders
Before to-day's meeting the Presi,
dent conferred at the White House
with Representative Lever, heading
the House members, and Senator
Chamberlain, the Administration Sem
ate spokesman, and earnestly insisted
upon one-man food control and elimi-
nation Of the clause creating the Ex-
penditures Committee. Within an
hour after reconvening the Senate
conferrees yielded on the food admin
istration section, adopting the original
House provision for appointment by
the President Of an individual admin
istrator, not subject to Senate confir-
nation.
The agreement was reached by bsre
majority Of one. Four Senator's
Chamberlain and Smith, Of South Caro-
lima, Democrats, and Warren and Ken
yon, Republicans-voted to recede from
the Senate provision for a three-mem-
Der board. Senator'S Gore and Smith,
of Georgia, Democrats, and Page. Re-
publican, voted against receding. The
House conferrees, Republicans and
Democrats alike, stood solidly for one
man control, and also are united on
striking out the Congressional War
Supervising Committee.
The Presidents personal interven-
ton, the conferrees declared, was
largely instrumental in breaking their
deadlock on the food administration
dispute. His curse was riticised by
some members and some sharp tilts in
the conference were reported. Senator
Gore said tonight that the conferrees
had been denied full and free con-
ference"
Might Veto Bill
Success of the food administration,
President Wilson told the conferrees'
leaders, largely depends upon its man.
agement by one man. He said larger
board would seriously interfere" with
the successful conduct of the war. There
were persistent but unconfrmed reports
that the President felt retention Of
either the three-member board or the
Congressional committee would be suffi-
cient cause for veto. Senator Cham
berlain declared positively that the
President gave no intimation to that
effect during the conference.
Reception by the Senate of the pro-
vision for an individual food adminls-
tration is uncertain, although Demo-
cratic leaders expect the conference re-
port TO be accepted. The Senate voted
twice-63 to 10 and go to 23-against
accepting an amenment for one-man
control. Further spirited debate, with
criticism of Herbert Hoover, the Food
Administrator, is expected when the
report is presented.
Some of the Senate conferrees be-
lieve, however, that the Senate is so
overwhelmingly for the war expen-
ditures committee that a report elm
mating it might be rejected. They told
the House conferees to-day that pri-
vate Senate poll indicated insistence
upon the provision.
In yielding on the food administra-
ton section the Senate conferrees Sc
cured adoption of a new section pro-
yiding for a board Of three members,
one of whom would be the president Of
an agricultural college, to nix wheat
prices, based upon the stand prescribed
by Congress for next years crop OF
not less than 81 a bushel for No. 4
spring Northern.
The conferrees also formally voted
to-day TO abolish the rule establishing