Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-19
BATTLE STARTED ON
FOOD CONTROL BILL IN
BOTH HOUSES TODAY
Most Progressive Republicans
In Senate Favor Measure
While Strongest Opponents
in House Are Republicans
ny RALPH sNuTH.


~TN-GTON June Is.-The Ques-
Zion OF food control through legislative
enactment in compliance with the rec
concentrations OF the president, To-Day
oer-lufes both branches OF congress 10
the exclusion OF everything else boNh
the senate and the house have unoer
eo,siderstion the so-called Lever BILL
- 4, . the purpose OF leaders In both
houses 70 force the issue until the OIL
has been enacted
Senators Smith and Hardwtck are
counted as among the leading oppo-
nants 10 the legislation In the senate
while in the house at least two Cracker
coaEressmen-GOrdOn Lee ana William
s-hiey Howard-are among the ener-
retfc forces supporting the measure
Senator HardwLck opposes considera-
tion OF the bill in the senate at this
time. since he contends no senator has
the constitutional right 20 vote for II In
its present shape His contention IS
based on the fact that the measure pro
poses TO raise certain revenue through
license taxes Under the constitution
all revenue legislation must originate IN
the house.
The point raised BY Hardwick is not
combatted in the senate. since there Is
mo- puruoss on part OF senate adminlstra-
lion leaders TO force q vote on the
measure until after the house has pass
ed the bill Then the house measure
will be substituted for the bill being
considered in the senate The idea OF
precipitating consideration in the senate
At this time Is 20 expedite maj passage
OF the Legislation
1t is like playing horse with the SEN
ate 10 force debate on this measure
now. when every one knows that II can
not be voted on said Senator Hard
wick
senator Smith contends that the food
bill control is unnecessary since the
ill recently passed by the senate TO
stimulate food production and take a
food census fully meets the require
ments of the situation
More than two weeks ago the SEN
ate passed the house bin, appropriat-
ing $4,000, 900 TO enable the secretary
of agriculture 10 take q census Of the
food supply for production" he SAID
THE senate added TO this bill an
amendment which will stop food manip-
ulation and suppress the SPECTATOR
Thu hill has now been in the house for
more than two weeks. We have asked
for a conference and the house has
no, given IL Many of US believe that
the acceptance Of the senate amendment
viii 10 away with the necessity Tor
further food control legislation
Senator Smith commended the Efforts
If the administration. through heroert
C. Hoover, to provide a voluntary or
RanfzatiOn for the concentrations OF
foodstuTs He takes issue. however.
,,,i,b the contention OF Chairman Lever
and others that the maximum price
+xfrz provision has been eliminated Tor
the present bill an
while nominally the present bill
strikes the maximum prices liking pro
vision. the powers still retained in the
bill really give that privilege, ne
stated They are covered up. but they
are in the bill. just the same
The view OF Congressman GORDON Lee
deserves consideration He Is prac-
teal farmer and operates one OF the
1-rvssr farms in north Georgia he i
familiar with the requirements ana mas
the interest of the farmer at STAKE
He Is the ranking member OF the mousse
.s~fc,,trure committee that wrote the
food control legislation His tamlllarl-
~ with its provisions and practlcal
cperations is attested by the iact tha'
he is Chairman Levers Lieutenant IN
The MANAGEMENT Of the bill in the mouse
Here IS what he thinks OF the lesiSiS
81 am for the food control legislation
Srst last and all the time / am proud
~ a committee membership that enabled
me 10 help draft the measure know
that II will prove helpful 70 the farm
ars Of the country and especially to our
southern farmers Il VIII .N.Se
rbar, To raise an abundance OF foodstuns
and dfvsrsification OF crops is needed
in the south
..There is nothing in all this talk about
~. hill infurinE the farmers by en-
abIfuz the government 10 take over MS
produce There is no maximum price
fixing permitted by the measure The
minimum price will insure the 1arIner 3
axatnst loss That Is why the provision
vas written in the bill In case Of an
over-pr0duction, the minimum price will
protect the farmers
The bill will stop speculation in
roodsturTs. and that is 20 be desired II
will destroy the gamblers and jobbers
who control the prices TO the advantage
OF themselves and 10 the loss OF the
PRODUCERS Il viii enable the farmers
10 reap their Just benefits from the in
c-easing demand instead Of putting this
money in the pockets Of gamblers and
mauipulators-
1T is we'll enough 10 remember also
that the southern people, including the
farmers. are consumers. broadly speak
Ir-- We do not produce as much as We
consume I'm the southern states. We
must go into the markets to get many
OF our provisions. We do not raise
enough wheat TO supply Us with flour
and unless We get this legislation I con-
ddenJIy believe that -four will cost "
$40 a barrel before long
While the bill was being explained 70
the house by Representative Lever. as
a measure which would harm no hon
est business man. but would drag
crooks" and spectators into the sun
light a letter from President Wilson to
Representative BOrland was made pub
lie in which the president warned OPP
ponents OF the bills that should they
defeat them they must be prepared TO
take the responsibility for food condi-
tiOns and prices which were predicted
10 follow.
The great majority OF the house greet
ed the opening Of debate with bursts
OF applause and approval. nut the OPP
position was silently making ready for
its attack
In the senate. the opposition also
was ready. Led by Senator Reed, Of
Missouri: Senator Smith, OF Georgia,
and Senator Gore. OF Oklahoma, all