Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-28
URGE NEW BONE
Dry AMENDMENT
Senators of Agricultural Com.
mittee Propose Drastic Food
Control Law.
COMPLICATES SITUATION.
Extends Powers Of President and
Scope Of Observation-Disclosures
Enactment Of LAW by July 1.

Washington. June 27.--Food control
Legislation assumed new and more
drastic form to-day when the Senate
agriculture committee virtually re-
drafted many of the principal features
Of the House measure and reported 1t
with material extensions of government
power and new "bone dry" prohibi-
tion provision to stop manufacture OF
Intoxicating beverages during the war
The President would be authorized to
permit wine making and to commander
existing distilled spirits.
The amended bill was presented to
the Senate by Senator Chamberlain
He will move tomorrow to have it sub
| stituted for the draft the Senate has
been debating and proceed with all ex-
pedition toward final action.
The new prohibition plan. all leaders
admitted tonight, greatly complicated
the situation and precludes enactment
Of the legislation by July I.
In extending the scope of the legislation
and the Presidents powers. the commit
tee adopted amendments which would pro-
vide for government control. in addition
TO food. feeds and fuel. of iron, steel. cop
per. lead and their products. farm imple-
ing twine materials.
Other important amendments approved
would authorize the government to take
over and operate factories, packing
houses, oil wells and mines, regulating
wages OF their employees. and to comman-
deer supplies of any kind and every kind
when needed for the army and navy. "or
any other public use connected with the
public defense"
Another would empower the government
TO buy or sell. for general civilian pur-
poses. food feeds and fuel. with limita-
tion on the general legislation making II
apply to agencies and products in inter
state and foreign commerce.
The amendments are declared by sena
tors who have been opposing as we'll as
those supporting the legislation to i'm.
prove the bill and remove almost all
opposition except on prohibition.
The prohibition section was written into
the bill by vote of nine to seven.
The committee rejected, eight to seven
its sub-committee's recommendation that
the President be given authority to per.
init continuance of manufacture of malt
and fermented beverages.
While the committee was revising the
House. or Lever measure, Senate debate
on the original Chamtsrlain.sA Alsfta aEal
suspended. Senator Chamberlain sought
TO begin debate late to-day on the re-
draft. but upon objection by Senator Pen.
rose and under the Senate rules discus.
sion was postponed until tomorrow.
The possibility of fllibuster because
of the drastic prohibition proposal IL
being considered. Senate leaders agree
that the prohibition fight will probabl,
he long and one of the most strenuous ir
the Senate's history, with alignment ex.
tremely close in the question of stopping
manufacture of beer.
In rewriting and extending the bill
the committee adopted a new amendment
aimed to prevent government employees OF
officers from selling their own material.
to the government. A $4,000 fine and five
years imprisonment are provided for VIC
lations.