The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-07-18
WOULD LIMIT
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF FOODSTUFFS
Spirited Contest Expected Before
Regulatory Measure Be-
T.: comes a Law ~,
..,. y,
SENATE WANTS BOARD TO
WORK WITH HOOVER
Unless Something Unforeseen Aris-
es Act May Reach Vote To-
night

washington, July 1S.-The revised
food control bill designated to solve
the senate's trouble over the legisla
ton, was today taken up with pros
poets of its coming to vote before
night.
Il A spirited contest was promised
over the bills new proposal for limit
ing the government control of food
seed, fuel, and for special food ad
ministration board. Many senators
planned to demand extension of gov
ernment control to include iron and
steel, and the food board of five mem
bers, Sinstead of three as proposed
The measure was evolved ins confer
ences ofasenate democratic, and repub
.lican leaders. g., yrry, rc.,i,,
i Sentiment in the, senate toward
composing differences, on the food con
troll bill apparently crystallized today
on a group of amendments drawn up
at joint conferences of democratic and
republican leaders. The leaders pro-
posals are expected to remove many
basic objections and develop general
support.
Principal revisions recommend
ed are for Limitation Of govern
ment control Of foods, feeds and
fuels, including kerosene and gas
oIine, creation Of special board
of administration Of three salaried
commissioners, instead of admin
istration by an individual; fixing
by congress Of basic minimum
price Of $1.75 per bushel for No. I
northern wheat; extension Of gov.
ernment licensing to elevators,
farm machinery factories, packing
houses, coal mines and dealers,
fertilizer producers and WhoIesal-
ers Of such products, and govern.
ment purchase and sale, to secure
reasonable prices, Of fuel, wheat,
flour, meal, beans and potatoes
only.
Voting on these proposals and other
amendments Is expected to begin to-
morrow. Among the first to come up
probably will be that under discussion
today, restricting sale of the govern
ment of products in which the vOlun-
teer advisers of the defense council
are personally interested. During to-
days debate, many senators urged
legislation to prohibit such govern
ment representatives from selling
their own wares to the government.
Charge "Contract Rings"
Senator McKellar, democrat Of Ten
nessee, made a long speech criticising
the contract policy of the councils
body. The seven per cent
commissions for supervising construc-
tion of army cantonments, he declared
will milk the government of about
$3.50, 900 for each of the 16 camps. He
charged that inside rings dominate
contracts for the army, let without
competitive bids.
World.old standards of honesty and
ethics, declared Senator Johnson, re-
publican of California, require that
government representatives shall not
serve in dual .capacity----for them
selvesl and the government, Senator
of Michigan another repub-
lican, warned that "a host Of vultures
are hocking to Washington to secure
war contracts and that the oppor-
tunity for grafters, If not eliminated,
might develop public scandal.
Gore Criticizes Hoover.
Shoe contracts were the basis OF
criticism by Senator Kenyon, republi
can of Iowa, who said men were using
influence to get contracts and advo-
Gated prohibiting government repre-
sentatives from contracts from British
owned products.
During the day Herbert Hoover, the
food administrator, also was criticized
by Senator Gore, and warmly defend
ed by Senators Chamberlain and Mey-
ers. Senator Weeks attacked the ship
ping board and it's fleet corporation
for not fastening action on the ship
ping program.
The opinion was general tonight
that the bipartisan compromise
would 60 far toward solv-
ing the senate's difficulties over the
legislation A considerable faction
plans, however, to fight for govern
ment control of iron and steel prod
ucts, and others favor food board
c,,o of tI,roo rooDborc