Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-30
PRESIDENT AGAIN
URGES ONLY ONE
T0CONTROL FOOD
Tells Senator Chamberlain His
Opposition to Provision for
Board of Three.
IF AMENDMENTS PASS
MAY VETO THE MEASURE
Also States His Objection to Con.
gressional Committee ON Expen-
ditures for the War,

Presiden. Wilson today declared
again his opposition to amendments to
the food control bill now in conference
providing for an administrative board
of three instead of one and for the ere
alton of congressional committee on
expenditures in the conduct of the war.
The Presidents position was made
clear today to Senator Chamberlain, one
of the conferees on the bill. The Presi-
dent considers the committee on con-
duet of the war reflection on himself
and insists that there can be no question
of the greater value of an individual
food administrator over an administra-
tive board of three.
Amendments May Cause Veto.
Senator Chamberlain left the White
House convinced that unless the con-
ferees eliminate those provisions the
bill must go back to the Senate and
House for further action. The possi-
bility that the President might veto
the measure if they were left in it was
widely discussed in Congress.
The President gave no intimation to
Senator hamberlain, it was said, that
he is so strongly opposed to the food
board and congressional commission
that he would veto the bill if it came
to him with either provision in. 1t was
understood that the President opposed
both commissions because he felt they
would seriously interfere" with the
successful conduct of the war.
Senator Chamberlain said he thought
the Senate conferees would insist on
both the three-member food board and
the congressional commission, and that
the House would refuse to recede, caus-
ing partial disagreement-on these two
points alone-to be reported to both
bodies of Congress for further debate
and instructions.
Many Senate Amendments Retained.
The conferees, after their work of
yesterday, have agreed on the rest OF
the bill, adopting many of the Senate
amendments They also reinstated in
the bill some of the more drastic
House provisions. In addition to the
items already published as having been
agreed to. the conferees announced the
following agreements:
They argeed that, IN addition to
foods. feeds and fuels, the government
shall control fuel oil and natural gas,
fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients,
tools, utensils. implements and equip
ment required for the actual produc-
ton thereof all denominated as neces-
saries. The so-called control section Of
the House bill, much broader than the
Senate'S, was adopted. authorizing
federal regulation affecting specuia-
tion. distribution and movement of the
designated necessaries."
Text of Prohibition Clause.
The prohibition clause as agreed to
follows:
That from and after thirty days from
the date of the approval of this act. no
foods. fruits. food materials or feeds
shall be used in the production Of dis
titled spirits for beverage purposesy
provided. that under such rules, regula-
tions and bonds as the. President may
prescribe. such materials may be used
in the production of distilled spirits
exclusively for other than beverage
purposes. or for the fertilization Of
pure, sweet wines as defined by the
revenue act of September 8, 1916.
Nor shall there be imported into the
United States any distilled spirits.
Whenever the President shall find
that limitation. regulation or prohibi,
materials or feeds in the production OF
malt or vinous liquors for beverage
purposes, or that the reduction of the
alcoholic contents of any such malt or
assure an adequate and continuous sup.
ply of foods, or that the national se-
curity and defense will be subserved
thereby, he is authorized from time to
time to prescribe and give public no.
tice of the extent OF the limitation,
regulate prohibition or reduction so
necessitated. Whenever such notice
shall have been given and shall have
remained unrevoked no person shall
after a reasonable time prescribed in
such notice, use any foods. fruits, food
materials or feeds in the production of
malt or vinouS liquors or import any
such liquors except under license is-
sued by the President and in compile
ance with rules and regulations deter
mined by him governing the produce
ton and importation of such liquors
and the alcoholic content thereof: Pro-
vided further, that nothing in this sec
tion shall be construed to authorize
licensing of the manufacture of vinous
or malt liquors in any state, territory
or civil subdivision thereof where tho
manufacture of such malt or vinous
liquor is prohibited"
To Fix Coal and Coke Prices. I
Senator Pomerene's amendment author.
izing the President to fix coal and coke
prices and take over mines was adopted
after a clause limiting such powers to
military or common defense needs had
been stricken out. Provision for fair and
compensation to owners OF
Communicated coaling properties was
made to read Just compensation" rs per
cent payable Immediately and the rest
after judicial action.
The conferees substituted for the Sen.
ate's restricted licensing provision the
House plan for much broader federal
license regulation of Importation manu-
facture. mining. storage and Distribution
Of government-controlled necessaries The
more rigorous section of the House hill
prohibiting boarding of necessaries. was
reinserted, with penalties of $4,000 fines
and two years Imprisonment The House
section penalizing willful destruction Of
also was retained
The Houses drastic provisions against
of necessaries, and authorizing
regulation of grain exchanges were re-
tanned. but Senator Nelson's amendment
future trading on grain ex.
changes was stricken out. The so-called
Pomerene-Walsh amendment prohibiting
storing or boarding of necessaries, ex-
sept by producers. to limit the public
supply or affect the price was retained
To Limit Requisitioning.
The Senate's provision limiting fed.
,ral requisitioning authority to neces-
,aries for military or other public use
also was retained, as was it's provision
Uniting government purchases and
sales. in order to secure reasonable