Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-04
FIRST FOOD BILL
Passed by Sc n a t e.
Speculation Restriction
Amendment Gives the President
Power to Close Grain Exchanges

Washington. June 3.-The first of the
admin stration food bills, already passed
by the House, passed the Senate late
Saturday without a record vote.
Numerous amendments were attached
to the measure, which provides for food
survey and crop stimulation, and it was
sent to conference, where the differences
will be threshed out while the two houses
are considering the second administration
measure, providing for food control and
price fixing.
The bill as finally accepted by the SEN
ate provides for comprehensive survey
of food resources, and for the stimulation
of agriculture and restricts drasticaily
the storing of foodstuffs. fuel and other
necessities and speculation in futures.
The restrictive provisions were added by
the Senate.
The bill carries a total appropriation OF
approximately sl1.C00,Coo compared with
s14. 770, 900 as it passed the House.
boarding or storage OF food, fuel or 9TH
err necessares of life in order to limit the
supply or affect prices would be made a
felony under the Senlte h ard.ne amend
ment, but farmers who hold their own
products would be exempt.
Clause Armed at Speculation
The amendment restricting futures
| trading. written by Senator Nelson and
voted into the bill 81 to Il just before
! passage, provides
If at any time during the penGency of
the existing war between the United
States and the German Empire the Pres
oF ho h. F,l hot
dealings in futures il or about any grain
exchange unduly or unreasonably raise
or enhance the price CT wheat or other
food cereals. to the injury Of the people
Of the United States, he may at once re-
quest the traders In such exchange to dis
continue for a time specified by him a..
dealings in futures.
"In case such request of the President
is not promptly complied wit, then he
is hereby empowered to order such deal
irgs in futures entirely suspended and dis
continued for such limited time as he may
direct, and If such order is not promptly
compiled with he may by proclamation
declare such exchange closed, and there
after it shall be unlawful to utilize or
permit to be utilized such building or
room as grain exchange or for any
person being a trader in grain on such
exchange to engage in the business here
tofore conducted on or at such closed ex-
change.
+ ANY person violating any Of the pro-
visions of this act shall be punished by
a fine Of not less than $500 or by mprison-
ment for not more than one year, or by
both such fine and Imprisonment"
i Secretary's Powers Curtailed
The Senate also voted to curtail the
inquisitorial power given the secre-
tary of agriculture in the investiga-
! ton of food resources. The House bill
would compel the attendance of wit
nesses and submission of books and
other records under the heavy penalty
The Senate Agriculture committee
amended the provision so as to give
the secretary general authorization to
| investigate the food situation, making
it the duty of any person when re-
quested by the secretary to answer all
questions necessary to carry into eff
feet the provisions of this section"
( The House appropriation of S2,522 900
to pay for the survey was accepted un-
changed.
The section authorizing the govern
ment to sell seeds to the farmers also
was amended SO as to provide that
sales be made for cash only. The pow
er to compel persons having seeds at
their disposal to furnish them to the
government was greatly curtailed. and
the appropriation carried for the work
was reduced from S5,77S,O00 to ST.
! 100000.
The House appropriation for eradi-
cation of livestock diseases was elm
! mated, and an appropriation of $780,
900 was added to stimulate livestock
production.