Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-11
SENATE REACHES
VOTE AGREEMENT
Ballot on Wilson's Food Control
Bill Will Be Taken on
July 81.
DRASTIC REVISION is MADE
Measure Is Stripped of Many
Features, Including Stringent
Prohibition Provisions.
DRASTIC REVISION is MADE
I BY Associated Press. ].

BY Associated Prcss.l
WASHINGTON, July lo.-A Senate
agreement to vote on President Will
sons food control bill on July 21. five
weeks after its submissio to Congress
as an urgent war measure. was reached
to-day.
Democratic Senators secured the
agreement for a vote only after they
had consented to strip the bill OF
some OF it's more drastic features. in
cluding the stringent prohibition pro-
visions. So far-reaching was the re-
vision demanded. In fact. that all-day
conferences OF the Democratic steer
ing committee and the agriculture
Committee resulted in presentation Of
substitute for the entire measure.
NO EXPRESSION COMES
FROM WHITE HOUSE
There was no expression Of opinion n
from the White House regarding the
provisions Of the substitute bill, but it
is expected to be agreeable TO the
President in the main. 1t follows gem
orally the lines of the administration
bill as originally introduced. with
power to control other industries be-
sides food and fuel eliminated. 1t
would prohibit manufacture Of distilled
liquors. without provision for govern
ment purchase of existing stocks, and
would place in tie Presidents hands
the power and responsibility to de-
eide whether prohibition shall be ex-
tended to beer ana wine
n nj
Hoover's report available at the White
House. but the fac. of its publication
at this time was regarded as another
evidence of President Wilson's disap-
pointment over the failur. vf Congress
to act. He repeatedly has sought to
impress upon leaders the Importance
OF quick enactment of the legislation,
and was particularly anxious that the
food program be complete by July 1.
He has made 1t clear that he regards
1t as one, of the first tai ks In the " ar
against Germany. q,
The substitute, offered by Senator
Gore. provides that the government
control proposed shall be limited to
foodstuffs. feed and fuel, the original
purposes of the legislation, and not
include steel. iron. cotton and many
other products added during congress
sional consideration. 1t would author
ize Federal requisitioning and opera
tion of coal mines. limit Federal IL
censing to concerns engaged in han
ding or producing foodstuffs or fuel,
authorize Federal purchase and sale
at reasonable" prices of foodstufrs
and fuel. fix a guaranteed minimum
price of $3.50 per bushel for wheat, and
70 sal aria ~
istration. subject to Senate contirma-
ton.
AUTHORIZE TO PROHIBIT
OR LIMIT MANUFACTURE
The prohibition section of the sub
stitute would forbid manufacture. inn
portation or expectation OF distilled
beverages during the war, and would
authorize their Communicating by the
government ''if necessary" to secure
industrial alcohol. The President would
be authorized to limit or prohibit manu-
facture of malt, fermented or vinous
beverages. Leaders tonight expressed
confidence that some such a compro-
mise provision would be adopted In
lieu of the Senate prohibition sections
and the so-called "Smoot amendment" !"
which is unsatisfactory to both vets
and drys.
The Agriculture Committee to-day
tentatively approved several sections
of the substitute. including the provi-
sion to fix guaranteed minimum price
of $3.50 for wheat producers. and will
continue work Tomorrow
Agreement for a final vote on the
legislation on July 81 and withdrawal
of the cloture motion. which was to
come to vote tomorrow with private
polls, indicating its defeat, came af-
ter virtually every Senator became
convinced that the bill could not be
passed without substantial revision.
Senator Lodge, acting Republican lead
er. and Senator Simmons. a Democrat
and chairman of the Finance Commit
tee. made vigorous speeches attacking
the general scope of the measure and
Its effect upon business.
1t was with the understanding that
drastic modification and Limitation Of
the legislation was in preparation that
Senator Chamberlain. in charge of the
bill. secured unanimous consent to pro-
ceed to nnal disposal Of the bill on
July 2l. He promised the Senate to
keep the bill up for continuous con-
sidcration meanwhile.