Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-07
SENATORS RESENT
PRESIDENTS MOVE
Republicans Will Attack Admin
istratiOn's Handling of the
Food Problem during War

Washington, Aug. 3.-An attack upon
tho administrations handling of the food
problem during the war and its failure
to suggest a solution of the high cost OF
living problem will be made in the Senate
next week. 1t was announced Saturday
by republican senators. The majority
party, 1t was stated. will charge the
administration with responsibility for
having neglected to formulate a policy
that would lower the high prices
In the Senate Hobbies the republicans
declared that President Wilson, in his
insistence that the House take up the
cost of living situation. had attempted
to shift the onus upon Congress to solve
problem the administration had not
undertaken to handle itself. Some re-
publican leaders declared they saw in 1t
an effort of the President to shift the
fight from the Versailles treaty and focus
it upon the high cost of living.
The President, republican leaders
charge. has conveyed a hint to the coun-
try that Congress has been remiss in
not having tackled the food problem.
They felt that by bringing the high cost
of living to the fore ne hoped at the
same time to check opposition to the
treaty, expecting, while the cost of liv-
ing was being investigated, that the
Senate would come to a speedy decision
to put the treaty through. BY getting
quick action, as they figured it, the
President expected that the League OPP
ponents would he forced into a compro-
mise which would eliminate the drastic
changes they demand In the treaty.
Mr.. Wilson, as these senators argue
it, appears to be counting upon public
sentiment throughout the country as
being in profound sympathy with any
effort to reduce the cost of living. This
sentiment, the President felt. as the
senator's believe, would not tolerate any
delay in arriving at some basis of solu-
ton of the living problem At the same
time the President, they said, evidently
felt that he could count upon public
support in his insistence that the treaty
be expedited. so that a peace status
might be re-estabished and the country
enabled to go on with its after-war re-
construction
The republicans will charge in the
Senate that the President made no
suggestion to Congress as to handling
arnistice was signed until his letter
to Leader Gillett of the House. They
will assert that he conveyed no hint
to Congress while abroad that the cost
of living problem was serious enough
for Congress to tackle.
Furthermore. the republicans will at
the living problem from the time the
as food administrators as one of the
elements tending toward high prices.
They will charge that Mr.. Hoover by
regulations and guarantees of prices
on wheat, meat and sugar was respon-
sble for establishing standards which
it is now difficult to break down.
Senator Reed. democrat, of Missouri.
is to attack Mr.. Hoover in the Senate
on Monday, he has announced. He
will be followed by republican SEN
ators later IN the week Mr.. Reed
will charge that the meat packers have
been favored by the administration.
and that the entire problem of food
prices had been poorly worked out.
The republicans will charge in their
speeches that alleged extravaganza of
the administration in war expenditures
is another element fgurig in the cost
of living problem.
Leaders among the Senate majority
declare that the inquiry into food prices
will not be allowed to interfere with
their program on the treaty. They will
take all the time they want in consid-
ering it, they insist, and will reject
the treaty rather than allow it to be
adopted without the reservations they
assert are necessary.
Administration senators resented the
insinuation of the republicans that the
President was endeavoring to use the
cost of living as club in the treaty
fight The President, they said tackled
the food problem as soon as he had
become appraised of it's gravity. Mr..
Wilson, they said. has taken an un-
wavering attitude in the League of
Nations fight and that the cost of liv-
ing Ia no ..,aX, cd To