Evening journal., 1919-01-23
SENATORS ASSAIL
FOOD RELIEF BILL
Speeches Reveal Repug
nance to Further Increase
of War Expense
PACKERS AGAIN
ARE ACCUSED

ile uleCucoluu u the EAvoivpoioty cnti-
famine bill yesterday brought out the
fact that although the criticism Of the
measure is growing both in energy and
vehemence and that the whole prin-
oiple Of increasing Americas war bur
den's further is disapproved, the actual
want impending in the European coun-
tries will be the final force which must
impel the passage Of the measure.
Senator Borah (Idaho) denounced the
bill in bitter terms. In the same debate
Senator Lenroot wisconsin even
while disclaiming against the situation
which such a measure Is destined 10
create in American markets, admitted
that he intended to vote for the bill
purely as a charitable act.
''The extravaganza Of tho United
States Government in war expenditures |
now is astounding" said Senator Bonah. |
This sort Of a measure is calculated |
TO sterilize enterprise and paralyze in
dustry. The men engaged in the pro
motion OF every industry will hesitate |
10 advanve the capital when they fnd |
the Congress Of the United States is |
loading higher and higher every day |
the amounts Of the war bills Of the
government
This Congress must not allow itself /
20 be imposed upon by this administra- |
ton with extravaganza such as are /
embodied in this SiO0OO0O0O app-opria-
ton bill.
The movement for this measure orig
mated not in Europe but in America
Il was the result OF the conferences re-
ferred TO before the Committee on AZ
riculture by D. W. Taliafe-ro, q witness
only last Monday, when he descr bed
the agreements effected at the confer
ences between Herbert Hoover and the
representatives Of thirty or forty Of the
greater packing concerns"
Senator Borah went on 10 cay that
with a fraction less than 2 per cent. Of
turnover the packers had been able 10
make unconscionable PROFITS. They
would make similar prohts out Of this
Si00,00100O fund said he. and charged
that the measure now before the Sen
ate was for the benefit Of the packing
industry and not a charitable move
ment
The Idaho Senator then read from
reports Of the Federal Trade Commits
sion 10 show tha tin 1912 the profts Of
the packers had been Sis,7i4,000 and in
1913 s202i7,000. The profits growing
out Of the war, he continued, have
multiplied these figures mani fold They
were three or four or i've times as
great He charged that the profits Of
the packers In 1918 were Se5,639OOO.
How did they get isl" esked Senator
Bo7ah, and then answered his own
question. Under the administration
Of Mr. Hoover"
Senator Borah warned his Republican
colleagues that TO resort to practices
which had prevailed within the party
in the days before It relinquished con
troll should not and must not be reinsti-
tuted when the party returns TO power Z
in Congress after March next
This is the sort OF thing" said he I
which wrecked the Republican party !
before and Is wrecking the Democratic
party now and 10 is the sort Of a mis- q
take which should be rebuked BY Con
gress without thought Of the imaginary
line which runs down the middle aisle
Of The Senate. q
Senator Fletcher (Fla.) at this point a
introduced unofficial figures TO show 7
that the profits Of the packers combi- d
nation during 1915. 1916 and 1917 had az IS
gregated more than Si40OOO,OU. and ne
said that even after the excess profits
tax had been collected there remains O,
this vast sum Si20OOOOO0 in the treas :
uries OF the packing corporations.
An effort by Senator Penrose TO COR
troll expenditures Of the funds and the
Of the food supplies u
starving Europe through an appointiva
American commission by an amendment
10 the bill was frustrated by the Sen
ate, which voted the proposal down
viva voce. At the time this proposal
was before the Senate, Senator Knox
PA took occasion to remark that
here was a very great difference be
tween voting slO9,0OOOO0 to enable Her
bert Hoover TO stabilize food prices for
he benefit OF corporations engaged IN
handling food supplies and voting the
iame sum to save Europe from slarva-
ion.
Then Senator Lenroot called the at II
enti0n Of the Senate 10 the effect on "
he minds Of the American people that br
he elaborate entertainments extended st
Wilson were having He Ge- lt
llored the ostentation Of the Presidents w
European experiences.
Although Senator Lenroot means tc ca
ote for the si0OOOO.OO0 anti-famine 81
i'll, he said a greater share must be IN mln
1ven hereafter 10 tie producer in that u
which he earns II radical labor aotiv- "a,
lies are to be held in check. -
III Bolshevism IS menace 10 anv OF -.
he European countries" said Senate -,
enroot. 1T is not because Of It's orie- -,
nation in Russia, but because condi- oo
IONS in the countries themselves have =
ecome intolerable and should be rem
died by the governments there. The
omp and ceremony that IS daily at I
ending this Peace Conference is doing
most as much to speed Bolshevlsm /
3 food can do to prevent It.
The occurrences at Buckingham
alace a short time ego with dinner
late costing si50O0.OOO. the osscnta-
Gus display Of bowling and scrsplng.
le emphasizing Of class distinctions
yer there were most unfortunate at
lis particular stage Of the history Of
le world.
Il am sorry President Wilson when
went to Paris did not stay there and
tend to the stupendous work in