New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
House Passes
500! 600, 900
Famine Bill
Continued from page

pletely controls Russia and Poland
and is spreading through Germany.
Only effective barrier apparently
now against it is iood relief, as Boil
shevism rnrives only on starvation
and disorder. consider it, there
fore. Of tn utmost Importance that
Presidents request for 100000 900
appropriation for relief be granted at
once. Impossible to inaugurate peace
conference and proper auspices with
out previous adequate provision to
cope with situation.
Aside from the stoppage of Boil
shevist | understand there is in the
United States considerable surplus
of food accumulated at high prices.
maintenance whereof guaranteed our
government or assurance under its
auspiccs and that it is necessary to
dispose of this surplus in order to
relieve warehouse and financial fa-
clites as we'll as prevent serious
fall in price, with radical break in
market, which would cost our coun-
try more than the appropriation
asked for.
The appropriation is not fos' the
purpose or advancing money to Ger
many, which will pay on cash basis
for any food sent there. Allies are
already furnishing to liberated terri
tories and are disposed to assist
otherwise to the extent of their avail
able resources, but most of the food
must come from the United States.
cannot too strongly impress upon
YOU urgency OF meeting the situation
herein described.
Republican Leader Gillett declared
that his opposition to the emergency
passage of the relief fund legislation
as proposed by the appropriations com
mittee report, was based on two fun
damental reasons.
"First, we have not the information,
said Mr. Gillett, "sufficient to warrant
this house in entering upon such vast
plan of future operations such as this
Second. before the United States begins
to act as almoner of all Europe some
arrangements should be made with oul
allies so that we should, with harmony
and fairness among us and support
these impoverished nations"
"This is the boldcst piece of logis
latjcn introduced ir the SlXty-hftl
Congress-" declared Representative
bertrand II. Snell, Of New York. in at
tacling the bill. "The Legislation t'
brand new field of linlitess expend
ture. and, in my judgment. is Of sucl
character that it demands the mos
careful aud considerate attention OF
the part Of every member of th'
House.
"We have been living in strenuous
times, we have become accustomed tt
pass million dollar, hundred million
billion. or yes, five 70 ten billion dol
lar appropriations with scarcely an.
debate and without the dotting of al
~ or the crossing OF s. But We
did that | ecause the President, thu
commander in chief of the army and
ravy. said it was necessary Tor th
prosecution of the war. And VIXEN
ever he gave this command, Rapubii
shoulder to shoulder, rose to the stu
alton and almost unanimously votet
him more money and more power thal
were ever given to any king or poten
tate in the history of the civilized
world. But we did it to win the wal
Can't Call "Pro-German"
"Now, thank God, the war is won ant
an entirely new situation confronts us
And, let me tell you, gentlemen of the
House, from this day on you can nc
longer hold a man up to public ridicule
call him pro-Gclman, unpatriotic anc
un- american, because lie mas the
tcmerity to stand on this floor and de-
mand full information before he vote.
away S10O,O0O,000 of the peoples
money That is the reason why | an
opposing this bill. because there is nc
information available that warrant:
such additional and unlimited power
to President Wilson and Mr.. Hoover.
Because we granted President Viii
sons every request to win this war
it is no reason why we should gran
his every request concerning the re
construction of Europe o-day the
American people demand that this Con.
Rress should examine most carefully
every dollar of eXpenlitures and moi