Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-09-05
HOUSE ADOPTS
FOOD PLAN
Control Act Amended in Record
Time So That Small Dealers
Are Open to Prosecution.
LANDLORDS JUST ESCAPED.
House Reverses Itself After Adopting
Measure to Punish Landlords Who
squeeze-cIothina Under
United States Control.

Washington. - Rent profteers es'
caped by a narrow margin being
brought Apder the power of the anti
profiteering bill which passed the
house of representatives. After de-
gliding first to include them in the bill
the house reversed its action. The
fnaI vote of II to 132 on the amend
ment found the Republicans lined up
solidly against the inclusion and the
Democrats solidly in favor of it.
This action was taken after the
house, sitting as a Committee of the
Whole, had adopted the amendment by
vote Of 10 to 63. In both instances
the Democrats lined up solidly IN sup
port of the amendment while In the
Committee of the Whole the Republic
ans broke ranks. The reversal came
after. the majority whips had rallied
the Republicans back into line.
AS 1t passed, the bill was in the form
n which it emerged from the Agricul-
tural Committee, with retail profiteers
in food, clothing and other necessares
brought within reach Of federal prose-
cution. Final action by the house on
the measure marks the first definite
legislative step by Congress in re-
sponse to President Wilson's demand
for measures to aid the government In
ts-fight on the high cost Of living.
Debate on the bill lasted all day,
and the occasion was taken by the Re-
publicans for a general onslaught on
the administration, Democrats rising
now and again to the defense OF the
President and charging the majority
with playing politics.
Rural members on both sides of the
aisle rallied to oppose bringing the
farmer within reach Of the profteer
ing and boarding penalties, and an at
tempt to include raw cotton with
wearing apparel in the list of neces'
saries to be regulated was ruled out
Oil a point of order Adverse votes
prevented the inclusion of coal oil ana
gasolene under the head Of fuel neces-
Sal'ies. ..
With action completed by the house,
interest centers as to the senates re-
ception of the drastic measure. Oppo
sition in the senate Agriculture Com
mittee, which will consider the bill in
the upper branch, is very strong ana
many senators on the floor are said
TO feel that the legislation goes too
far. Republicans there will make the
sGme charge as was made In the house.
that the President for two years pos.
sessed all the needed authority with
out exercising 1t against the proiiteers.
Advocates Of the bill have Justified
it's extreme provisions on the ground
that the emergency conditions existing
with respect to living costs call
for emergency measures, and attention
has been called by them to the fact
flat the new bill, which amends the
food control act, becomes imperative
Mt tie same time that measure does
when peace is finally proclaimed.
~ Permanent legislation to meet the
pwtitcrring vii in normal times is
now under consideration by the house
Judiciary Committee along lines set
forth In the Presidents cost of living
message. 1t is expected that II VIII
bn some time before this is shaped up
fol passage. ~.
The Democratic drive for the rent
plofi.rcrs appeared tu take the Repub'
icuu majority rmare- eli less by surprise.
III lie form III which It was offered
the Hu,ldles.on amendment included
."eiwellings and dwelling rooms let for
hire. rnlmediately II w.r.' -'ffss"s'i, ai"'
'ority Leader Mondell began r;,llyins
l.,,ssif;on on the Republican side on
he ground that adoption OF the
amendment would open the doors to
score OF other additions the comblhe'l
weight of which would make. admin
istlutiOn Of tile law inpract!clble. lh'
deciding action was taken while The
house was Sitting as committee OF
the whole.
"Rent." declared Mr. HuddleSion. "is
certainly one of the neceSSaricS OF Ire
and rents have been ball0Onpd TO the
skies all over the country. The dlS'
content, especially among labor, Is due
in large part to the fact that Il man
scarcely can pay sufficient rent to In
sure his family shelter
Landlords of the national capital
were made the targets for special
abuse and the debate yielded Il de
Inand that if the bill became law the
government should proceed forthwith
to make of the rent protitccrs OF this
CITY n sober lesson to landlords every