Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-01-17
Vigorous Effort by the Govern
ment to Cope With Food
Situation.
INFORMAL DISCUSSION
OF ACTION BY CONGRESS
Marked Increase in Expectations
Shown by Department Reports.
Conditions in Washington.

With the Department Of Justice, I'M
der instructions from President Will
son. seeking to determine whether any
illegal combinations are back OF the
recent sudden rise in foodstuR prices.
and the departments Of Agriculture
and Commerce compiling figures show
ing the amounts of food supplies in the
United States and the recent increases
in exports, the government began Wig
orous efforts yesterday to cope with
the food price situation. In addition
legislation giving the President power
to stop the expectation of foodstuffs
whenever necessary and other bills de-
signed to lower prices were discussed
Informally at the Capitol. but there
were no indications that anything
along this line will be done during the
present session of Congress.
Representative Farr Of Pennsylvania,
who introduced the resolution calling
await the government reports before
taking further action.
No Illegal Combinations Shown.
No information leading to the belief
that illegal combinations had forced
up the price OF wheat and -four had yet
been received. officials said, but United
States district attorneys everywhere
are under orders to follow up every
clue.
marked increase in expectation Of
foodstuffs recently Is shown in Com
merce Department reports. Exports of
in July. 1913. to 26,s57.254 bushels in
July, 1914. The total value of all food
stuffs exports during the eight months
ending with August, 1912, was 369,909.-
HI ota N -
e57 in 1913. and dropped to 1926. 4o1, o7o
in 1914.
During September, 1913, 11.s7l.1s3
bushels of foodstuffs were exported,
and in September. 1914. 25.S69.100 BUSH
els. The price increased materially.
In November, 1913, wheat valued at
s3.4so.s1s was exported and in Novem-
Der, 1914, s22.820.097. The total value
of foodstuffs exported during the
1872. was 0 SAG, ssi.7so. which increased
to $1s1,6o5,s10 in 1918. and to $253.073.-
444 last year.
The complete figures for December
and the first two weeks Of January
said they would show even greater in
creaSeS.
Bread Situation Acute.
With the best grades Of -four quoted
around $7.25 to the bakers. in contrast
to $3.50 a week ago. the bread situation
in Washington is becoming more acute.
AS yet none of the bakers has adj
vanced the price OF his bread. So
far as is konwn they have not reduced
the size of their loaves.
"Just how long the bakers will be
able to supply bread at the usual rate
and usual weight depends on the
amount of capital they have available, -
said a man yesterday who is convers-
ant with the local bread situation. The
small bakery is bound to suffer by this
unusual advance in the cost Of -four
during the last few months. The little
baker has greater overhead expense
proportionately than has the big
baker. 1t costs him more to make and
sell a loaf of bread. Naturally he will
feel the burden more than will the big
baker.
Flour Bought at pc Barrel.
Many bakers are using -four now
which was bought on contract when
the price was around IS a barrel. As
soon as the amount specified in their
contracts have been used they will be
forced to get their -four at the greatly
advanced prices. Then they will face
q serious situation, for they must
either make a smaller loaf, advance the
price for the standard size loaf or run
their establishments at a loss.
Bakeries which are backed by con-
Ia Fac