East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-12-04
|CON~RESS RECONVENES
WITH FOOD COST PROBE
FIRST ON THE PROGRAM
Several Bills are introduced
Demanding EmbargOeS and
Regulation Of Cold Storage.
WILSON'S 'SMESSAGE TOMORROW
Senator BOrah Plans to Present Mea.
sure Tomorrow Repeating Sections
Of Army Reorganization Bill.

WASHINGTON, Dec 4.-Congress|
reconvened at noon. Representative
Fitzgerald introduced two bills de-
manding food export embargoes and
two asking regulation of cold storage
and a reduction Of parcel post food
charges Representative Farr pro-
posed a wheat embargo London Of
New York, a socialist, suggested vir-
tual food dictatorship.
Both houses passed resolutions no.
tifying President Wilson Of the ses-
sion and announcing their readiness
to hear his message tomorrow.
Crowded galleries cheered Speaker
Clark as he pounded for order.
MARITIME Has Food Embargo Bill.
Senator MARITIME announced his in
ltention of introducing food embargo
bill later. Senator Owen will intro
duce a bill demanding rigid investi-
CATION of all presidential campaign
expenditures.
Senator Borah plans to present
measure tomorrow repeating sections
of the army reorganization bill regu-
lating the militia
Four hundred thousand members
Of the maintenance departments Of
American railways filed congressio'
nal petition demanding that they be
+, included '1n any eight hour railroad
legislation.
When introducing his bills Fitz-
gerald said Multiplying evidences Of
the widespread interest in the high
cost of living make me hopeful Of
success. The enactment Of any of my
bills will bring immediate relief. The
people want action and are heartily
tired of talk and investigation"
-Four Bills Explained.
The first bill provides a flat one
year embargo on all expectation OF
farm products and manufactured
foodstuffs. The second bill enables
the president to suspend the exporta'
ton whenever prices become extor-
tionate. The third prohibits interstate
shipments of foods, except butter,
when stored over ten months. The
fourth abolishes parcel post zones
governing the mailing of farm pro-
ducts, and manufactured foodstuffs-
and admits such goods to parcel post
at three cents for the first pound and
one cent each additional, up to one
hundred and fifty pounds.
The bill makes exemptions in em-
bargoes whenever American citizens
and diplomats abroad need food. II
also exempts shipments to war fam
inc sufferers.
Extremely high penalties are inn
posed. Representative London said;
81 believe we should have govern
mental control of the food situation
An embargo is only an incidental pro-
position. 1t should be introduced il
it will help lower living costs. We
should also have a system of govern.
ment control, like the Australian sys.
tem."
Parasite Spectators" Hit.
Lindberg of Minnesota, introduced
bill attacking parasite SPECTATORS
and proposing a general embargo
bill for joint house and senate con-
sideration. Many representatives
from farm districts strongly attacked
the proposed embargo. threatening
munition embargoes if any attempt
was made to interfere with their pros
perity.
Emerson of Cleveland, offered a
resolution asking the secretary Of
agriculture TO report on the advisa-
bility of wheat embargo and the
possibility of reducing the living cost
by reducing railroad food shipments
| tariffs
Senator Lewis of Illinois, promised
further senate action. He said he
would introduce a bill empowering
the government to seize food when a
corner was attempted and teselling
to the public at the lowest cost,