Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-05
FOOD PROBLEMS
UP TO CONGRESS
High Cost of Living Over
shadows All Other Issues at
First Days Session.
PROPOSE MUCH LEGISLATION
Eleven Bills Demanding Con-
troll of Prices introduced
at Opening Meeting.

WASHINGTON. Dec l.-The high
cost of living and what steps the fed
cral government can take to control it
became national question with the
conVening of congress today which
oVershadowed all other issues in the
first days proceedings.
The possibility that President Wilson
address grew stronger, altho it was
thot probable that the president would
select "A separate occasion for it, rather
than to add Il as a supplement to his
general address tomorrow.
Flood o? Food Legislation.
Eleven bills and resolutions seeking
to check The soaring prices of food
hy stopping shipments to Europe, re-
ducing parcels post rates on foodstuffs
or controlling cold storage were today
introduced in the house.
President Samuel Gompers and n
committee of the American Fedora
tion of Labor called on President Will
son and asked him to appoint spe-
cial commission to investigate the food
question. The president assured them
that the government would take some
steps to meet the situation, but 1t was
not clear that they had been decided
upon fully. The president is under
stood to prefer not to appoint a COM
mission as ii practically will be with
out authority to compel testimony;
while congressional investigation
probably would mean "A protracted de-
lay.
Accuse Middlcmap.
Reports being gathered by the de-
partment of agriculture and COM
merce are being laid before the presi
dent. one report submitted today by
Secretary Redfield and held conf
dental as yet is understood to show
Il wide margin between prices paid to
producers and those paid by con-
sumers. In recent address the presl-
dent virtually charged the middlcman
with responsibility for the high cost
Of living.
The bills in congress are expected to
produce a general discussion of the
subject, but none of the administration
think the embargo measures can pass.
y series of four introduced by Chair
man Fitzgerald Of the appropriations
committee propose embargo, reduction
Of parcel posi- rates and restriction OF
cold storage.
Against Interstate Traffic.
Representative McIemore OF Texas
introduced resolution to prohibit in
tcrstate transportation Of food prod
ucts except meats and fruits that have
been kept in cold storage over ninety
days. one by Representative SABBATH
of illinois would require cold storage
warehouses to file annual reports with
the department agriculture for pub
lication on July l showing food prod
ucts stored for interstate commerce.
Representative SABBATH introduced
another which would direct the attOr-
ney- general to investigate the causes
OF unreasonable advances in prices Of
foodstuffs, cott1t goods or fabric,
wood pulp, ll kinds of paper and
coal insofar as they are claimed 70 be
affected by any combination or con-
spiracv and 10 report to congress what
remedies should be adopted.
Propose Investigation.
A joint congressional committee to
Investigate the whole food situation
was proposed by Representative Lind
hergh of Minnesota and Representa-
tive Carter of Massachusetts. sought
the appointment of a house special
committee of nine members to inves-
tgate and report recommendation
back to congress within thirty days.
Representative StecnersOn of Mime
sofa proposed free admission of seed
wheat to help the Minnesota and
North Dakota farmers. Representa-
tive McKcllar of Tennessee reintro
duced bill ia regulate cold storage Of
food and Representative Farr of Penn
sylvania reintroduced his measure for
provisional embargo on wheat and
wheat flour.
Adamsop Against Embargo.
Representative Adamson of Georgia,
chairman of the house interstate and
foreign commerce committee, to which
the embargo bills were referred, an
nounced that he would oppose AIRY
sort of embargo.
The only embargo law we ever
passed." Mr.. Adamson said, was the
!ncst unpopular law ever enacted save
Cnlv the alien and sedition law. That
embargo law was repealed as soon
as nOsSihle. II WAS dead letter."