New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-25
Cabinet Members Dis
Cuss Modified Die
tatOr Plan
WILSON AND AIDS
OPPOSE EMBARGO
System Less Radical than
Germany's Is Proposed
as Least BurdenSOme
lTrom Tho Tribune Bureau J

Washington, Nov. 24.-The question
Of instituting in America some form
Of food regulation and conservation,
not so rigorous as the food dictator
ship Of Germany. but radical de-
parture from the present practices of
food distribution, is being seriously
considered by members of the Presi-
dents Cabinet as solution Of the
st-of-living problem.
Realizing the difficulty Of insugu-
rating such a step, the Presidents ad-
visers are carefully considering the
various phases of the situation, as
we'll as how best 10 bring about some
curtailment Of waste and loss of food
without inhicting restrictions on the
public any more burdensome than
need be.
when the problem is considered,
said a member of the Cabinet TO The
Tribune correspondent to-day, sit will
be realized that it is step which
would cause far less harm than an
embargo, and would result in perma-
nent good. 1t would eliminate the
waste for which this country has been
notorious for years.
System Would Aid Here
"A rigorous food dictatorship sys-
tenn in Germany has accomplished
wonders in food conservation and dis
tribution in a country which has
never been accused of wsstefulness in
its handling of foodstuffs. Surely a
modified system in this country, where
waste has almost reached the point
Of scandal. would aid materially in
solving our cost-of-living problem.
Every time I go to New York, or, ii
fact. to the first class hotels in any
large American city, | am shocked By
the waste and the cost of high living.
It may be because have been studying
this problem for some time, but some
system Of government regulation and
conservation Of foodstufs would ac'
complish wonders, in my opinion. if
applied there. Enough food is being
wasted every day 20 cut the cost OF
living tremendously il it were wisely
and spaiingiy used
Consideration of this question has
not reached the point Of discussing
what agencies would be used in impos-
ing THIS food regulation. The whole
subject of food control is now being
put forward as The lesser OF the two
evils embargo or regulation.
Opposed to Embargo
Despite reports to the contrary, the
President and most of his Cabinet are
absolutely opposed, economically, to
the idea of an embargo. In addition to
the fact that they do not think an en-
barge would be wise, they realize that
it would be almost impossible to get
such legislation through Congress.
zone Of the first effects Of an EN-
barge on foodstuffs," said the same
Cabinet member, would be a curtail-
ment in the acreage of every crop. 10
which the embargo applied. The far
mer would be justified in saying that
if an embargo were laid, the govern
ment would have to guarantee him a
certain price for his crop or he would
not plant and work it.
$50 that even an embargo, If we
should be forced to that extreme meas
ure. would force the government into
a form of food regulation. 1t would
have to take a hand in holding up
prices for the farmers or use compul-
sion in getting the proper acreage
planted. Either seems TO me 10 be
open to more serious objections than a
plan Of government regulation OF food
distribution and consumption.
THE diplomatic difficulties of an en-
barge are also serious. Even IL we
should take such action for entirely in
ternal reasons, the effect, Of course,
would be TO injure the Allies. and II
would be very difficult 70 persuade
them that our action was not taken de-
liberately for injuring them. This IL
especially true in view of some Of the
advocates Of an embargo, and the rea'
sons they urge-such as retaliation for
the blacklist.
Discussion Purely Academic
"Discussion Of an embargo, however
is purely academic. II would be almost
impossible TO put such measure
through Congress. From Philadelphia
10 the Gulf Of Mexico and from Phila'
delphia to the Pacific Coast there IS
scarcely a Congressman who would
vote for an embargo, save in few city
districts and in a few heavily German
communities, where the desire would
be not for an embargo per sc, but to
hurt the Allies"
II may be decided that il would be
better 20 suggest some form OF food
regulation and conservation TO the va
rious states, or possibly even tn
smaller political units, than for the
Federal government TO undertake the
problem. This is one of the points
which will be studied. Unless the
Federal government should take over
the work, its function would consist
merely of outlining and recommending
a plan to the states or communities
whereby the loss and waste IN the
handling of foodstuffs would be re-
duced. il not eliminated.
Under this plan, for instance, New
York City might appoint It's own food
dictator" or food controlling Commits
sion, which would work out New YORK
own particular food problems, IN har,
mony With general scheme outlined
Ceatinued on page 5, column .