Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-04
Four Plans Outlined One
Regulates Cold Storage,
Other Parcel Post
WOULD SEIZE ALL FOOD
WHEN IT is CORNERED
Socialist Members Would
Have Food Dictatorship
with Embargo


posals intended to shatter the high cost
of living marked the reopening of con-
,gress today.
the embargo forces, introduced four
plaps-two of them calling for food ex-
port embargoes, the other two for regu-
lation of cold storage and for reduction
of parcel post charges on food
| Representative Farr, of Pennsylvania,
proposed an embargo on wheat and Rep
resentative London, of New York, So
eialist, worked on measures proposing a
Virtual food dictatorship, with an incl
dental food expert ban.
congressman from industrial centers
| favored the price-eontrol plan. Repre-
sentatives of the farming districts vail
ed against the bills and threatened mu-
nitions embargos if they are molested in
their prosperity.
Senate Gets Busy.
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey, is
another who will fight in the upper
house for food embargo ON all staple
articles. He announced he will intro
drce his resolution later this week.
Further action i'll the senate was
promised by Senator Lewis, of Illinois.
He said he would introduce bill to
provide that the government be empow
cred to seize foodstuffs on which corn
er is attempted, condemn them and then
resell 10 the public.
| Both houses passed resolutions to no.
| tify President Wilson that they are sit
ting and ready for his message tomor-
row.
The house convened at 1901 when
Speaker Clark pounded for order, and
| the senate got down to business three
minutes later. At 1911 the senate re-
cessed until 8 O'Clock, meantime ap-
pointing u committee to notify the
house it was ready for business.
Crammed galleries watched the pro-
ceedings. In the house Speaker Clark
was cheered roundly. After the mob
like chatter of the welcome home squads
had been quelled, the chaplain prayed
for "ueaee within our borders while
representatives stood in their places.
Fitzgerald's Bill.
In introducing his bill Fitzgerald
said:
"The multiplying evidences of the
widespread interest in the high cost of
living, makes me hopeful of success.
The enactment of either of the embar.
go bills and the. bill to regulate cold
storage and parcel post will bring i'm
mediate relief to the country.
"The people want action; they are
heartily tired of talk and inyestiga-
ton"
His bills in brief are:
No. l--Provision for an out and out
export embargo of farm products and
manufactured <foodstuffs for one year.
No. 2-Protision for the president to
suspend expectation whenever prices be-
come extortionate and the public inter
est requires such action.
No. 3--Regulation of cold storage by
prohibiting interstate shipments of
foods, other than butter, stored longer
than 10 0imonths; with distinct labelin,
of the date on which the goods were
stored.
No. Abolition of postal zones inso-
far as farm products and manufactured
foodstuffs are concsrned; admission of
such goods to parcel post in paekagea
up to $50 pounds at three cents for the
first pound and one cent for pounds
thereafter. with slightly higher charges
Gets After Spectators.
iut lliaA NANp AAblH AhN lam EAbAI
came when Representative Iindberg,
Minnesota, introduced q resolution, at
tacking "parasite spectators" and
proposing an all,fOod embargo bin to
be considered by joint senate and
house committee. His bill, il success.
ful, would tend to sidetrack the subject.
He held that embargoes would be an un-
Just burden to the farmer as well as un-
necessary if spectators and the credit
system were regulated.
Exemptions in the embargoes prodie
for supplying American dsplomats and
citizens abroad, as well as famine or
war victims.
Extremely high penalties are imposed
! for violations. Representative London,
New York, socialist, worked on food
dictatorship measure, though he ex-
pressed dislike for the term "distator"
4 in America.
~ believe we should have govern
mental eoutrol Of the food situation,
he said "An embargo is only an Incl
dental proposition If that viii help
lower the cost Of living it should be
introduced, along with a system Of gov
ernmental control, somewhat similar to
the Australian system. -
Representative Emerson, Cleveland,