South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-01
FOOD MEASURES
ARE INTRODUCED
Congress is Asked For S25,-
100000 to Control Situa-
ton During War.

" <AoAll-N ~ TN May L. - Inc
administration food control legis-
lation was introduced Monday in
both houses of congress.
In the house Chairman Lever Of
the agriculture committee, offered a
bill TO give the agricultural depart
ment direct supervision of food pro-
duction and distribution. The pro-
gram was put before the senate in
a resolution by Sen. Gore, chair
man Of the senate committee.
The measures proposed do not
cover price fixing or control of grain
entering into the manufacture Of
liquors. Both these subjects will be
dealt with in measures 10 be drawn
later
Twenty million dollars is asked
for the agricultural departments
in administering the program. The
legislation calls for an immediate
survey of the countrys food re-
sources and confers power on the
department TO prevent speculation
and price manipulation. 1t would
provide for equitable distribution
and would suspend the law prohib-
establish and enforce standards for
agricultural products and for fer
tilizers.
Powers are Broad.
Under the measures asked. the
secretary of agriculture could if
the government thought it neces-
sary, license or operate any bust
ness of manufacture, storage or dis
tribution of food. food materials or
seeds. He could compel concerns so
licensed to loose boarded stocks Of
foods. TO refrain from unjust or dis
criminatory practices or charges
and could force them 10 exact fair
prices only
The federal trade commission, di-
rected by Prest Wilson to investigate
with the agricultural department the
causes Of high food prices, started
its inquiry Monday with a hearing at
which representatives of state food
commissions told of food conditions
throughout the country. In outlin-
ing the purposes and scope Of the
inquiry. members of the commission
declared their first aim would be TO
remedy unlawful and uneconomic
conditions. They will work in close
cooperation with the agricultural
department. giving particular atten-
ton 10 violations of trust laws
in food distribution.
Forty states were represented at
the conference and four governors
attended in person Milliken OF
Maine, Frazier OF North Dakota,
Beeckman of Rhode Island and
Harris Of Georgia. Many Of the rep
resentatives blamed high prices on
middiemen and on poor transporta-
ton methods. Some thought there
was no actual food shortage and de-
plored the publicity given TO reports
Of a poor wheat crop. Hoarding by
housewives and others. they said.
had taken much food from the mar
kets and had added TO a general
hysteria.
Gov. Frazier declared there was
something wrong with distributing
systems when farmers last fall re-
ceived less than one dollar a bushel
for potatoes and saw them sold at
retail this spring at more than 50.
A. f. Reynolds. a grain dealer rep
resenting Indiana, said a shortage
of railroad cars was largely respOn-
sible for high wheat prices. Great
quantities Of wheat, he said, were in
storage at points in the United
States while other places were pay
ing as much as Is cents a bushel
above the market price because they
were unable TO get an adequate sup
ply.