The Sentinel=record., 1917-05-20

tivities of the government represented
 in the department of agriculture in
 reference 10 food production, con. servation and marketing on the one
 hand and the emergency activities
 necessita ed by the war in reference
 to the regulat cn of food distribution and consumption on the other. All
 measures Intended directly to extend
 the normal activities of the depart
 ment of agriculture in reference to
 the production, conservation and mar
 keting of farm crops will be admin istered, as in normal times, through
 that department and the powers asked
 fer over distribution and consumption over exports. imports, prices, purchase land requisition of commodities, stor-
 ing and the like, which may require
 reguation during the war. will be Iplaced in the hands of commissioner 'of food administration appointed by
 the president and directly responsible
 to him.
 '"The objects sought to be served
 by the legislation asked for are.
 Full inquiry into the existing avail. able stocks of foodstuffs ana into the costs and practices of the various food producing and distributing trades; the prevention of all unwar. ranted boarding of every kind and of the control of foodstuffs by persona who are not in any legitimate sense producers, dealers or traders; the requisltonng when necessary for public use of food supplies and of equipment nece~ sary for handling them properly; the licensing of whole some and legitimate mixtures and milling percentages, and the prohibit ton of the unnecessary or wasteful use of foods. Authority is asked also to establish pricee-but not in order to limit the profits of the farmers, but only to guarantee to them when neces. sary a minimum price which will in- sure them a profit where they are asked 10 attempt new crops, and to secure the consumer against extortion by breaking up corners and attempts at speculation when they occur by fix. ing temporarily, a reasonable price at which middlemen must sell.
 "T have asked Mir Herbert Hoover 10 undertake this alLimportant task of food administration He has ex. pressed his willingness to do so on condition that he Is to receive no pay ment for his services. and that the whole of the force under him. exclu. siye of clerical assistance. shall be so far as possible upon the same volunteer basis. He has OK. pressed hi confidence that this diffi- cult matter of food administration can be successfully accomplished through the volunteer cooperation and direc- ton of legitimate distributors of food stuhs and with the help of the women If the country.
 Although it is absolutely necessary that unquestionable power shall be placed in my hands in order to insure the success of this administration ot the food supplies Of the country, I anu that the exercise of those powers will be necessary only in tae few cases where some small and sell fish minority proves unwilling to put the nations interests above personal and that the whole country will heartily support Mir Hoover's ef. forts by supplying the necessary vol. unteer agencies throughout the coun. try for the intelligent control of food and gaelriuo fha cn. operation of the most capable leaders of the very interests most directly af- fected, that the exercise of the powers deputed to him will rest very sue eessfully upon the good will and co. operation of The peop!e themselves, and that the ordinary economic ma chinery of the country will be left undisturbed