The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-06-11
U. s. MUST FEED
ALL THE ALLIES
Secretary Houston Says Task Is
Political and Military
Necessity.
EXPLAINS THE CONTROL BILLS
President to Have Power to Seize
or Force Sale Of Hoards, Close
Exchanges and Stop Spec
uIation.

Washington, June 1.-THE secretary
Of agriculture, D. f. Houston, issued
the following statement:
Cooperating as we are with the
nations of Europe in the war against
the central powers, the task of main
tanning the subsistence of the allies
is at once a political and moral obli-
cation and military necessity. The
wheat crop of practically the entire
world has suffered serious reduction
during the last year, and the prospects
Of the coming year promise little or no
increase in the production of this es-
sential cereal.
TWO Courses Are Open.
One of two courses lies open to our
government. The first is to continue
to permit unhampered the abnormal
operations of trade because of the
needs Of the allies for foodstuffs from
this country. The send plan consists
in the regulation or control of our
foOdStuffs to the double end of main
tenance Of the subsistence of the al
lies and the protection of the food
needs and commercial interests of our
own people.
Two bills now pending in congress
provide for systematic development
of our productive forces and an ade-
quate control of distribution and con-
sumption to the end of conserving
for ourselves and for the allies the
6C+,1 w., e,&i,
ulatiOn of agriculture.
The two bills, known as the ''food-
production bill' and the 'food-con-
troll BILL" are designed to place in the
hands Of the administration emer-
gency powers and funds adequate to
accomplish the necessary ends.
Increase Production.
The bill also provides for the nor
NAL activities of the department with
a view further to stimulate the pro-
ductiOn and to conserve the supply of
foodstuffS
The bill is framed as war meas
ure. 1t authorizes the secretary of
agriculture to make survey of the
food supply Of the nation, in order to
secure full and accurate information
regarding its quantity, location and
ownership, as well as knowledge of
the instrumentalities or agencies that
own, control, manufacture and dis
tribute food products.
All this work, it is contemplated, can
be done for 100000 or 100000.
Power to Seize Seeds
Power also is given to requisition
such seeds and to fix a reasonable
price to be paid for them by the gov
ernment such price to be subject to
review by the courts.
1t is proposed to place at least one
county agent in eevry rural county,
and also further to develop the ex-
tension work for women.
The food control bill aims to facili-
tate and clear the channels of distribu-
ton, prevent boarding, assure fair
prices, restrain injurious speculation,
prohibit evil practices on exchanges,
protect the public against corners and
~extortion and reduce waste. 1t deals
wath foods, feeds, shoes, clothing. fuel
and articles required for their produc-
ton.
1t confers for the duration of the
war, wide powers upon the president,
70 be exercised only after he has found
that state of affairs warranting ac-
ton exists.
Would Stop Hoarding.
Authority is given to license and
regulate any business of manufacture,
storage and distribution of foods, food
materials or feeds, whenever the pres
adent deems it essential to prevent I'M
economical manufacture or inequitable
distribution Licenses also may be re-
quired to put boarded stocks on the
market and to refrain from unfair
practices and prices.
The president is authorized to pre-
vent spoilage, to direct the disposition
of food which is going out of condition,
:as well as to direct the market move
ment of perishable products with a
view to prevent gluts or TO effect equit-
able appOrtionments.
Another section of the bill gives the
president authority to procure neces-
sarieS by purchase or otherwise, to
store them and to dispose of them at
cost, and also to requisitiOn and op-
serate any factory, mine or other plant
IN which food or fuel may be pro-
,duced or mined. The purpose is to
fenable the president to break unrea.
.sonable prices and to eliminate iniuri
.ous speculation.
Exchanges Are Included.
Power also is given to the presf-
dent to regulate and, if need be, to
iclose exchanges which deal in neces-
isaries in order to eliminate evil prac-