New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-12
Chairman Of House Agri-
culture Committee Pro-
poses Drastic Law
Men May Be Drafted
For Work on Farms
Government Chiefs Busy
All Over u. S. Trying to
Speed Up Production
Hmm The Tribune BuT,aul

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, April l1.-With Presi-
dent Wilson in conference with Chair
man Lever, of the House Agricultural
Committee, to discuss methods Of slim
ulating countrywide agricultural activ-
ity, Secretary Houston preaching great
err production to the convention of state
college presidents in st. Louis. Assist
ant Secretary Vrooman urging "plant
more acres to food in the South" and
former Secretary B. T. Galloway in con-
ference with officials OF the Council OF
National Defence, many agencies Of the
Federal government were invoked to-
day to put the nation on an adequate
food basis.
Granting of autocratic power to some
branch of the government to deal with
the food problem was proposed to Pres
dent Wilson by Representative Lever.
Mr.. Lever SAID that drastic steps
would have to be taken to meet the
serious world shortage of food supply
if America is to feed Ter own people
and aid in providing for the wants OF
the Entente countries. He spoke OF
the shortage of farm labor, declaring 1t
was a question for serious considera-
ton whether men for work on the
farms should not be drafted just as
the Administration plans to conscript
soldiers for the army.
Seeks Wilson's Approval
No definite legislation has been
framed. but the Agricultural Committee
is working on a programme, and 1T was
10 get the Presidents views that Mr..
Lever called. The National Agricultural
Society, at a patriotic convention here
yesterday, formally approved a plan
for the creation of Federal bureau TO
control food production and distrlou-
ton and fix prices.
Among the possible ways OF increas-
ing the food supply suggested by MI
Lever was TO close down dlstlllerles
using grain in the manufacture OF WINS
key and other intoXicants. lie SAID
that over 600, 100000 bushels of grain
are used annually in this way.
By resolution introduced to-day by
Senator Frelinghuysen, OF New Jersey
the Council of National Defence was
requested TO consider the advlsaoillty
of establishing Commissioners OF az
ricultural defence, who should assem-
HE ali national. state and private agen-
cies and mobilize farm labor for the
/. = lor
lead TO conservation of farmers and
farmhands. he said, and encourage the
farmer 70 increase his crops with the
assurance that his supply of labor
would not be decreased or cut off:
"You can turn out a soldier IN a
wear" said Senator Frelinghuysen, but
il takes Ave years 10 turn out compe-
tent farmland. Already the best farm
hands are preparing to enlist"
Wheat Crop Shortage
The following figures show the seri-
business Of the situation:
The exports OF wheat in normal years
apuroximate l05 900 900 bushels. The
year preceding the war it was l45'OOo'-
600 bushels, but in 1915 it increased to
1872 600 900 bushels, and dropped last
wear again TO 243.000,000 bushels.
With the American wheat crop est
mated % per cent below normal and
the prospect of abnormal demands by
Europe. the bread situation is serious.
REPORTS from the international instl-
tute of Agriculture, in Rome. estimate
the wheat crop Of Argentina, Australia
and New Zealand combined at 226,214,-
coo bushels, or 20 per cent of last
years crop.
L. s. Production and Exports
In 1916 the United States produced
2.5s3.24l 900 bushels of corn and eX-
ported 1886 ,92S bushels, it produced
500 1886 900 bushels of wheat and ex-
ported 243,117.025 bushels; 22,37S.0OO,-
600 pounds of meat products and eX-
ported 444,053 ,325 pounds OF beef and
its products and ,459 ,532,294 pounds OF
pork and it's products; 1t produced
244,S90,000 pounds of wool and import
ed great quantities in addition.
According 10 Secretary Houston, one
Of the chief food measures TO be un-
dertaken is that OF eliminating waste.
According to estimates OF the once OF
Home Economics, more than S1OO.oOO.-
GOO worth of food il needlessly wasted
in the nations kitchens annually. Other
wastes that should be and can be elimi-
mated, declare officials of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. are the losses.
conservatiyely estimated at $4,000, GOO
annually. suffered through the use OF
moor seed. and the loss of from 10000
600 TO 100,000,000 bushels OF potatoes
each year because OF the destruction
L L