The Washington herald., 1917-05-20
WASHINGTON TO BE FOOD CENTER FOR ALLIES,
HOOVER ANNOUNCES in STATEMENT OF PLANS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
Second. that this administration
can be largely carried out through the
coordination and regulation Of the
existing legitimate distributiye agen-
cies suppl mented by certain emer-
gency bod es composed OF representa-
tives of he producers, distributors,
and consI mers.
Third, the organization Of the COM
munity for voluntary conservation OF
foodstuffs.
Fourth. that all important posi-
tions, so far as may be, shall be filed
with volunteers.
Fifth. the, independent responsible
ity Of the food administration direct
ly under the President, with the CO.
operation Of the great and admirable
organization Of the Department OF
Agriculture, the Department Of Com
merce, the Federal Trade Commission
and the railway executive.
Falls Into Two Phases.
'I conceive that the essence OF all
war administration falls into two
phases:
'First. centralized a single re-
sponsibility.
Second, the elegation of this re-
sponsibility to decentraliZe adminlstra-
tive organs.
'In a general way It may be stated
that this country normally produces
a surplus of most commodities and
that our problem is to secure the ef-
fective and economic distribution OF
these supplies; to induce as large an
export surplus for the benefit OF our
allies as we can; to protect our own
requirements; to ask the whole com
munity TO assist US in building up
this surplus by every effort OF econ
omy that we can devise, and to set up
such machinery as will furnish this
balance wheel on prices. At best the
loaf OF our allies will be a privation
loaf, and every ounce We can add to
ii is a contribution to her strength
and Constancy in the war.
II think that it is recognized by all
thinking men that the world war and
the economic forces which have been
set I'D have disorganiZed the ordinary
balances and checks on prices. For
instance, the price OF wheat in nor
NAL times is a factor not only OF
supply in the United states but all
the supplies in every country in the
world. Today the supplies OF Russia.
Germany, Austria. Bulgaria, and Ru-
mania no longer enter upon the estab-
lishment OF this balance; the crop
failure in South America has elimi-
mated those states: the long haul from
Australia has diminished the free flow
from that quarter. and the supplies
in England, France, and Italy are in
the physical possession OF the govern
ment and therefore do not enter into
the common pool OF price balance.
Can Upset Price Conditions.
The consequence is that a sudden
demand or concerted effort of specu-
lation can entirely upset price condi-
tions in the United States to a degree
hitherto unknown, and It Is necessary
for US to devise with the best thought
Of this country temporary balance
wheels by which we can establish sta
bility of price in the great staples,
bearing in mind always that we must
maintain a price that will stimulate
production by assuring good return TO
the producer and at tht same time
will diminish the cost OF living lest
We face social readjustments, strike
disturbances with consequent loss OF
national efficiency. My present view
is to divide the food administration
into four great branches.
In the first branch We should set
UP a certain number of separate ex-
ecUtive bodies for regulation and ad-
ministration of certain critical COM
modities, and these should be organ
lied on the normal lines of our COM
mercial institutions with a board of
directors, a president and executive
officers Who will work out problems
involved in those commodities and
will institute such measures as may
be necessary to stabilize prices and
distribution; and these bodies should
be constituted Of the leaders of the
country. producers, distributors,
bankers and consumers alike.
1t has been the experience of all
European food control that results
can best be accomplished by acting
through or by regulation of the ordin-
ary distributing agencies in the com
munity. placing such restrictions
which will cause minimum sacrifice
on the part OF the legitimate dis
tributOr and will eliminate broad ma
tional waste unnecessary boarding,
and the shee. speculator in food
stufTs. With the good will Of the dis
tributing community it is possible to
do this without disruption Of the es-
sential commerce of the country.
state Corporation.
The second branch OF administra-
ton lies in the cooperation of the
governors and State administrations
Though the establishment Of State
food administrations who will act on
behalf of the national executive in
national matters and who will them
selves handle local problems; through
them and their assistants to secure
coordination in distribution from one
section of the country to another, and
TO use the powers against illegitimate
boarding which Congress is being
asked to vest in the food administra-
tion Furthermore, it devOlves on the
State to stop waste in public places.
These powers being asked tor are
considerable in order that we may
force into the market every form of
fOodstuffs over and above such stock