Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-08-14
Buying Agencies Will Be Es-
tabIished and Flour Mills
Operated Under License.
GOES INTO EFFECT SEPT. l
American Producer and Con.
sumer Will be Protected
and Prices Stabilized.

washington, Aug. lo.-t the iOou
administration has announced its plan
for controlling wheat, flour and
bread, revealing that the government
is prepared to take over the whole
1917 wheat harvest if necessary to
conserve the supply, obtain just prices
for Americas fighting forces and
their allies and reduce costs to the
general public in the United States.
Establishing of buying agencies at
all the principal terminals, licensing
of elevators and mills, fixing of a
price to be considered fair, regulation
OF the middleman and of grain ex-
changes, with the elimination of trad
| ing in future, are the chief features of
the plan. The licensing will begin
Sept. l..
The minimum price of 81 for wheat
fixed by congress does not become
effective until next year, but the adj
ministration proposes to exercise a
very thorough control over hisyear's
crop through powers conferred under
the food and export control bills.
Concerning the price Of flour the
order says:
Furthermore, the holding OF
wheat or flour contracts by persons
not engaged in the trade and even
when in trade in larger quantities
than is necessary for the ordinary
course of their business is unlawful
under the act and such cases will be
prosecuted with vigor.
eve would advise such holders to
liquidate their contracts at once.
STABILIZE PRICE OF WHEAT.
"By the above arrangement, we
believe that we shall stabilize the
price of wheat throughout the year;
that the hazards of operation due to
fiuctuation in prices, which are inn
posed upon our milling and distribut-
ing community, will be eliminated
and, therefore, their business can re-
turn to the normal lines and the nor
NAL margins of profit, and that we
shall not only have stabilized the price
of wheat, but stabilized the price of
-four, and that ii should enable us to
arrive at a stabilized price of bread.
"The food administration has the
patriotic cooperation of the leading
millers of the country and these mill
lers have organized, at the request of
the food administration, committee
to represent the entire trade. Detail
ed proposals for an agreed differen-
tial of profit and expenses per barrel
Of -four and per ton Of feed are under
discussion.
EQUITABLE PRICE FOR PUBLIC.
''Under this arrangement the public
will be assured an equitable and stab
ilized price Of flour, based upon the
cost of raw materials, and we conf
IDENTITY expect volunteer arrange
ment with the mills which will give
satisfaction to the public.
''The universal endeavor over the
country to reduce consumption of
wheat breadstuffs in order that we
may have the requisite exports with
which to carry the allies over the
forthcoming winter. will result in a
largely INCREASED amount OF wheat
available for export If it were ex-
ported as wheat, it would result in
diminutlon Of employment in our mills
and, of equal importance, curtailment
of mill feed for our dairy cattle.
Therefore, the food administration
will stipulate for a large proportion Of
export Of flour instead of wheat and
as the export orders for flour will be
given subject to the approval of the
food administration, those mills which
cooperate with the administration