Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-20
FOOD BILL BEFORE
BOTH HOUSES TODAY
Advocates Determined Not to
Permit Measure to Lag; May
Pass House This Week.
LIMIT ON DEBATE FAILS

Both branches of Congress took up
the administration food conservation
bill today with the determination not
to let the matter lag. and 1t is evident
that the House at least will pass the
hill before the end of the week. Ad,
ministration leaders on both sides said
today that the opposition to the bill Is
dwindling. and that the greatest senti-
ment is to be found in favor OF the
most drastic legislation possible to re-
duce waste. to prevent speculation ana
to assure fair food prices.
Uncle Joe" Cannon, who is opposed
to the idea Of a food dictatorship. today
blocked an attempt to limit the general
debate. Representative Lever, chair
man of the House committee on agri.
culture, in charge Of the bill. suggested
that general debate be closed some time
today. Representative Cannon, noting
the absence of a quorum, objected on
the ground that. full membership
ments are made. Representative Lever
will renew his request for limit to
general debate some time later today.
Would Broaden Scope of Bill.
Representative Haugen Of Iowa. re-
publican member of the agricultural
committee in charge of the debate on
the republican side. is expected to
speak late today. He believes that
there should be law for regulating
prices on the necessities OF life. but
thinks that the administration bill is
too narrow in its scope because 1t
touches only foodstuffs and fuel. Rep
resentative Haugen will offer an
amendment to broaden the scope Of the
bill so that 1t will cover all other
necessities.
the Senate today Senator Gore. demo-
crat, chairman of the agriculture COM
mittee. declared it strikes at the farmer.
will cause losses to producers this year
of $250, 1000, 900 in wheat and $500. 900
in corn. and result in famine next year
through reduced production.
Bread Cheaper in Germany.
III we don't need food control. then
why is bread cents a loaf In Ger
many and and 10 cents a loaf in the
United States before single battle
has been fought by United States
ly flung at the opponents of the price.
control bill now before Congress and
likely to pass the House before tho end
of the week The line Of thought taken
ously presented by him at the outset.
has been followed by other speakers,
who have given many examples OF food
prices lower in belligerent countries
than in this land of great productivity.
The cry of too much dictatorship" has
been lost in the roar Of the reply: IF
we don't need price control, why is
German bread cheaper than ours?"
The prices in Washington restaurants
were compared with those OF London by
Representative Thompson OF Oklahoma.
who had previously introduced similar
testimony to the committee on a9ricua-
.ture. Representative Thompson read
his committee statement again. In 1t
he said:
Higher by IS Per Cent Here.
do you know that right here in
Washington you are paying about 36
per cent more for food than you would
in London?
"An American arrived in Washington
today from London and brought with
Divan Tavern, on the Strand. as the
best argument he could find for food
control bill in America.
compared with the menu Of the
average Washington hotel. the prices
were mild. And England has been In
the war three years. while the United
States hasn't realized that it is fighting.
Here's the way the tourist started
to compare figures:
HE went into well known down.
town hotel for luncheon today and or
dered julienne soup. roast beef, a vege-
table. a pudding and coffee. The waiter
brought him check for $2:05.
why. this is preposterous.' he pro-
tested The same luncheon would have
cost me $1.50 in London, and London is
on rations
Then he sat down and made a COM
parison of London and Washington
prices, using menus from restaurants
Of the same class. Here are some of the
results:
"In London julienne and tomato soups
cost rs cents portion: here 80 cents.
Other soups compare proportionately in
price.
''In London mushrooms cost 81 cents
and here 65 cents. Onions are cents
a portion in London and 35 cents in
Washington. Comparison of other veg
etable prices brings practically the same
results.
"Lamb chops cost 80 cents here and
70 cents in London. Puddings which
cost 80 cents here are cents in Lon
don. Jelly is cents at Simpsons;
here it is 21 cents Fruits are nearly
100 per cent higher here than in Lon
don. So are coffee and tea
There can be but one explanation
for a condition OF this kind: Our
food products between the producer
and the consumers too expensive It
permits too much tribute to be levied
on the misfortunes of the people, The
| most important one to the American
| people. the. producing and consuming
public. During normal times 1t has
| not been possible to arouse the people
to sense or impending danger. II
this great war rivets their attention
| on the subject we may confidently hope
| for relief
Compared With British Prices.
why should potatoes sell in London
for $2.l0 a bushel and 1910 hereT
asked Representative Graham of ILL.,
! nois; he mad food price figures from
England. obtained through the British
%ol