The Washington herald., 1917-04-08
BLOCK PRICE BOOSTING
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mel Of the committee will BE- announced
later. -.
Mr.. Hoover. just returned from the war
zone with an intimate insight into the
peculiar problems European belligerents
have had to meet, was directed, As q pre-
liminary step, to report to the National
Council OF Defense such experiences as
European governments have had in
avoiding food price manipulation and the
steps that have been taken abroad to
stimulate production of all food supplies.
An immediate report will be submitted
to the council on this phase OF the gen.
eral subject.
The economic plans followed by the
European beihge:ents will be laid before
the council for Ats Information, but II is
not yet, certain that any Of the more
strgent regnlations put into effect
abroad VIII be necessary here. The COM
mites on food supply and prices will CO.
the Commercial Economy Board. recent
y appointed to supervise the economical
ois'rioution or commodities of all kinds.
Eminent Men Selected,
Eminent economists. business men.
ana bankers constitute a special COM
mittee named by the United States
Chamber OF Commerce to co-operate
with government heads in a study OF
tho experience OF European countries
In war financing. The members are
Wallace D: tSimmo ona. ST. Louis, chair
man; John ". Farwell. Chicago: Ed
ward A. SFflsne, Boston: p. W: Go.ber
Kansas City: John H. Gray. University
Chicago: Hugh NICK. Landon. indian,
Apolis: Robert 6. Maddox, Atlanta;
Samuel McRoberts. New York. Prof
oliver NJ W. Sprague,' Harvard Uni
versty.
Secretary OF Agriculture Houston
last night began devoting earnest at
tention toward greatly Increasing pro-
duction OF some OF the nations chief
crops to meet emergency war needs.
OFFICIALS were dismayed over the Of
fctal forecast of the Bureau OF Crop
Estimates that the production OF win
ter wheat for 1917 would be approx
nately 100000 bushels less than last
year A nation-wi campaign among
farmers to plant more acreage OF the
staple crops will be launched immedi-
,ately. Diversification OF crops also will
be strongly urged
Special attention was directed ves-
terday to place upon a complete basis
the mobilization of additional products
needed for the prosecution of the war,
Special committees were named by the
Council OF National Defense to aid the
government in purchasing brass and
aluminium products fer the army and
navy
Will WEEK Under Baruch.
The committees viii work under the
direction OF Bernard NJ. Baruch, OF the
advisory commission. who recently pro-
cured for the government an offer OF
10000 pounds OF copper at less than
half the present market price. The Of
gani1ation OF other committees in other
industries whose products are essentia;
for war uses Is being perfected.
The American farmer can do his Bit
by aiding the nation to meet war food
demands by more efficiency in production
and by increasing yields Of staples Secre-
tary OF Agriculture said tonight
The food crops must be increased.
the Secretary said. War demands and
American farmers. Efficient production
Is imperative The importance to the
nation Of an adequate food supply for
the coming year cannot be over
emphacized in view of the economic
problems which may arise as q result
Of the entrance OF the United States into
the war. Every effort should be made to
produce more crops than are needed for
our own requirements Many millions of
own people must rely in large part upon
the products OF our fields.
This situation will continue to exist
even though hostilities should end un-
expectedly soon. since European produc
ton cannot be restored Immediately to
its normal basis American farmers
should strive to the utmost to meet these
urgent needs"
Enlarged Production Urged.
Enlarged production OF staple food crops
Ii the most important service required OF
American agriculture under existing con-
ditions the Secretary said.
Because OF the shortage Of staple foods
throughout the world" he said, there is
no risk in the near future OF excessive
production such as has sometimes re-
suited In unrenumerative prices to pro-
ducers This is particularly true OF the
cereals and Of peas. beans, cowpeas.
soybeans and buckwheat. In view of the
world scarcity Of food there 10 hardly
a possibility that the production Of these
crops by American farmers can be too
great this year. and there Is abundant
reason to expect generous price returns
for all available surplus.
"The duty Of the Individual farmer at
this time is to increase his production, |
particularly OF food crops. II he has
control Of tillable land not In use, or
money lying idle, or labor unemployed. |
he should extend his operations so as to |
employ those resources to the fullest ex-
tent He will not lose by II. and he will |
perform an important service in support |
Ing his country in the task that lies be-
fore It,"
Secretary Houston said that through in |
creased attention to poultry on farms It
~ a. a tNlyl aoA