Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-19
MUST STOP FOOD SPECULATION,
HOOVER TELLS SENATOR'S; PEOPLE
ROBBED Of $5O,OOO,OOO A MONTH
FOOD CONTROL BILL .s #
NECESSARY, HE SAYS;
MUST STOP ADVANCE
Predicts Further High Pric
es Unless Immediate
Action is Taken.

washington, June 19.-vFood specu.
lators have been taking $50. 900, 900 2
month for the last Ave months-a to-
tai Of a quarter Of q half billion dol
lars-from the American people. Her
bert G. Hoover today told senators in
! explaining the purposes of the food
control bill now before congress.
Mr.. Hoover outlined broadly the
question Of prospective. food supply.
'.The real question" he said, in q
senatorial questioning, sis whether
the shortage will continue next year
and what will be the needs of the
allies and America.
Allies Depend ON North America.
'"rhe allies are dependent upon
North America for the vast majority
Of their food imports. We should be
able to supply so per cent Of what
they require. The other 40 per cent.
must be made up by further denial
on their part and saving on ours. We
can increase our surplus. The situa-
tion for them next year means In
creased privations. Without adequate
FOOD supply no European population
Will continue to fight and we shall
4ind ourselves alone against Germany.
4 Russian Revolt Food Riot.
"The Russian revolution was a food
riot and even yet that. ally is tenn
pcrarily paralyzed. Responsibility
ure Of democracy through shortage
of food"
Turning to domestic conditions. Mr..
Hoover said this country has been ex-
periencing unprecedented prices and
rampant speculation reciting how
middlemen and all other persons in
the distribution profits have been
purchasing increasing supplies to
avert individual shortages.
Mr.. Hoover cited the canning trade
as an example where the entire out
puts Of vegetables and fish for 1917
has been disposed Of already before 1t
has even reached the Gamers. He
predicted further high prices. Thou
sands Of men, he said, who hereto-
fore have never owned dollars 9
worth of food stuff are now speculate
Ing in necessities.''
al Prices in England Lower.
1.-The average price to the consum-
eFs in countries where food admins
tration ID now in effect are lower than
sthole now prevailing, In the !. United
!. States" he. said. "In England the
price Of bread Is even525 per cent be-
low the price. we pay. 1 believe that
unless some administration Of out
food Is taken We will look back al
these prices as being moderate"
Not Food Dictatorship.
Disclaiming entirely that the bill
set up food dictatorship, Mr.,
! Hoover told senator's it's purposes
were entirely to organize the re-
themselves into food administration
to limit middlemen's commissions and
to prevent extortions. ii
with righteous manufacturers and
distributors" he said; ''the price OF
-four should not have been over 80 q
barrel. Yet it averages 81. In the
been extracted from the American
consumer in excess OF normal profiti
of manufacturers and distributors"
Not single national trade associa.
tion. Hoover told the senator's, is op.
:, posed to the food control bill. The
prospective food administrator wen,
to the capitol early today to explain
the bill informally to senators in the
hope that a full understanding Of it.
objects and purposes may allay some
Of the opposition,
@ Stabalize Prices,
Provisions for the government t.
buy and sell commodities will be nee.
essary for use only as to a very few
prime commodities" Mr.. Hoover said
'.The aim is to stabalize prices and
y thus eliminate speculation. The bal
Ance wheel for stabalizing prices Ii
gone. We need an artificial balance
wheel. BY setting up q wheat com.
mission. we can buy wheat regulate
Its storage and transportation and
handle 1t until exported or sold In thi.
country. II We don't do this, whea
prices may relapse on account of oul
not being able to store and carry 1t
with speculators> securing the sol,
benefits and farmers bearing the loss
I'VE can contract tomorrow will
/ the allies for a certain return FOL
h every bushef Of wheat we can sell. b.
controlling prices at interior TERMINAL
we can assure millers their supple.
and simplify transportation"