South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-20
Suggests That Power of Fixing
Prices be Lodged With
the Council of Nation
al Defense.
TWO MILLION YOUTHS
NEEDED BY FARMERS
FaVOrS Suspension of Opera
tons of Rural Schools.
Would Supply Seed to
Growers ct Cost.
International News Service:

International News Service.
WASHINGTON. April %. - Gov
ernmental control and regulation OF
the prices of food for the period OF
the war appeared probable today.
I'm a communication to the senate.
Sec'y of Agriculture David +. Hous-
ton recommended that lin cases OF
emergency the government should
have the power TO purchase. store
and subsequently dispose of food
products 10 groups OF people or
communities organized in some
form, and TO fix maximum and min
imum prices"
The food situation now confront
ing the nation. Sec'y Houston adj
Vised the senate. is serious Pro-
duction must be increased.
Perhaps the power Cfor fixing
food prices should be lodged with
the council Of national defense.
continued Sec'y Houston's report.
1T is possible that the mere exist
ence of such power would make
action unnecessary. The govern
ment should have fun discretion in
the matter"
Among the suggestions he made
We're:
He would coordinate all national
and state agencies and independent
farmers organization and have all
along uniform lines.
Commission Of Experts.
Would create a small advisory
commission of experts 10 aid the de-
partment in detailed work.
Would have each state create
state councils to study and deal with
problems of food production and
conservation.
Would oppose an experiments
anywhere with new and untried
crops and Concentrate on crops al
ready under way.
Would increase efficiency OF pres
ent farm workers and draft into
agricultural service 1000, 600 boys
between the ages Of Is and 19.
Rural schools Could Help.
Would have rural highway schools
suspend operations early this year
and begin later next fall 10 permit
boys and girls alike 20 aid i'm the
harvest work.
Would have industrial plants DO
their repair work during the har-
vest season. so that employees laid
off while machines are being over
hauled can work I'm the fields
Would enlarge all held forces Of
experts so that farmers can get the
benefit of expert instructions along
IAN lines Of production Of grains and
.livestocks.
Would enlist all housewives in a
nationwide campaign 20 eliminate
waste.
Would enlarge 20 greatest pos
sible extent all branches OF depart
ment which are combating de-
structive insects and diseases Of both
animals and plants.
fScc'y Houston. while making no
specific recommeudaton on the
subject, saws that suspension ~ che
manufacture Of alcoholic liquors
would mean the saving of S1f5. oOO.-
00a worth Of grains now used an
nualIy in the production Of alco-
holic beverages
To Increase Flour supply
Would increase the -four supply
$4,000 600 barrels BY compelling
milling Of wheat 60 as 20 make 81
per cent Of the kernel into -four in
stead OF 70 per cent as az present
Would safeguard seed stocks for
1915 against untoward climatic or
other conditions. Also would supply
seed az cost
Would make an immediate ma
tion-wide survey OF the food supply
OF the nation and establish market
grades and classes OF ar farm
products.
Would force common carriers 70
prefer movements OF seeds. fertiIiz-
ers. insecticides. fungicides. farm
machinery and materials required In
their manufacture
Would in case OF emergency. give
the government power % TX maxi
mum and minimum prices through
the council Of national defense 10
be used only when ordered by tha