The Washington times., 1917-04-28
PERKINS In FEAR
OF FOOD SHORTAGE
Financien Advocates Drastic
Steps to conserce Supply
of Nation.

In this country with respect to short
age of foodstuffs. George w. Perkins,
of New York. today urged on the Sen
need OF quick and far-reaching action
by the Federal Government.
Mr.. Perkins was called before the
committee because he has done val
liable work on the food problem OF
New York as a member of its food
commission. He had familiarizsd
himself with food and agricultural
conditions OF the nation
Today Mr.. Perkins spoke as a man
having a thorough grasp of his sub
ject, and his utterances impressed
the committee. Two things must be
done by Congress first OF all II there
is to be a larger crop than usual this
year, he told the Senators.
Labor for the Farms.
In the first place. he said. the far
mers must be assured at once that
they will have labor and that their
labor supply will not be drafted for
the army.
In the second place. the Govern
ment must encourage the farmer to
put in large acreage by fixing mini
mum prices on at least four staples,
potatoes, wheat. corn. and beans.
Mr.. Perkins warned the committee
that planting and seeding time will
be over in few weeks. He urged ac-
tion at once and declared he believed
that otherwise the preaching OF big
crops would come to little. Above all
things. he said, the farmer must know
he will have labor and that he will
not have to run his farm at loss.
Altar
Perkins, said, other steps could be
taken, but these must go ahead Of all
others.
Later on, he said, there should be
fixing of maximum prices to protect
the consumer. but he said there was
no use fixing maximum prices until
there was something to fx them on.
Urges Minimum Prices
As to the administration Of national
fod laws, Mr.. Perkins suggested that
a food commission be provided.
He suggested as the minimum prices
to be fixed 81 a bushel at the farm
for potatoes, $1.50 for wheat, 81 for
corn, and So for beans. These are not
the prices at which the farmer Is
obliged to sell. He Is to be allowed
TO get what he can. but II the prices
named cannot be had by him, then
the Government, according to Mr.. Per
kins. either should take the crop off
his hands or to make up the differ
ence between what he has to sell his
products for and the figures named.
Mr.. Perkins said the New York city
food commission had talked over the
minimum prices q great deal with
leading farmers In New York State
and II was generally agreed a guar
antee OF such prices would encourages
| production
Te Encourage PIanting.
The primary purpose of the 'legis-
Iation 10 be put through at once. next
week IL possible. according to Mr.
Perkins, should be 10 encourage as
much seeding and planting This
spring as possible.
Mr.. Perkins. after speaking briefly
OF the city and State food commits
sions in New York, said reports Of
men who had carefully surveyed tins
| food situation the naticn 0Ter we're
| Every discouraginS"
He then took uD the labor problem
| of the farmers. He told the COM
mittee the farmers were not only
already short of help, because men
| have been lured away by high wages
| in munitions factories and like es-
/ Establishments. but they were fearful
| many more would be taken away for
/ the army.
That is one serious situation" he
said. The other most serious one 10
/ that the farmer has to pay more for
seed. fertilizer. machinery. and hep.
| He is putting a far greater amount
into the ground. with the chance that
he will not get it out. At the same
/ time he is asked to produce SO much
| food that IL will bring down the price.
As a business proposition, the farmer
/ is asked to produce SO much that he
will suffer a business loss.
Bar To EnIIstment.
Under these circumstances every
thing else ought to be laid on the
table until you say to the farmer.
We will not take your help from you
1 for any purpose. Though the young
man on the farm may want to enlist.
| he will not be allowed to- Unless
you do this. there will be such
shortage OF farm labod that larger
/ crops will not be produced"
After urging fixing OF minimum
prices Mr.. Perkins discussed other
( phases OF the food question. Asked
how he would administer the legis-
l latiou he proposed. he suggested that
/ IL be done through a food commis-
/ sion.
/ Mr.. Perkins took up the question of
/ seed. which he said was appalling.
He told how the New York city com,
mission had brought a car load of
potatoes from Maine and sold them
/ to farmers at cost.
I'VE hope this viii give the city
400 600 or 400. 900 bushels to use as
a sort of club to look after our
friends. the SPECTATORS" said Mr..
F., Perkins.
Mr.. Perkins said that after the
steps he had recommended were
taken. they should be followed by
/ othersg He dwelt on the need of
building up the original supplies OF
animals and food products, which are
much depleted.
Scarcity of Hens.
| For instance. there are not in this
country" said he. within 20 per cent
Of the hens there usually are. That
is becauses chickens have been high.
and feed high. and the farmer sold
them of. When his wife went to the
grain bin and got food for the
| chickens. II looked to him as II she
were feeding gold dollars"
He dweIt on hortage OF live stock
anu said the sheep situation was
especially bad.