The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-08-14

to facilitate their movement, to pre-
vent, locally and generally, scarcity,
monopoly, boarding, injurious specula-
tion, manipulation or private control
affecting supply, distribution and move
ment.
Smoot Amendment Edited.
Other provisions of the bill fix a
minimum price for wheat beginning
next year at not less than 81 per stand
ard bushel;' provide for coal and coke
price fixing, communicating and gov
ernment operation of factories. and
mines producing necessaries; for gov
eminent purchase, sale and rediiisition
of various necessaries and for federal
licensing Of agencies producing and
handling them. I.' V' ,lt-t'
The prohibition provisions, a compro-
mise for bone dry" prohibition pro-
posed by the house, prohibit manufac-
ture and importation of distilled liquors
for beverages during the war, author
ize the president to suspend manufac-
ture of malt, fermented and vinous
liquors or to limit their alcoholic con-
tent and authorizes and directs" the
president, in his discretion, to com
mandeer distilled beverages in bond or
stock when necessary for Redistribution
into alcohol for military or other public
defense purposes or to conserve food
stuffs.
Congressional leaders understand the
president does not intend to comman-
deer distilled spirits or to cuttail their
consumption unless military exigencies
require. \The SO called Smeot amend
ment, directing federal purchase of dis
TILED beverages In bond at cost plus
10 per cent profit, was eliminated.
Will Control Coal.
Sweeping powers to control coal
prices also are, provided, The bill au-
thorizes the president, through, the
Federal Trade Commission or other
agency, to fix coal and coke prices at
the mines and among wholesalers and
retailers, to regulnte methods of sale,
shipment and distribution among deal
ers and consumers, and to requisitiOn
and. operate mines or other ,coaling ia
cilities. ....,
A system Of federal licensing Of all
agencies related to the production,
transportation and distribution Of the
designated necessarlcs also Is provid-
cd, and rigid provisions against hoard
] ing, speculation and monopoliza tion es.
tablished under heavy penalties. Farm
ers are exempted from the boarding
provisions.
The bill also authorizes the presi.
dent to requisition for military or pub
lie defense needs all necessaries named
and, TO guarantee reasonable prices tC
producer and consumer, to buy and sell
fuel, wheat, -four meal, beans and po
tatoes. The bill also authorizes the
president to requisirion and operate
any factory, packing house, mine or oil
pipe line, at just compensation, fol
military or public defense uses.
Regulation OF grain and other food
stuff markets to prevent injurious
speculation or undue enhancement OF
prices, is another power conferred upor
the food administration through thu
president. 13laNI ,,.Nrp h.,a-b
Another clause, inserted by, the sen
ate after much criticism of alleged sale
by members of the advisory commits
sioncrs Of their own products to thu
government, prohibits federal agent
from soliciting or inducing contracts
with the government in n'which they arr
interested.
Herbert Hoover and his aids are es
tabishcd at their new quarters In thu
Hotel Gordon, Washington, and Mr.
Hoover soon will make public TIT
procedure which he has decided upon
Enough is known of Mr.. Hooy er's pur
pose to warrant the statement that h,
Is not going TO be content with an.
merely perfunctory enforcement of th
law.
1t is palpabla that IL the law Is car
ricd out with the exercise of even hal
the authority conferred by congress tn
Hoover food administration soon will
find itself battling against the tremen
dous opposition of the great special In
tercSts which SO long have fattened OF
food distribution and manipulation
Also It is obvious that if the nublic 4
to get relief the opposition of, these in
terests must be expected, and it woul,
be a waste OF time to try to get alonI
with them peacefully.
Public Must Help Cut.
Mr.. Hoover is going to do greG:
Deal, as he has. already done, through
the voluntary efforts of the people t
conserve food and prevent waste. II
also Is going to rely to large exten
on the force of public opinion to bacl
him up in the enforcement Of the ney
law. 1t will bo with this in mind tina
he will give out before long series O
statements covering his plans.
One thing which cannot be overlook
ed is that while the bill was pendin
leaders in congress were told repea
edly it must be passed and somethin
must he done to effect lower livin
cost, because the unrest among tn