The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-05-02
A !, FOOD CONTROL

WASHINGTON, u. c., April 30
The administrations food control leg
islation was introduced today in both
houses or congress. ~, SKI, III,
In the house Chairman Lever OF
the agriculture rsGmssi.tes7 offered q
bill to give the agriculture depart
msnt supervision of food production
and distribution. The program was
put before the senate in q resolution
by Senator Gore, chairman OF the SEN
ate committee. - L..
The measures proposed do not cover
price fixing or control OF grain enter.
Ing into the manufacture OF. liquors.
Both these subjects will be dealt with
later. %.,-- -. r.. 80.
Twenty-Five million dollars is asked
for the agricultural departments use
in administering the program. The
legislation calls for an immediate sur
yey OF the coufltry's food resources
and confers power upon the depart.
inent to prevent speculation md price
manipulation. 1t would provide for
equitable distribution and would sus.
penl the law prohibiting the mixing
OF -four. It would establish and en-:
force standards for agricultural pro.
duets ana TOR lertlll2erS.
. May License Production.
Under the measures asked the Sc
cretary OF agriculture could. II the go.
Vefnment thot II necessary license or
operate any business OF manufacture.
storage or distribution Of food, food
materials or. seeds. lie could compel
concerns so licensed to loose boarded
stocks Of food. to refrain from unjust
or discriminatory practiccS or charges
and could enforce them, to exact fair
prices only. s.s =, ;.
The federal trade commission, direct
ed by President Wilson to .investi.
gate with the, agriculture department
the. caGse Of high food prices. started
It's inquiry today with a hearing al
which representatives OF state food
commissions. told of food conditions
thruOut the country. In outlining the
the purposes and scope Of the inquiry
members of the commission declared
their first aim would be remedy TN
lawful and economic conditions. The
commission clothed with inIuisitOrial
and corrective powers Will work In
close cooperation with the agricnltnr-
al commission giving particular atten-
ton to violations OF antitrust laws
in food distribution.
Forty states were reported al the
conference and governors who attend.
ed in person we're Milken Of Maine.
Frazier OF North Dakota. BeecIfman
of Rhode island, and Harris Of Geor.
gle. Many of the Representatives.
blamed high prices on middlemen and
Oiis1,oor transportatio Methods Some
thOt there was, no actual food shortage
and depl0red Tie publicity given TO re-
representatives. Of a poor wheat crop.
Hoarding by housewives and others
they said had taken much food from
tho markets and had added to a gem,
eral hysteria. ..g.. f., T.. q
Something Wrong Win Distribution.
Governor Frazier declared there was
something wrong with Gtstflbution
when farmers last. fall received less
than 81 a bushel for potatoes and
saw them sold at retail this spring
at more than SIS.
A. T.. Reynolds, Il grain dealer re.
presenting Indiana said Il shortage Q:
railway ears was largely responsible
for high wheat prices.
Supply and demand no longer are
related" he said. because of the dis.
arrangement to railway service. The
man who gets cars can get any price
he asks for his wheat. He is market
ing transportation rs well as grain"