Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-06-21
Is Statement Made by Herbert
c. Hoover to Senators De-
Tending Food Control Bill
Price Of Bread Is Per Cent.
Lower in England Than in
America Denies the Bill
Would Create Food Dictat-
orship.

" 011APs
(By the Associated Press1
: Washington, June 19.-Food
spectators have been taking
$50,000,000 a month for the last
five months total of a quar-
ter of a billion dollars from the
American people, Herbert c..
Hoover told senators today in ex-
planning the purpose of the food
control bill now before congress.
Mr.. Hoover outlined the ques-
tion of food supply,
The real question" he said in
a statement preliminary to the
senatorial questioning, is
whether: the shortage will con-
tinue next year and what will be
the needs of the. Allies and
America.
'aThe Allies are dependent upon
North America for the vast majority
Of their imports. We should be able
to supply 60 per cent. Of what they
require. The other 40 i per cent:
must be made up 81 further denial ON
their part or savings on ours. Is, We
can increase our surplus. The sit
uation for them means increased pri-
vation. Without adequate food sup
ply no European population will con-
tinue to fight and we shall find our
selves alone against Germany.
'The Russian revolution was a
food riot, and even yet that ally is
temporarily paralyzed."
Turning to domestic conditions,
Mr.. Hoover said this country has
been experiencing unprecedented
prices and rampant speculation" and
cited how middlemen and other per-
sons in the distribution process have
been purchasing increasing supplies
to avert individual shortages.
Mr.. Hoover cited the canning
trade as an example of where the en-
tire output of vegetables and fish for
1917 has been disposed of already,
before it has even reached the can
merry. He predicted further high
prices.
Thousands of men," he said,
"who hitherto have not owned dol
lars worth of food supplies are now
speculating. The average price in
countries where food control is in
effect is lower than in the United
States. In England the price Of
bread is even 25 per cent. below the
price we pay. believe that unless
some administration Of our food is
taken, we will look back at these
prices as being moderate"
Disclaiming entirely that the, bill
set up q food dictatorship, Mr.. Hoo
yer told senators its purposes were to
organize the resources Of the. coun-
try and the people themselves into
food administration to limit middle
mems commission and prevention
of extortion.
with righteous manufacturers
and distributors" he said, ''the price
of -four should not have been over
50 barrel, yet it averages $14. In
the last five months $3.50, ,000, 900 has
been made in excess of normal prof
its.''
Not single national trade asso-
.ciation. Mr.. Hoover told the sena-.
tors. is opposed to the food control
bill. The prospective food admins
traitor went to the senate today to
explain the bill in the hope Of allay-
ing opposition. 4 f{5gsgg .s. !
a d. Provision for the government to-
buy and sell q commodity will be
used as to q very few crime commo-
dities, I" Mr.. Hoover said. The aim
IL to stabilize prices and thus elm
mate speculation. The balance wheel
for stablizing OF prices iss gone. We
need an artificial balance wheel. BY
setting : wheat commissio on. We can
buy wheat, regulate Ill storage and
transportation and handle it until
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