The Daily Missoulian., 1917-08-12
FOOD CONTROL BILL
FIXES WHEAT Price
Big Appropriation Made for
Administration of Fed
eral Commission.
LIQUOR BUSINESS HIT
Will License All Agencies
Relating to Hoarding
of Food Stuffs.

Washington, Aug. .l1.-The food
control bill establishes. during the war.
broad government control over foods.
feeds. fuel, fuel oils. natural gas. fer
tilizer and its ingredients. tools, uten-
sils and equipment required for the
actual production OF all such products.
designated "necessaries"
In establishing government control.
the bill authorizes the president to en-
ter into any voluntary arrangements.
create or use any agency or agencies.
to accept services Of any person with
out compensation, to cooperate with
any agency or person. to utilize any de-
partment or agency of the government
and to coordinate their activities.
Hoover Administrator.
In pursuance of such authorization.
President Wilson plans to appoint Her.
bert G. Hoover food administrator.
Control of other necessaries named
may be accomplished through other
agencies The house provision for an
individual food administrator was en-
acted only after the president had pre-
vailed upon the senate and house con-
ferees to eliminate a senate amend
mcnt. inserted by two overwhelming
votes of SO to 1a and 60 to 90, proposing
n board of food of three subject to
senate confirmation.
Comprehensive powers are given in
the bill, passed as war measure. to
assure adequate supply and equitable
distribution of the named necessartes,
10 facilitate their movement; to pre-
vent locally and generally. scarcity.
monopoly boarding. injurious specu-
lation. manipulation or private con-
troll affecting supply. distribution and
movement.
Minimum Wheat Price.
other provisions Of the bill FIX u
minimum price for wheat beginning
next year at not less than s. per
standard bushcl: provide for coal and
coke price fixing, communicating and
government operation OF factories and
mines producing necessaries: for gov
crnment purchase. sale and requisi-
tion of various necessaries, and for
federal licensing of agencies producing
and handling them.
The bill approrriates for fund OF
$l5O, ,00O. 900 to he used in its admins
tration and sl0,00O,00O for federal pur-
chase and sale at cost of fertilizer
@a ,,a, Liquor Clause.
The prohibition provisions COM
promise for bone dry" prohibition pro-,
posed by the house, prohibit manufac-
ture and importation of distilled lla-
uors for beverages during the war, au-
thorize the president to suspend manu-
facture of malt, fermentcd and vinous
liquors or to limit their alcoholic con-
tent and authorizes and directs the
president. in his discretion, to COM
mandcer distilled beverages in bond
or stock when necessary for re-dis-
iIiation into alcohol for military or
other public defense purposes or to
conserve for foodstuffs.
Congressional leaders understand the
president does not intend to comman
-icer distilled spirits or to curtail their
. consumption unless military exigen
cies require The so-called Smoot
amendment directing federal purchase
of-stlisti'led beverages in bond at cost
plus 10 per cent profit, was eliminated
:, Will Control Coal.
= Sweeping powers to- control coa
prices are also provided. The bill au-
thorizes the president through the
Federal Trade commission or other
agency. to fix coal and coke prices, al
the mines and among wholesalers anc
retailers to regulate method of sale
shipment aud distribution among the
dealers and consumers, and to requisl-
ton and operate mines or other coal
ing facilities
81 A. system of federal licensing of al