Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-03-02
FOOD MEN OFFER
TO REDUCE PRICES?
REDUcED SCALE SAID TO HAVE
BEEN PROPOSED eV WILSON.
EMBARGO AsKEDINCONGREss
Rep. Bailey, Of Ohio. Would Prohibit
Expectations Of Food Products
Wilson Sees Relief in Trade
Board.

Washington, Feb. 23--An embargo
on the expectation Of food products
and other necessities OF life is asked
Tor in n resolution introduced in the
house by Representative Bailey Of
Pennsylvania.
The resolution stntes:
''It is currently reported that the
agents Of the warning powers abroad
have contracted for practically all the
available food products In the country
for year to come. prices in conse-
Quence having advanced to the do
nestle consumer In an alarming meas
ure."
Representative Bailey's resolution
Is expected to precipitate a Lively
fight.
Congress Alarmed.
The president and congress are
now both wide-awake to the exceed
ingly serious problems Of the food
situation.
The New York bread riots and con-
dltlons In Chicago and elsewhere have
qulckened the government to energy
and action.
The president is concentrating his
efforts for relief upon the federal
trade commission. which he appointed
In part for that purpose. and for
which he has asked an appropriation
OF 100000.
MonopoIists Ask Pact.
Alarmed by the national awaken
ing and the threat of most vigorous
Legislation, the food mOnopolists have
proposed to the president n reduced
scale Of prices to be established after
consultation with the government.
Such prices are 10 apply only to
great food commodities, such as bread,
potatoes cereals and such meats as
can be put upon a reasonable list.
Prices upon these will be reduced
rs low as conditions will permit,
with a reasonable profit to the seller.
It Is understood these prices Will
mot return at once to the status Of
two years ago. but that they will be
much lower than they are now Is
certain.
Can Force Others.
The agencies In conference with the
government do not represent all dis
tributors, but they control large guam
titles OF food.
II is believed by government on
lcinls the agreement reached with them
can be forced upon other dealers.
Pending the consultation the admin
istration has asked congress to with
hold legislation which may compllcate
the movement now on foot.
n negotiations fail congress will not
only be let loose but stimulated by
executive cooperation.
Pins Hope on Trade Board.
President Wilson is stalking his
hopes for permanent relief on the fed
eral trade commission. He Is insist
ing on the appropriation of 100000
FOR the commissions Investigation and
viii press It on congress.
Congressman Borland Of Missouri,
Kent OF California. Nelson Of wIscon-
sin, Lever Of South Carolina, Ander-
son of Minnesota, Mondell OF Wyoming.
Lenrott Of Wisconsin, Stephens of Ne
braska and Garner Of Texas In a for
NAL circular appealed for early ap-
proval OF the appropriation.
Representative Meyer London, So
ciaIlst Of New York. introduced q bill
20 create an emergency fund commits
aion to be composed Of the secretaries
OF agriculture, commerce and labor,
with a fund Of $a000,000 at their dis
posal, to purchase food establish dis
tribution centers and sell food at rea.
sonable prices.
Bailey Asks Export Embargo.
Representative Worth Bailey OF
Pennsylvania presented resolution
asking an embargo on the expectation
OF food so that the starving people In
New York and other cities may know
their president and congress are sym
pathetic.
One hundred and sixty-five thousand
freight cars stand in terminals east
Of the Mississippi river, blocking traffic
IN foodstuffs with eastern markets.
In moving freight In the unprece
dented method just devised by the com
mission and the associated railroad,
the commission is proceeding withou
legal authority. This may be overcom,
n bill recently recommended to th,
senate is adopted.
The indirect control Of the govern
ment is through the ear service com
mittee Of the American railway com
mission. The committee is maintain
ing offices and employees here, tele
graphing orders to the various rail