Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-06-27
BEING MUIATED OF MILLIONS.
People OF United States Victims Of
Work OF Food HOarylcrs.

| aSnlngtOn, June 20.-BOth
Houses of Congress went at the food
bill again yesterday with the opposi-
ton lighting at every turn and the
administration leaders pushing It
! hard
Before the Senate session began,
Herbert G. Hoover faced a cross-fire
Of attack from Senators who oppose
it, at a four-hour conference arrang-
ed SO he could explain the purposes
OF the bill.
The Senate resumed consideration
OF the bill with its supporters defend
ing its constitutionality.
In the House the debate wandered
off the subject and into conscription,
the last Presidential campaign and
few other unrelated subjects.
Rich Toll for Spectators.
| Food spectators have been taking
| $50, 100000 a month for the last five
months-a total Of Qaurter Of
billion dollars-from the American
people, Herbert G.. Hoover told Sen
ators In explaining the purposes of
the food control bill now before Con-
| gress.
Disclaiming entirely that the bill
sets up food dictatorship, Mr.. Hoo
yer told Senator's its purposes were
entirely to organize the resources Of
the country and the people them
| selves into food administration, to
| limit middlemen's commissions and
prevent extortion.
"With righteous manufacturers
and distributors prices" he said,
1.-The price Of -four should not have
been over 50 barrel. Yet it aver
ages $l4. In the last five months
$3.50, 100000 has been extracted
from the American consumer in eX-
! cess Of normal profits Of manufactu-
rers and distributors"
| Not single national trade associ-
alton, Hoover told the Senators, Is
| opposed to the food control bill. The
| prospective food administration went
to the Capitol early to-day to explain
! the bill informally to Senators in the
hope that full understanding Of it's
| objects and purposes may allay some
Of the opposition.
Mr.. Hoover outlined broadly the
question Of prospective food supplies.
"rhe real question:" he said in a
prepared statement, is whether the
! shortage will continue next year, and
what will be the needs of the allies
and America. Despite the reduced
consumption Of the allies, they will
require larger amount Of cereals
, next year than ever before. The,,sN
lies are more isolated in food re-
sources.
Allies Dependent on America.
"The allies are dependent upon
North America for the vast majority
Of their food imports. We should be
able to supply 60 per cent of what
| they require. The other 40 per cent
! must be made up by further denial
on their part and saving on ours.
Without an adequate food supply no
European population will continue to
fight and we shall find ourselves
| alone against Germany.
THE Russian revolution was a
food riot, and even yet this ally Is
temporarily paralyZed. Responsible
ity rests on our government for fail
ure of democracy through a shortage
Of food"
Turning to domestic conditions,
Mr.. Hoover said this country has
been experiencing unprecedented
prices and rampant speculation" cit
ing how middlemen and all other per-
sons in the distribution processes
have been purchasing increased sup
plies to avert individual shortages.
"The average prices to the consum-
ers in countries where food admins
tration Is now in effect are lower
than those now prevailing in the Uni
! ted States," he said. "In England
| the price Of bread is even 25 per cent
below the price we pay
Mr.. Hoover denied that the bill es-
tablishes food dictatorship. lie
characterized the purposes Of food
administration as to mobilize the
people in order to carry out the ad-
vice given them by the government
officials and to decentralize the func-
tions OF the administration in order
to ccntraliZe the functions Of the
| States.