The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-05-24
HOOVER IS NAMED
FOOD CONTROLLER
President Appoints Expert as
! Head OF War Body.
BUSINESS MEN ON BOARD
Wilson Declares New official Accepted
Position Provided That He Serve
Without Pay-Is Given
Wide Power. E

| Wilson has asked Herbert G. Hoover,
the American director Of Belgian re-
lief, to undertake the emergency food
| administration of the country during
the war. Mr.. Hoover has accepted on
condition that he may serve the nation
without compensation. ~
Authority for the appointment of Mr..
Hoover as food controller is provided
In the bill now pending in congress.
| Until 1t is passed nothing definite can
be done. The president, however, clear
ly outlined his desires in a statement
issued on the subject.
Business Men on Board.
Control of food products by board
independent of the department of agri-
culture is proposed In order that there
may be no fear of the possibility of q
permanent bureauracy arising out of
it." the president said.
In this connection it became known
that Mr.. Hoover, before the house com
mittec on agriculture last week, urged
that ain Independent board of business
men be organized to undertake the
task of food administration, his sugges-
ton being that If extreme dictatorlal
power be lodged in u government de-
partment Their might be danger of es-
tablishment Of bureaucratic power.
Presidents Statement.
The presidents statement in part Is
as follows:
ut Is very desirable in order to pre-
vent misunderstanding or alarms and
to assure cooperation In n vital Ipatter
that the country should understand
exactly the scope and purpose of the
very great powers which have
thought it necessary in the circum-
stances to ask the congress to put in
my hands with regard to our food sup
plies.
"ThoSe powers are very great indeed.
They are Intended to benefit and assist
the farmer and all those who play a
legitimate part in the preparation, dis
tribution and marketing of foodstuffs.
Duties to Be Performed.
at Is proposed to draw a sharp line
of distinction between the normal ac.
tivities of the government represented
in the department of agriculture in ref
erence to food production, conservation
and marketing on the one hand and
the emergency activities necessitated
by the war in reference to the regula-
ton of food distribution and con
sumption on the other
"All measures Intended directly to
extend the normal activities of the de-
partment of agriculture, in reference
to the production, conservation and the
marketing of farm crops, will be adj.
miniStered, as in normal timrS, through
that department, and the powers asked
for ovcrdistributiOn and consumption
overcXpOrts, imports, prices, purchase
and rcquisition of commodities, storing
and Tic like which may require regu.
lation during the war will be placed In
the hands of d commissioner of food
administration appointed by file presi.
dent and directly responsible to him.
1 " objects to Be Served. -.
f'"The objects sought TO be served by
the legislation asked for are: Full in.
quiry into the existing available stocks
of fOodstuffs and into the costs and
practices of the various fo0d-producing
and distributing trades; the prevention
of all unwarranted boarding of every
Kind aid of the control of the food.
sttiffs by persons who are not in any
legitimate sense producers, dealers or
traders; the requisitioning when nee.
tssary for the public use of food sup.
plies and Of the equipment necessary
for handling them properly: the licens.
ing Of wholesome and legitimate mix.
tiires anu milling percentages, and the
prohibition Of the Unnecessary or
wasteful use OF foods. ~
Authority is also asked to eStaD-
fish prices--but not in order to limit
the profits of the farmers, but only
to guarantee to them when neces-
sary minimum price which will
insure them profit where they are
asked to attempt sew crops, and to
secure the consumer against eX-
tortion by breaking up corners and
attempts at speculation when they
occur by fixing temporarily a rea-
sonable price at which middlemen
must sell.
~ have asked Mr.. Hoover to I'M
dertake this all-important task Of food
1 administration. He has expressed his
willingness to do so on condition that
he is to receive no payment for his
services and that the whole of the
| force under him, exclusive of clerical
assistance, shall be employed so far
| as possible upon the same volunteer
basis. He has. expressed his conf
dence that this difficult matter OF food
administration can be successfully nc
complished through the voluntary CO.
operation and direction of legitimate
distributors of foodstuffs and with the
help Of the women of the country.
Hopes for Cooperation.
Although II is absolutely necessary
that unluestionable powers shall be
placed in my hands in order to insure
the success OF this administration OF
the food supplies OF the country ann
+, canGtlenf fl,atf fha exAr4.ike ~ fhos,,,