Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-23
Senate Agricultural Commit
tee Reports Redrafted Bill
Designed to Encourage
Greater Production.
MAKES PROVISION FOR
NATIONAL FOOD SURVEY
Measure, Which viii Fix Prices
ard Regulate Grain E..
changes, Probably viii Be
Introduced Friday.
rsy MORNING Joues.L SPECIAL LEASED w,ssi

fBN MORNING JoufEAL SPECIAL LEASED WiREl
Washington, May 22.--The second
OF the administration food bills, re-
vised to create an emergency agency
to control under the presidents di-
rection distribution and sale of the
necessaries Of life, was introduced in
the house today by Chairman Lever
of the agriculture committee. The
first bill aims at stimulation of pro-
duction and calls for a general sur
vey of the country's food resources.
The regulatory measure was re-
drawn after President Wilson had
held a series of conferences with Her
bert c. Hoover, who is to be food ad-
ministrator under the bill, and with
Secretary Houston and members OF
the agriculture committees of both
houses. 1t places the widest powers
of control, including price-fixing over
necessaries of all kinds, in the hands
of the executive.
Consideration of the food measures
will be hurried as much as possible in
congress.
The legislation as now proposed by
the administration, Mr.. Hoover be-
lieves, will meet the food problem. He
issued this statement tonight regard
ing the second bill:
Statement by Hoover.
1.-THE bill covers very ably and in
telligently the powers necessary for
the president to possess in order to
set up a competent food administra-
tion. These powers combined with the
powes to embargo proposed in other
legislation should make it possible TO
eliminate boarding, speculation and
waste in distribution. They are more
moderate than those possessed by the
various European food ministries, but
with the good will and cooperation
of the distributing trades should make
success possible without in any man
ner being burdensome upon legitimate
trade"
The measure classes specifically as
necessaries. food, seeds, shoes, cloth
ing and fuel. In a statement outlin-
ing it's purposes Mr.. Lever said:
while the powers are sweeping,
they are flexible and to be used only
when the specifically prescribed con-
ditions have arisen requiring their ex-
istence In every instance in which
the bill itself does not specifically de-
fine the requirements affecting pri.
vate conduct the president must pre-
scribe these with precision and GER
tainty When property is authorized
to be taken by the government, just
compensation Is. provided for"
What Bill Purposes.
Briefly the measure would do these
things:
Declare the eproduction. manufac-
ture, storage, distribution and sale of
necessaries to be affected with a pub
lie interest.
Make it unlawful to commit or to
permit preventable waste or deteriora-
tion of necessaries; to restrict supply
Or distribution or to enhance prices
10 excessive levels.
Authorize the president to establish
standards and grades of foods to es-
tablsh their quality and value.
Authorize licensing of manufacture
ing, storage and distribution of foods
to prevent uneconomical manufacture
or inequitable distribution; empower
the president to direct the disposition
of boarded stocks.
Authorize the president to prevent
boarding, monopolization or the exac-
ton of excessive profits, by having
the government either manufacture or
deal in necessaries; authorize the TAX
ing over of factories or plants for
government operation II necessary to
provide proper distribution at fair
prices.
Authorization Broad.
Authorize the president to prescribe
rules for the conduct Of exchanges
and boards Of trade, or to prohibit en-
tirely their operations If in the public
interest.
Authorize the fixing of minimum
prices to the producer to stimulate
productions; authorize import duties u
importations threaten operation OF
guaranteed minimum prices: author
ize purchase by the American govern
ment at the prescribed minimum
prices supplies for the allies OF the
United States.
Establishment by the president of
milling grades or the mixing OF
grains in making flour.
Authorize the president to prescribe
restrictions on the use of feodstuffs
in the manufacture of alcoholic
alcoholic liquors.
The measure Is besad on the war
powers of congress and operates
throughout the country irrespective
of state lines