The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-13
GOVERNMENT. FOOD CONTROL.
PRESIDENT WILL SIGN EXECU-
TIVE ORDER REQUIRING DIS
TRIBUTION UNDER
LICENSE.
Regulations to BE Prescribed ut Once
for Meat Packers, Cold Storage
uiouses, Millers, Gamers, Grain
Dealers and Big Wholesale Dealers
and Retailers.

WaoHiiiStoH, OCt. D lftually all
the staple foods consumed by the
American people will be put under
government control November /. The
food administration announced to-
night that within a few days President
Wilson will issue an executive order
requiring that manufacturers and
distributors OF some 20 Fundamental
foods operate under license restrictions
designed to prevent unreasonable
profits and to stop speculation and
boarding.
Regulations will be prescribed for
meat packers. cold storage houses,
millers, Gamers, elevators, grain deal
ers and wholesale dealers and retailers
doing a business Of more than $780,
600 annually in the commodities to be
named.
THE prime purpose OF the food ad-
ministration," the announcement said,
lis to protect the patriot against the
Stacker in business 1t has generally
been recognized that the enormous
obligation imposed on the American
people to feed our soldiers at the front
and the allies creates disturbing fac
tor in trade which allows oppOrtunity
to few to impose burdens upon the
many and that it is of vital national
importance that such control should be
exerted as will remedy so far as may
be, the econmic disturbances incident
to the war;
nation has been delayed, the an
nouncement said, that the food admin
istration might complete conferences
with representatives of trade and pro
ducers and consumers. Already about
200 conferences have been held at
which were planned regulations and
constructive methods of control.
THE licensing provision in the food
BILL" the announcement continued, lis
limited in operation to the channels
Of trade which lies between the farm
ers on the one hand and the retailers
on the other, except as it extends to
those few retailers who do an annual
business Of more than 100000.
"The food administration has Sc
lected about 20 basic commodities and
their products as forming the prime
basis of life and has limited it's liccns-
ing control to these commodities and
also. in so far as practicable elimnat-
ed the smallest units of business i'm
these staples.
1T is the purpose of the food ad-
ministration to effect conservation in
the commercial use of these conlmodi-
ties and to keep them flowing toward
the consumers in direct lines through
the channels of trade in as economical
manner as possible.
THE producer must have free
outlet and a ready market
There must be no manipulation
of speculation in foods.
There must BIZ no boarding OF
foods.
Unfair or unreasonable profits must
be eliminated.
Discriminatory and deceptive and
wasteful practices which in any way
restrict supply or distribution must
be stopped.
These are the provisions of the
food law. The licensing system which
was authorized by the law provides
a more effective machinery for its en-
forcement. 1t must not be thought
that these operations become illegal
only upon the issue of licenses. They
have been illegal since the 10th OF
August when the law was passed and
numerous cases coming to the atten-
ton OF the food administration hav
been corrected.
THE proclamation will require all
those handling the commodities con-
cerned to apply for license Novem-
bcr /.
Applicants will receive licenses
without cost and the regulations gov
erning those dealing with the COM
modities licensed will be issued in due
course.
After November no unlicensed
persons will be permitted to trade in
the commodities enumerated in the
proclamation. Those who receive Il
censes will be required from time to
time to make reports to the food ad-
ministration on their activities in pre-
scribed form. These reports will be
carefully safcguardcd so that private
Information given to the government
al