Connecticut western news., 1917-06-14
LABOR LEADERS
 URGE FOOD BILL
Ask President to HaV0 Ii Speedsd Through Congress.
TELL OF GRAVE SITUATION.

Need of Regulation Shown by Bread
 Prices Here and In Canada, They Say.
 Point Out Dangers of Wage Earners'
 Unrest In U. S. Unless Spectators
 Greed Is Curbed Promptly.
 Forty labor leaders, headed by Sam uel Gompers, president of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, had confer ence with President Wilson in the White House. They asked these things:
 First.-That President Wilson either go before congress or summon congress leaders to him to urge the immediate passage of the food bills.
 Second.-That the food bills be passed by July II.
 Third.-That the president and Her bert c. Hoover receive the power to handle the food situation themselves.
 The labor men told the president that while the lost of living has advanced beyond all reason wages have remained the same. They maintain that as result many workingmen actually are suffering from under nourishment. They made yelled prediction that un- less the president was able to bring about changes in the conditions wide spread discontent might follow.
 President In Accord.
 President Wilson. while he gave no indication of his probable course told the delegation he was in entire accord with them. He said he believed con- gress at the earliest moment would act to clothe MT. Hoover with the author ity he needs. MT. Hoover called at the White House prior to the visit of the labor men to confer with the president on some of the details of administra- ton of his office. -.
 "In the half hour we had" said MT. Gompers, i've tried to present our views on this question. We think that as a patriotic duty and an act of patriotism the people of this country should urge congress to pass this legis- lation. The laboring men of the Unit ed States think that in view of the ex- traordinary emergency and the unpre- cedented rise in the cost of living con- gress ought to grant to the president and to Mr. Hoover the power to deal
 
 this food bill should be made law be- fore the 1st of July, as the new con tracts are made at that time and the first crops will begin 10 move. We want action before the country shall write too late
 "As an instance of what regulation will do the bakers of Detroit are sell ing a loaf of bread in Detroit for 13 cents. These same bakers are selling the same bread across the line in Windsor, Canada, for 9 cents. Canada has regulation; we have none. MT. Sullivan, a member of this delegation, who has just returned from Europe. brings information that in France and Belgium larger and better loaf of bread is sold for less money than right here in the United States"
 Food Control Bill Reported.
 The food dictatorship bill has been favorably reported to the house. Un- der it's wording President Wilson is given practically unlimited power.
 He is authorized to create any agen- cies necessary to carry out the law. This means that if the bill is success ful Herbert c. Hoover will be the real food dictator of the country. The pres ident is empowered to-
 Prohibit the operation of exchanges or boards of trade or to regulate their oper ation when they interfere with reasonable prices by speculation.
 Limit or stop entirely the use of food materials in the manufacture of alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages by proclamation. License the importation, manufacture, storage or distribution of any foods nec- essary to carry into effect legislation for conserving the food supply during the war. Stop any one except the producer or seller from engaging in food business without a license.
 Fix a minimum price when he thinks this necessary in order to insure produc- tion. An appropriation. of $150,00OOOO for this and other purposes is included. The committee struck out the idea of a maxi mum price.
 License the sale of fuel just as he may other commodities.
 Forbid hoarding by the penalty of fine of not more than 5000 or Imprisonment for not more than two years.