Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-06-29
SENATE COMMITTEE IN
NEW TACK TO SAVE
LESSER EVILS"
PLAN A HIGH TAX
MOVE NOW AFooT TO MAKE
USE OF FOODS IN ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES ALMOST PRoHisi-
TIVE.

- 1--WE.
Washington, D. c.. June 2s.--Out OF
the see-sawing and jockeying over the
liquor question In the Senate pro-
posal was launched today with the
| backing of the finance committee, to
strike all dry provisions from the
| food control bill and meet the prohi-
btion problem with an amendment
to the revenue bill, placing prohib-
tive tax upon the further use OF food
stuffs in distillation of whisksy.
The committee already has 6 ne on
record in favor of prohibsion tax
on whiskey making Believing that
prohibition in some form Is certain 70
be enacted by Congress, the commit
tee members are going to urge their
plan as a substitute promising min
imum of economic and industrial dis
turbance.
The committee has been studying
the economical problems Of the war
with great thoroughness In daily ses-
sions for the six weeks and has come
to the conclusion that the cessation
OF all manufacture of all alcoholic bev-
} erages including beer and wine would
require so much re-adjustmen., es3ec-
tally in financial matters, that the
4 energy and industry of the nation
7 would be seriously weakened for
4 number of months.
!. 'The Senate today was to he called
s upon TO dispose of Senator Hard
w:ck's motion to recomnit The food
l. bill on constitutional grounds. The
Il vote on this motion will not be re-
It garded as strict test Of wet and
/. dry strength since the prohibition
IS question Is not Involved
g Foods on Slump.
y Washington, June 29.--While the
u Senate muddes over the prohibition
I issue injected into the food control
" bill, advices today from all over the
q country indicate that the ancient law
!. of supply and demand Is bringing the
u prices down on foodstuffs Unless all
signs fail fany food spectators will
!. lose heavily, as a result of their ef-
u fort to corner all food crops. Pota-
10 toes, which fortnight ago were sky
- high, are dropping fast So are onions
and like staples. And only the early
crop Is in sight as yet
Nha,t aud ,ybnnt Hou, mill not Irnr
until the government takes over the
I distribution problem. But wheat Is
about the only staple occupying that
v position, And the reports available
" here indicate that the spring wheat
Y crop will be better than was expected
c a few weeks ago Corn and corn pro-
le ducts and rye and barley promise
id bumper production despite the handi-
capp of late spring everywhere. And
e the intensive cultivation of vegetables
t. in every section OF the country will
O. keep these prices down.
b. Prices for potatoes in the wholesale
markets in the east have been cut In
C. two in the last few days. The south
st ern crop has not all been sold as yet,
tn while the biggest crop of early pota-
n. toes ever raised is reported from the
Ie Carolina and eastern shore fields. The
is truck growers of the eastern shore
n. who are a remarkable close corpora
n, ton have suspended harvesting fol
er a week. More than 1,00G Boy Scouts
who went there to harvest the crops
be now are returning to their homes in
rs. Virginia and this city
or Should the crops be marketed AZ
they mature officials connected with
the food administration say that the
prices must come down 10 reason
able level And these officials believe
IT that the crops VIII be 50 large that Il
- Will be impossible to hold them be
cause of lack Of storage PLACES The
nj storage warehouses of the nation. es
cir peeialIy those in the middle west al
OF ready are filed Under the food con
er' troll bill II will be possible to force ths
es' emptyinp Of these storage places ant
ct' this also viii aid in bringing prices
re down to a reasonable level
W. Regarding reports that the govern
ment had perfected its plans Tor th'
ire marketing Of wheat, Food Directo
'si Herbert c, Hoover. said today tha
De- these plans are tentative only He ex
III pressed regret that any statement
ei dealing with the situation had beef
'he issued. declaring that radical change
!. yet may have 10 be made in all plans
an It is expected that the department 0
TN commerce action under an executive
'lh order by the President, viii take owe
'ie' the licensing of all wheat exports
This will permit this government Z
ration It's friends and prevent food
stuffs reaching It's enemies. Neat
ore trails viii get only sufficient for thel