Omaha daily bee., 1917-10-20
H0ARDERS OF FOOD
WILL Be PUNISHED
Government Will Revoke Ii
censes if Law is Violated,
Hoover Informs Wattles
In Instructions.

Licenses of dealers in foodstuffs
will be revoked by the government if
it is shown that the dealer is guilty
of unreasonable boarding. ..-
Federal Food Administrator Hoov-
er has telegi aphed State Food Admin
istrator Wattles instructions on this
subject as follows:
"You have already received Presi-
dent Wilson's proclamation putting
many food commodities under license,
effective November L. Every person
subject to license must Immediately
obtain and fill out completely appli-
catien~ blank, which will>6e furnished
only by license division of United
States food administrations, Washing
ton, together with full instructions on
how to fill out. Advise every one who
asks, you to write dIectly to license
division and refer all letters addessed
to you in regard to obtaining license
or applications to license division. The
proclamation itself is a guide as to
who is included. For the present, ho-
tells, restaurants, confectioners, ice
cream manufacturers and bakers. will
not be asked to secure license. Any
doubtful questions in regard to this
matter or exemptions should be re-
ferred to license division for decision
so that practice will be uniform. If
licenses are not received by any ap-
plicant before November | he is to
conduct this business in a normal and
proper manner A single company
requires only one license and applica-
ton bank no matter how many
branches it has, provided they are con-
Quoted under same name. If business
is carried on N different names or by
subsidiary corporations they must
each have license. Rules and regula-
ton have been prepared aud will be
ready to be sent out with the licenses
before November |. These rules are
based on three fundamental principles.
First, TO limit all profits to nor
NAL amount which the licensees OBJ
tanned i'll ordinary years. Even If a
shortage becomes apparent the conf
modify must still pass to the con-
sumner at same reasonable price as
though there was sufficient supply. In
nonperishable products every licensee
will be required to sell at reasonable
advance over cost of particular goods
sold without regard to market price
when sold.
Second, to keep all food commedi-
ties i'll direct line and with as little
delayA as possible from producer to
consumer and discourage speculation
and resales within a trade. In case
OF all products except cottonseed,
fresh fruit and vegetables, cold >stor-
age products, canned goods and dried
fruit no licensee will be allowed to
hold or contract for more than sixty,
days supply at one time. This is
supplemented by more stringent spe-
cial rules in some industries and any
unreasonable boarding will be cause
for repek:ng the license.
Third, > to limit rs far as practical
bic contracts for future delivery and
dealings in future contracts Except
in commodities mentioned above con-
tracts for delivery more than forty
five days in advance are forbidden and
some special regulations prescribe
shorter time. Also licensees will be
required to give food administration
at Washington monthly sworn re-
ports of their business and their
books must always be open to in
spection. \ Tell every dealer who in
quires to conduct his business with
these three principles in mind.
"The regulations do not attempt to
change in any way the customary
channels of business or eliminate
dealers who have an established chan
mel of Distribution. When regulations
are sent out the plans of food admin
istration in regard to their admins
tration and enforcement will be sent
you. You will also be furnished with
lists o. all licensees in your district
and yoQ will be furnished with tabu-
lated summary of monthly sworn
statements which will be required un-
der the regulations and you will be
expected to see that rules and regu-
lations are complied with. We will
forward you information we receive
upon violation, etc. We, are mailing
today specimen license application
and will send shortly specimen Ii
cense and copies of regulations"