The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-19
Hoover Outlines Food Admins
tratiOn Plan to Senators.
Necessities Cheaper in Europe
Than in America.
SUPPLY ALREADY BOUGHT UP
For Instance, Entire Output of
Canneries Now Contracted For.
Design Is To Stabilize Prices,
Not Form Dictatorship.

| Washington, June 19.-Food specu-
/ lators have been taking $5O,000,o0O a.
month for the last five months-a to-
: tai of a quarter of billion dollars
from the American people, Herbert c.
Hoover today told senators in explain
ing the purposes of the food control
! bill now before congress.
! Mr. Hoover outlined prospective4
/ food supplies 4
! The real question:" he said in a.
prepared statement. preliminary to
senatorial questioning, lis whether the
shortage will continue next year and
what will be the needs of the allies
and America. Despite the reduced
consumption of the allies they will re-
quire a larger amount of cereals next
year than ever. The allies are more
: isolated in food sources. 1t takes
three times the tonnage and double
the trouble to get Australian wheat.
Crop failures in Argentina give no
hope of relief from there before next
spring.
/ go Per Cent of Allies Needs.
THE allies are dependent on North
America for most of their food inn
ports. We should be able to supply
go per cent of what they require. The
other 40 per cent must be made up by
further denial on their part and saw
ing on our service can increase our
surplus. The situation for them next
year means increased priYations
Without an adequate food supply no
European population will continue to
fight and we shall find ourselves alone
against Germany.
The Russian revolution was a food
! riot and even yet that ally is tempo-
rarily paralyzed. Responsibility rests
on our government for failure of de-
mocracy thru a shortage of food
Turning to domestic conditions Mr.
Hoover said this country has been ex-
perienc1nS unprecedented prices arses
rampant speculation Citing how
middlemen and all other persons in
the distribution processes have been
purchasing increasing supplies to
avert individual shortages, Mr.. Hoover
cited the canning trade as an exam
pie where the entire output of vege-
tables and fish for 1917 has been dis
posed of already before it even has
reached the Gamers. He predicted
further high prices. Thousands of
men he said, who heretofore have
never owned a dollars worth of food
stuff now are specializing in neces-
stiles.
Bread Cheaper in England
! The average prices to the consltm-
ers in countries where food admins
trat1on s low in effect are lower than
those in the United States.' he said
In England the price of bread is
even rs per cent below the price we
pay L believe that unless some ad-
ministratlon of our food is taken we
VIII look back at these prices as being
moderate
Mr.. Hoover denied that .he bill es-
tabl1shes a food dictatorship. He
characterized the purpose of food ad-
mlnlstration as to mobilize the people
IN order to carry out the advice Civ
en- by the government officials and r.
decentralize the functions of the adj
mlnlStrarCn in order to centralize the
, iunctloas or the food administration.
IN the various states. A commission
to take charge of production and dis
tribution of flour, sugar and nossibIx
Few other principal commodities
, ed. f
5 provisions for the government tc
! puy and sell commodities, will be nee.
I essary for use only as to a verv few
prime commodities he said. The
S ann is to stabilize prices and thu.
eliminate speculation. The balance
Wheei for stabilizing prices is gone
= We need an artificial balance wheel
e by setting up wheat commission we
: can buy wheat, regulate its storage
and transportation and handle it un
exported or sold in this country If we
. do not do this wheat prices NAV re
,, lapse on account of our not being abI,
. to store and carry it, with Spectator.
f securing the sole benefit and farmer
:. bearing the loss
Must Eliminate Nfiddleman.
g Disclaiming entirely that the bill
Il sets up food dictatorship Mr.. Hoov
= er told senators its purposes were I,
IT organize the resources of the countr,
and the people themselves into a foo
administration to limit middlemen'
commissions and prevent extortion.
with righteous manufa cturers an,
distributors" he said. the price o
Ii flour should not have been over 50
barrel. Yet it averages $14. In tn
last five months $3.50, 100000 has beel
e extracted from the American consum
e err in excess of normal profits of man
ufacturers and distributors.
Not a single national trade asso
citation, Hoover told the seniors. i
opposed to the food control bill.
$50 Million to Purchase Food.
I'VE can contract tomorrow witt
Is the allies for certain return for ev
70 cry bushel of wheat we can sell. B
L. controlling prices at interior terminal
lie we can assure millers their supple
1t and simplify transportation" Hoove
Or said.
Ie AS to sugar, Mr.. Hoover sal
n American Iefiners are competing wit
1t the allies in Cuba and that the pro
posed sugar commission would &C
l. operate with the allied purchasers, tn
ly American refinerS and Cuban pro
ID ducers, stabilizing and reducing price
l. as well removing speculative in
centives. The proposed appropriate
e, of $3.50, 100000 for government pur
d might prove too small but is needle
for banking facilities.
re Chairman Gore of the agricultur
fCoDfinued on Page Two