Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-06-29
THE PROPOSED FOOD
PRODUCTION BILL AND
FooD-CoNTROL MEASURE


ing statement:
Cooperating as We are with the
nations of Europe in the war against
the central powers. the task of main
tanning the subsistence of the allies
is at once political and moral obli-
cation and IA military necessity. Wal
is always destructive of production
and. in a peculiar sense, II is destruct-
i've of production OF foodstuffs, since
labor is one OF the chief factors in
the cultivation OF the soil, In adj
ditlon. the wheat crop in practically
the entire world has suffered seri-
Gus reduction during the past year,
and the prospects for the coming
year promise little or no increase i'll
the production of this essential
cereal
One of two courses lies open to
our Government The first is TO con
tinue as We are doing at present;
that is, to permit unhampered the
abnormal operations of trade, rend-
cred all the more abnormal because
of the needs of the allies for food
stuffs from this country, The second
plan consists in the regulation or
control of our foodstuffs, to the
double end of maintenance of the
subsistence of the allies and the pro-
lection of the food needs and COM
mercial interests of our own people.
Two bills have been under consid-
GRAFTON in Congress which provide
for systematic developm ent of our
productive forces and an adequate
control of distribution and consump-
ton, to the end OF conserving for
ourselves and for the allies the food
stuffs provided through the stimula-
ton OF agriculture.
The two bills. know as the food
production bill' Oh. r. 1889, and
the "food-control bin Oh r. 4630)
are designed to place in the hands of
the administration emergency power
and funds adequate to accomplish
the necessary ends. The production
bill provides for the extension of the
normal activities of the defartment
with view further to stimulate the
production and to conserve the sup
ply of foodstuffs. The bill is framed
as a war measure, 1t authorizes the
Secretary of Agriculture to make a
survey of the food supply of the ma
ton, in order to secure full and ac-
curate information regarding its
quality, location and ownership,
as Well as knowledge of the instru-
mentalities or agencies that own
control, manufacture, and distribute
food products. Authoritative infor-
nation as to the supply of food avail
able IN the United States always is
OF the highest importance. 1t is i'm
perative in the existing emergency,
when soaring prices create unusual
motives for manipulation specula-
ton, and boarding, Intelligent in
crease OF production and equitable
distribution depend upon thorough
and reliable knowledge of the food
supply. This survey can be quickly
made. 1t will probably be followed
by monthly reports. If the war lasts,
further survey may be made after
an interval of five or six months. All
this work, il is contemplated, can be
done for 100000 or 100000.
The bill also authorizes the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture, in case of special
need in restricted areas, to purchase,
grow, or otherwise procure seeds for
the production of food or feed crops,
TO store them; and to furnish them
TO farmers on credit or other terms
at cost Power also is given to requi-
sitlon such seeds and to fix a reason
able price 10 be paid for them by
the government, such price to be
S1DJCNi " ItNltM DS the courts.
These new powers are required by
the Department OF Agriculture to
meet special emergency needs that
may arise on account of adverse CON
ditions, such as storms, plant dis
eases, or insect injury, in order that
production may be maintained at a
high level, 1t is also necessary to
protect the seed reserve from use or
depletion for industrial or consumpt-
i've purposes.
Provision is made for the enlarge
ment OF the cooperative agricultural
extension forces. 1t is proposed to
place at least one county agent in
every rural county OF the nation and
also further to develop the extension
work for women. AT present only
about 1900 counties out of 2S5O
rural counties are provided with
county agents. The remaining pro.