The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-06-01
SOME HIGH PRICES
ARE NOT DEFENDED.

High prices for fruits and vege-
tables cannot be defended on the ground
Of a supply shortage, in the opinion of
the agricultural department, which
announced that detailed department
figures show shortage only in old po-
tatoes and Strawberries.
Shipments of potatoes. onions, to-
matoes, cabbage, lettuce and celery
during the last week, said the an
nouncement. were at least equal to
those year ago when prices were
much lower. Twice as many bushels
Of new potatoes and tomatoes and near
ly seven times as much lettuce as dur:
ing the corresponding week last year
were handled from the producing fields.
Shipments of old potatoes were
given as considerably lighter than
last year and shipments of strawber-
ries approximately one third less.
Cold storage holdings of creamery but
ter on May Is amounted to 6.23y,7
pounds and of eggs 3,s69, $50 cases.
Holdings of butter increased about
67.S per cent from May ].
The second of the administrations
food bills, revised to create an emergen-
cy agency to control, under the Pres.
direction, distribution and sales of the
necessaries of life, was introduced in
the house today by Chairman Lever
of the agricultural committee. The
first bill aims at stimulation of pro-
duction and calls for a general survey
of the country's food resources.
The regulatory measure was redrawn
after Pres. Wilson had held ser les Of
conferences with Herbert C. Hoover,
who is to be food administrator under
the bill, and with Sec. Houston and
members of the agriculture committee
of both houses. 1t places the widest
powers of control over necessaries of
all kinds, including price fixing in the
hands of the executive. The measure
classes specifically as necessaries food,
feeds, shoes, clothing and fuel.
Briefly the measure would do these
things: 81
Declare the production, manufacture,
storage. distribution and sale of
necessaries to be affected with public
interest.
Make it unlawful to commit or per-
NIT preventable waste or deterioration
of necessaries; to restrict supply or
distribution or to enhance prices to ex-
cessive level.
Authorize the president to establish
standards and grades of food to estab-
lish their quality and value.
Authorize the president to prevent
boarding, monopolizing or the exaction
of excessive profits by having the
government either manufacture or
deal in necessaries; authorize the TAX
ing over of factories or plants for.
government operation If necessary to
provide proper distribution at fair
prices.
Authorize the president to pres cribe
rules for the conduct of exchanges and
boards Of trade or to prohibit entirely
their operations il in the public inter-
est.
Authorize the fixing Of minimum
prices to-the producer to stimulate pro-
duction; authorize import duties if i'm
portations threaten operation Of guar
anteed minimum prices; authorize
purchase by the American government
at the prescribed minimum prices sup
plies for the allies of the United
States.
Establishment by the president of
maximum prices to break food cor
ners or to prevent boarding and specul-
alton.
Authorize the changing of milling
grades or the mixing of grains in max
ing flour.
Authorize the president to prescribe
restrictions on the use of foodstuffs in
the manufacture Of alcoholic liquors.
The measure is based on the war
powers of congress and. operates
throughout the country irrespective
Of state lines