Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-11

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EVENTS OF A WEEK
The week has witnessed the passage of the two food
bills which have been under discussion in congress since
early in June. The one first introduced and first sent
to the conference committee was that to stimulate food
production and to provide for a food survey. That bill
has been awaiting final action on the food control bill,
which has been the cause of much controversy,
go = . 1870
The food control bill invests the president with ex-
traordinary powers. Under its provisions he is author
lied to appoint a food administrator who shall have
charge of the general operation of the law. He is en-
powered to buy various foods at reasonable prices and
to sell for cash to the allies of the United States. The
bill prohibits the use Of food articles for the distilla-
ton of liquors, forbids the Importation Of distilled
liquors; authorizes the president to commander all
stocks Of such liquors for rehabilitation, and authorizes
the president to prohibit or regulate the manufacture
OF malt and vinous liquors.
.
Contests developed over three features. These were
the creation Of a food administration board of three in
stead of one administrator as provided in the original
bill; the prohibition question; and the creation Of a con-
gresstonal committee on war expenditures. The bill as
1t passed the house contained very drastic prohibition
features which were rejected by the senate and greatly
modified In the committee report which has been adopt
ed. The senate amended the bill so as to provide for
the three-man food administration and for the "snoop-
ing committee" Both these amendments were eliminat-
ed by the conference committee. A further feature which
has been incorporated authorizes the president to guar
antee a price for wheat of not less than 81 per bushel
at the principal interior markets. this being intended to
apply especially to the 1918 CROP
While the bill is called a food control bill its pro-
visions apply also to fuel, fertilizer and some other
staples. The food administrator will be Herbert C..
GUM until the approach of American belligerency neces-
STATED his withdrawal Mr.. Hoover is credited with
great success in his work in Belgium, but bitter attacks
have been made on him In congress. These seem to
have been inspired chiefly by interests opposed to all
government supervision of food distribution, and the
same interests appear to have been active in causing
delay in the passage OF the bill.
.
Under the food survey bill. with its provisions for
the adoption of means to increase food production, a
careful analysis Of the entire food situation will be
made, and the government has now under way a propa-
ganda for the raising Of a billion bushel crop of wheat
next year.. At the beginning Of the war. efforts were
made to increase the wheat acreage this year, and credit
for such increases as were made has often been given
to government activity. AS a. matter of fact there APP
pears to be no good reason to suppose that government
activity had much to do with the matter. War became
a fact early in April of this year, a time when arrange
ments for wheat seeding were practically completed
The winter wheat crop was. Of course, beyond the infu-
ence Of legislation or suggestion as it had been planted
the fall before. In the spring wheat states the farmers
had in almost all cases reached the determination to
plant all the wheat possible because Of the very attrac-
tive price and the prospect for its continuance. The
chances are that just as much wheat would have been
grown this year had the government remained silent or
the subject.
Observation-Disclosures 9ASE ~ - ~ d @ y HaE9E%#E@0a#Z3
The situation as 1t relates to next years crop is en-
tireIy different. It should be possible now to set at worl
in ample time all the influences tending toward greater
production for next year. These will necessarily include
not merely appeals to farmers. but practical and ss
teInatic work to remove all obstacles from. and to en-.
courage planting. Machinery must be made available
Seed must be supplied where there is a lack Of it. Labor
must be provided. And whatever capital is needed f0
the work must be made available.
ss > :
The selection OF men for the national army unde,
the draft law is under way, and the boards have ha6
their hands full during the week. It appears that thu
number of exemptions on account OF physical unftness
is to- be large, and avery large number Of exemption
claims have been filed. The boards viii have q dimcul
time wedding these out, and separating those which arr
based on proper grounds from those which are not. Tho
authorities are facing q serious problem. as on the one
hand prompt action lis needed, and on the other TIL,
number OF persons whose claims are to be examined il
80 large that the work cannot be performed promptly
and effectively getty by The force supplied
$500 #N
Announcement has been made of those who vii
be called to Join THE Instruction groups III the officers
training camps which are to- be opened for the second
class within q short time. North Dakota win send III
men to the camp At Fort Smelling, and OF these twelve
will go from Grand Forks. These men, like those 81
thes first camps. viii be put through q severe course 81
training and those who demonstrates fitness for HE work
will be commissioned as Officers In the new arms. Tie
training at these camps is intensive, and every sf1or,
e made to select the best material possible, 81 upon
the e6iciency of the officers depends tie eficiency 81
the entire army.
cali has already been issued tor 100000 men ID
the drafted army To be ready for service BY September
IS This y approximately ons-fhlrd of the entirs mum.
her 70 be called. or The number to be supplied ~ crane
5Nerka county 71swi1l 3D. forward uuaer this 1sst cali
These With tho ct1ter drafted troops from This ntaxe
Will 80 ~ ths canzonueat now being prepared at Ie.
Moinea. Ioaa- ras understandable Is that ne NORTH
Dakota National Guard regiments FMi ~ into TRAINING
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