Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-24
Food Control Measure, as
Passed By Senate, Protects
Farmers d71d Consumer
BY RALPH SMITH

ate this afternoon, by vote of 81 to o.
The six senator's voting against the
bill were Hardwick and Reed, of MIS-
souri,, Democrats; Penrose, Denna
France. Maryland. Sutherland, West
Virginia, and Sherman, Illinois. Repub-
llicans.
The Georgia senators again divided
on the measure, as they have on several
bills pertaining to the war. Senator
Hoke Smith voted for the passage of
the legislation and Senator Hardwick
voted against II.
| IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
The legislation is regarded as among
the most important that has engaged
the attention of congress since the be-
ginning of the war. Its perfection ana
passage through the senate was accom-
plished by a series of conferences be-
tween Democratic and Republican
leaders These conferences were un-
dertaken at the suggestion of President
Wilson when il seemed that the final
passage of the measure was endarger-
ed through the maze o. amendments
substitutes, etc, not 10 mention sew
eral complicated parliamentary tam
giles.
Senator Hoke Smith served as one
of the Democratic conferees, represent
ling the administration, and is credited
in Washington with havi(g been large
ly instrumental in perfectiaS ana fore
ing the passage of the legislation in
shape that is entirely satisfactory to
the president and Herbert {. Hoover
the food administrator.
The bill, as finally perfected, apples
to fuel. foods and feed, and In no man
ner interferes with cotton or like COM
modities. 1t contains a provision pro-
hibiting the distillation of food SUNS
into spirituous liquor, or the importa-
i ton of spirituous liquors, and whisky
the president to take over the whisky
in bond on a 10 per cent cost-plus
| basis.
Since he had such an active part iii
the perfection and passage of the Dill
Senator Hoke Smith this afternoon was
requested for an analysis of the meas
Iure. He prepared the following
The food control bill, which is
! about to go to conference, is great
Improvement upon the original DILL
! 1t will contain no provision for
| maximum price on farm products
and II will apply alone to foods
| feeds and fuel.
! A board of food administration,
consisting of three members. one OF
! whom shall be a farmer actually
engaged in the cultivation OF the
soil, have control of the work, sub
iect TO such rules and regulations as
the president may provide
| Provisions of the bill are intended
! to put an end to boarding and TO
extortion on the part of middlemen'
| while at the same time an effort is
made to protect the farmer, and to
| secure to him just compensation for
his toll.
One of the important provisions
| of the bill is the section authorlZ-
ing the president to require per-
| sons or corporations operating grain
elevators, and handling storage IA
/ cilities for wheat, cold storage
plants, packing houses producing
| meat or meat products, factories
| producing farm implements or ma
chinery, coal miners and persons
| dealing in coal, persons handling
fertilizers and fertilizer ingredients.
and persons, other than retail mer-
chants. engaged in handling the
foregoing enumerated products, to
! take out licenses.
! BASED ON THE WAR POWER.
This section is based upon the
! war power, and also upon the inter-
| state commerce power of congress.
! The president may require the per-
sons or corporations engaged in the
lines of business named. to take out
/ licenses, and they are then forbid
Den from DONG business "llHOul OD-
i tanning such licenses.
i Thereafter. through the board of
i food administration, the president
Il can regulate the mode of conduct
ing business by those licensed, and
limit the profits which they can
| charge He can cancel licenses for
| disregard of his regulations
There are ample provisions in the
bill authorizing the president to
| ren,,4eitio, foods feeds and fnel and
other supplies necessary to the sup
| port of the army or to the MAIN
tenance of the navy.
As wheat is most likely to be adj
versely affected by interference
with markets i'm which the farmer
would sell his wheat, provision is
made for a minimum price of wheat,
based upon figures which are be-
lieved to guarantee to the farmer
a good profit for his labors.
The bill covers twenty-nine pages
OF printed matter, and contains
twenty-five sections, each dealing
with a different subject
1t provides s2.500,OO0 for the ex-
penses incident to its execution, and
a revolving fund of S150,O00O00 10
be used by the president for the pur-
chase Of wheat, flour, meal, beans
and potatoes, which he is authorized
through the board of food admins
tration from time to time to sell to
|. consumers.
The bill also authorizes the presi-
dent, If II should be necessary to
maintain the prices of wheat at
the minimum price guaranteed by
the government, to place an embargo
upon foreign wheat, thereby pre-
venting 1t from coming into the
United States to compete with do
nestle wheat.
The prohibition provision remains
in the senate bill as adopted more
than a week ago. 1t forbids the use
OF foods, fruits, food material or
feeds in the production of distilled
1 liquors. 1t forbids the importation
of distilled liquors into the United
States. and also contains a provision
directing the president to take over
the distilled liquor now I'm bond,
paying for il cost plus 10 per cent.
The bill will finally pass in a form
satisfactory to the president, and
be a vast improvement upon the
measure first presented.
As first drawn it ignored every
right Of the farmer. As perfected
1t protects farmers and consumers.
and will help furnish the food neces-
sary to insure our success In the
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