Arizona republican., 1917-04-24
PLAN MOBILIZATION Or r:::!!0 r:@! !!0llNlS lNlS OF BOYS AS ACTIVE FARM WORKERS IN EFFORT
 TO COMBAT POSSIBLE FOOD SHORTAGE
IEepublica1 A. p. Leased Wire]


 WASHINGTON, April Congress took up the food problem today in pub lie hearings by the senate agricultural committee, at which Secretary Hous- ton set forth the administration food control program.
 At the same time the federal trade commission, directed by President Wilson to investigate with the depart ment of agriculture the cause of high food prices, asked all state governors to send representatives to Washington April 30 for @ conference on state CO., operation in the insuiry.
 Before appearing at the committee hearing, Secretary Houston put his plans before the heads of five of the big assurances of support The farmers representatives promised even to en- dorse legislation giving the govern ment power to fix maximum and min imum prices in an emergency.
 As it's part in the governments plans, the department of labor announced that it had undertaken the mobilization of a million boys as active farm work CTS, to be known as the United States Boys Working reserve. Its operations will be directed from Washington by William Edwin Hall of New York, president of the Boys Club Federation.
 The announcements of the day bear ing on the food situation were def milton of the duties to be performed by Herbert c. Hoover as chairman of the food commission of the Council of National Defense, and the statement that William J. Bryan would tour the west to help spread the agricultural departments appeal for increased food production. MT Hoover. it was stated. will advise as to the best means of assisting the allies to meet their food needs and will assist state agencies and committees in meeting their food problems.
 Appearing with Secretary Houston before the senate committee were the representatives of the farmers organi- cations. Mir. Hoover amplified his letter to the senate last week and an- Swered many questions. He said the department of agriculture lacked ma chinery to obtain an accurate estimate of the food supply and needed legisla- ton to provide it.
 Aside from the wheat and potato crop there had been an indicated short age of staple foodstuffs, the secretary said. The nation needs for it's normal domestic requirements about 640000,- 900 bushels of wheat a year, he eX- plained, including S0,000,000 bushels for seeding purposes. That amount was about this years crop. Last year the nation had carry over' of about ITO, 900 bushels of wheat From July l last until March last the amount exported was about 130,000,0 ,000 bushels With all these facts in mind, the sec retary said, it was hard to determine the cause for s232 wheat
 Probably" he added, 'there is partly an economic justification, partly there is apprehension that the low prices paid a few years ago will be paid again. As to what extent prices may be controlled l have no facts to base an opinion"
 Figures were given showing that the production of corn, barley, oats, rice. milk and butter, eggs and other food products this year were greater or at least equal to the average for the last five years, and that production had in- creased.
 q think" MT. Houston said, "the
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