Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-06-26
Senator Reed Says
.Fernald Section
of Bill Is Enouqh

~
Senator Reed Oem.) of Missouri believes
that the solution of the problem of high
prices for foodstuffs is to be found in the
embargo section of the espionage bill. of
which Senator Fernald of Maine is the
author. This proposition was advanced
to the Senate on Friday by the Missouri
senator in the course of a speech in OPP
position to the pending food control bill
Senator Reed contended that the pro-
posed measure went beyond reason in
the matter of placing -he control OF
foods in the hands of one person whom
he designated as a Dictator He said it
was uncalled for because there was law
enough to meet the situation at this time.
He took the position that today's eXces-
sive prices Of food necessities was due
to the great shipments of foodstuffs to
the Allies and to neutral countries and
that by controlling those the matter of
reasonable prices in the United States
would adjust themselves.
In support of his contention that the
present high prices were due to the ef-
forts of the Allies to secure foodstuffs in
the American market Senator Reed quot
ed frequently from questions put by him
10 n. y. f1OONeT, WIN 10 tiIC lcou uit oS-
tor. during a recent hearing. of which
the following questions and answers give
the full idea the senator wished to con-
ves.:
Senator Reed-It was, as I understand
you to say the buying Of the Allies, bid
ding against each other in the markets OF
this country, that was one Of the great
forces in running up prices to what we
regard as extortionate?
Mr.. Hoover-That was one Of the forces.
Senator Reed-And if we could elimi-
nate that feature entirely from the mar
kets it would go a long ways toward sta
biliZing prices, would it not?
Mr.. Hoover-It would; If the implement
were carefully handled. 1t requires
great deal of care in it's manipulation.
ION the 18th day of June said Senator
Reed "it was met by what is known as
the espionage bill, certain sections OF
which are as follows" The senator then
read sections one, two and three of chap
ter seven of the espionage measure. which
IS now a law. This chapter was originally
the embargo bill introduced by Senator
Fernald of Maine. which, after it's intro
duction by him was taken by the Senate
judiciary COmHllltce dIu iilSoi poAo'Su ii'No
the espionage bill. This measure gives
the President full authority to put ali
embargo upon any commodity. thereby
prohibiting it's export from the country.
After reading the section Senator Ree1
said: Thus there is in the President OF
the United States the complete power 10
stop the sending of grains or foodstuffs
whatsoever to any country, the Allies or
the neutrals. The power is already there'
and the power to say to all European
countries that they cannot have food at
all carries with it the power to say 10
them the terms under which they shall
have the food. Therefore there is now in
the power of the President by an act We
all supported the absolute right to control
the entire surplus of this country, ana
whoever controls that surplus. | repeat
will control largely the price of the do
mestic article
It will be recalled that when this sec
ton of the espionage bill was under dis
cussion It was bitterly opposed as pelng
unnecessary and giving the President too
great power by some of the senators. For
three days it was debated and Senator
Fernald had a running fight with some OF
the ablest members Of the Senate, Hoke
Smith of Georgia being one OF his Dit
terest opopnents The Maine senator n
nally won the section being adopted by
a vote Of "a to II.