Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-26
Governmental Power Over Food,
Feeds and Fuels Are Provid-
ed-Distilling Is Forbidden
Communicating Authority Is
Given President-The Act
Sweeping In Its Scope, Ends
with the War.

Section 1. Establishes governmental con-
troll over foods, feeds. and fuel, including
gasoline and kerosene prevents hoard
ing. speculation monopolization. or manip-
ulation affecting supply, distribution,
or movement of foodstuffs, feeds, and
fuel; directs the President to appoint a
board Of food administration of three
members at salary Of $500 a year each
one of whom must be farmer actually
engaged in cultivation of the soil, these
appointments being subject to confirma-
ton by the Senate.
Sec. 2. Authorizes the President to en-
ter into any voluntary agreements with
agencies or individuals or to create agen-
cies and to coordinate government depart
ments and agencies. to avoid pre-
ventabe loss or duplication Of effort or
funds in administering food control.
Sec. g. Prevents any person, either as
voluntary or paid agent or employee of the
government, from soliciting, inducing or
attempting to induce any person or Of
ficer to execute or direct the execution Of
any contract with the government in
which he is pecuniarily interested, this
being intended to affect the participation
of members of the advisory commission
of the council of national defence in con-
= tracts affecting themselves. also provides
that no such agent or employee shall rec
ommend" a contract with the government
in which he is interested unless he states
In writing his pecuniary interest in it.
Willful violation is punishable by fine
of not more than $4,000 or imprisonment
of not more than five years. or both.
Sec. 4. Makes it penal offense for
any person to willfuily destroy necessaries
of life so as to enhance prices or to waste,
permit deterioration. monopolize, engage
in discriminatory, unfair or deceptive prac-
tice or to make unjust or unreasonable
charges in the handling of or dealing in
any necessaries, or to restrict the sup
ply of necessaries, limit facilities of their
transportation or distribution and to will
fully limit or prevent the manufacture or
production of any necessaries. Penalty for
violation is fixed at $4,000 fine. imprison-
ment not exceeding two years. or both.
PROVISION FOR LICENSES.
Sec. s. Authorizes the President, when
he regards it as necessary for the nation
al security and defence, to require licenses
to be taken out by persons engaged in the
following pursuits dealing with neces-
sares:
!. Operators Of elevator or other stor-
age facility used for storing of wheat.
. Operators of cold storage establish
ments for storing meat, poultry. eggs, or
dairy products.
8. Operators OF factories producing
farm implements or machinery.
5. Operators of coal mines or any person
dealing in coal. excepting retailer.
c. any ono engaged in producing. stor-
ing, or handling fertilizer ingredients.
No retailers are included in the licensing
provision Carriers are forbidden to trans
port products enumerated above for any
one not having a license. When tho Pres
ipI pipe har al q
for storage, unfair prices are being
charged for any commodities embraced
in this section, he may fix prices himself
arbitrarily. Violations are punishable by
a fine not exceeding $4,000 or two years
Imprisonment, or both.
Sec 6. Defines boarding Of necessaries
as commodities held, contracted for OF
arranged for by any manufacturer, whole
saler, retailer or other dealer In excess Of
the reasonable requirements Of his bus
mess for use and sale by him within ;
reasonable time, or holding commoditie:
from the market SO as to unreasonably in
crease or diminish the price. Farmers, CO
operative associations. gardeners and live
stock farmers or others having individual
farms or gardens are exempt.
Sec. Z. Authorizes seizure of hoardet
necessaries and proceedings in the fedora
courts for compensation to owners AM
distribution of articles seized. Government
prosecution of offenders against hoard
ing section authorized.
Sec. s. Authorizes the President to req
uistion foods, feeds, fuels and othe
supplies necessary for army or navy pur
poses when emergency requires. owner
to be paid just compensation. If not salts
fled with price fixed by the Presiden
owners may sue the government. Will
being paid in the meantime IS per cent. c
the amount fixed by the President.
Sec. 9. Authorizes the President, whe
exigency requires, to purchase. store. an
sell for cash at reasonable prices fue
wheat, flour. meal, beans, and potatoes
Also is authorised to fix prices for stol
age in event Of exigency. This section
intended to guarantee reasonable wa
prices to producers and consumers.
COMMANDEERING POWERS.
Sec. 10. Empowers the President. whe
necessary in order to secure an adequa,
supply Of necessaries for support of tt
army and navy. to take over. for oper;
ton by the government. any factor
packing house. mine or other plant.
part thereof, through which necessari,
are produced or prepared. and to fix "rei
sonable" compensation to the owners. VIII
If not satisfied. may sue government. r
ceiving ad interim rs per cent. of the pri,
fixed. The President Is also authorize
to fix compensation Of employees in sue
places taken over. and II employees are n
satisfied with the wage fixed, they ms
take appeal to tho board of mediation al
Cancellation. The word mines" In this sc
ton includes coal. oil, and gas wells.
well as oil and gas pipe lines.
Sec. II. Authorizes the Press6ent ~ pr
mulgate rules for the government of @
changes, boards of trade, and similar /
stitutions when no considers 1t necessa
in order to prevent uRtss>s enhancemer
depression. or fluctuatIon of prices,
speculation in necessaries He may al
close all such institutions when he regar
their practices as injuries Provision
made for punishment by fine not excee
ing $4,000 or not more than four years II
prisonment. or both. for offenders WI
violate the provision against price mani
ulation or speculation.
Sec II. Authorizes the President to
Quire the board of food administration
determine what, under any existing co
ditions, may be fair price for wheat
be guaranteed producers SO as to insu
them a reasonable profit. duty m
be put upon any imported wheat, II deel
ed advisable. SO as to protect domes
wheat. A minimum price of wheat at
principal interior primary market. ar
the passage OF the bill and up to il
/, 1919. Is fixed at 81 a bushel for No
Northern, or it's equivalent, meaning
highest grade of wheat This assures
minimum price of 50 a bushel to the far