New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-10
i. S. Licenses
Curb for Big
Food Traders
Packers, Wholesalers and Re-
tailers Must Have Them,
Beginning Nov. !
Plan Framed to
Halt Speculation
President Expected to Issue
Drastic Proclamation
To-day

WASHINGTON, Oct. Q. The great
est measure of food control since the
price Of wheat was fixed by the gov
eminent will be put into operation
when President Wilson issues proc
lamation, possibly tomorrow, requir-
ing all persons engaged in the import
manufacture, storage and distribution
Of certain fundamental foodstufs 70
secure a license from the food admin
istrator. The scheme becomes opera
tive November |.
Subject TO the requirement will be
meat packers, cold storage warehouse
men, millers, Gamers, elevators, grain
dealers. wholesale distributors. retail
ers doing a business of more than
100000 year. who handle the COM
modities 20 be set out in the Presi-
dents proclamation.
The food administration has Sc
lected about twenty basic commodit!os
and their products as forming the
prime basis Of life and has limited its
Licensing control to these commodities,
and also, in so far as practicable,
eliminated the smallest units of bust
ness in these staples.
Big Conservation Plan
"lt is the purpose Of the food ad
ministration." said Mr.. Hoover to-
night, "to effect conservation in the
commercial use Of these commodities
and to keep them flowing toward the
consumer in direct lines through the
channels of trade in As economical a
manner as possible The administra-
tion does not wish TO disturb the nor
NAL and necessary activities Of bust
ness, and no business factor who is
performing useful function will be
expected to surrender that function.
"The administration is. however.
charged with several duties. The pro-
Queer must have free outlet and
ready market There must be no ma
nipulation or speculation in foods
There must be no boarding in foods.
Unfair or unreasonable profits must
be eliminated. Discriminatory and de
ceptve and wasteful practices which
in any way restrict supply or distribu.
tion must be stopped.
These are the provisions Of the
food law. The licensing system. which
was authorized by law, provides a more
effective machinery for its enforce
ment.
Violations Already Corrected
1T must not be thought that these
operations become Illegal only upon the
issue Of licenses. They have been
Illegal since August TO- when the law
was passed. and numerous cases com
ing to the attention Of the food ad-
ministration have been corrected. The
licensing has the etfec; of giving deh-
milton TO the provisions OF the bill and
the practices which the trades should
respectively follow IN connection
Herewith. The proclamation will re-
ouire all of those handling the com
modities concerned TO apply for
licenses before November / upon forms
which will be supplied on application to
the food administration. Applicants
will receive licenses without cost. and
the regulations governing those dealing
Win the COMMUNITIES liC'N~tu Nltl be
issued in due course.
After November ! no unlicensed per-
sons Will be permitted 20 trade in the
commodities enumerated in the proc
lamation. Those who receive licenses
will be required from time TO time 10
make reports to the food administra-
tion on their activities in prescribed
form. These reports will be carefully
yafeguarded, so that private informa-
tion given to the government in conf
dence will not be divulged to competi-
tors. Men experienced in the produc-
tion and merchandising of the licensed
commodities will aid in administering
the law, and legal department has
been organized to facilitate its enforce
ment'