The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-03
FOOD CONTROL
BILL IGNORES
GOV. WHITMAN
Names Roosevelt, J. w.
WadswOrth, ST., and NJ. J.
O'Brien as Commission.
EXECUTIVE Is ANGERED
Says He Will Veto the Measure
in the Event Legisla-
ture Passes It.

ALBANY. Aug. Col. Theodore Roose-
welt, James w. Wadsworth, Sr., father
OF United States Senator Wadsworth,
and Morgan J. O'Brien. a lawyer and
Democrat OF Manhattan. are named as
the three members of the State
troduced in the Legislature tonight
The bill was drafted by the legislative
War Committee. of which Senator Elon
II, Brown is chairman.
The Governor said tonight over the
telephone from Plattsburg that he would
veto the food control bill as introduced
II II should come to him.
The appointive power Is an executive
and not legislative one" said the Gov
ernor, "and YDn can say for me that
would veto the bill naming the food COM
mission for me. But l hardly believe
the Legislature will pass such bill 1t
seems on the face OF II to be bold ef-
fort to defeat the purpose Of the legis-
latlon."
He also is expected to insist that the
bill be amended so as 10 give the COM
mission power 10 seize foodstutfs be-
leved TO be held by spectators In order
to initiate prices, which is not provided
In the measure as introduced from the
War Committee.
To have the members OF the Food
Control Commission selected by the food
control law itself would spoil all the
plans OF Gov. whitman He so far has
failed to name the ten members of the
State Council of Foods and Markets pro-
vided for In a new bill passed by the
| Legislature in its regular session. He
| has maintained that this law was with
! out teeth" and he called the special
session to put teeth in IT, He expected
| to name the ten members of the council
after the extraordinary session. and then
designate three OF its members as the
! Food Control Commission.
Assumed Perkins was Man.
George w. Perkins has repeatedly re-
! fused to become the head OF the Council
of Foods and Markets because the
council had no real power, and the
| legislators not friendly to Gov. Whitman
have assumed that the Governor would
name Mr.. Perkins as head Of the State
Food Control Commission IL the power
| OF appointment was left with the Gov
ernor. Senator Brown said tonight
| rome of the three men proposed knew
his name was being inserted in the bill
The thirty-one members of the War
|
! introduced tonight In a report re.
viewing its work the committee states
| IL was deemed wise to name the com.
| missioners in the bill because II was
| felt that the naming OF such distin'
guished citizens would five the utmost
| confidence to people of nll classes In the
| effective and just administration of the
| law"
While the commissioners are to serve
| without pay, they are given Sl,OOO,OOO
with which TO operate and staff OF en-
ployees who may be appointed without
| regard TO the civil service laws.
| The commission Is given practically
no power not vested in the Federal Food
! Controller at Washington. 1t will not
| have the power to commander food
products, even those in cold storage
houses held for speculative purposes.
The bill uses the same definition OF
| "necessarles' as is In the Federal law,
including foods feeds and fuel, gasolene
and kerosene 1t is further provided the
| state commission may make rule de-
claring ice to be necessary should an
emergency demand such action.
| The provisions Of the bill are princi-
pany directed to supporting the Federal
statute with a view of procuring an eco
! nomical distribution of necessaries OF
life and the prevention Of waste. The
| Federal regulations aHecting interstate
and foreign commerce dealings in foods
are made applicable to such dealings
within the State OF New York only ir
cuse the Federal regulations are put into
active operation concerning any psrticu
lar necessary.
Incorporated in the bill are the provi
sions of the proposed Federal law to pre-
vent the wilful destruction OF necessariei
In order 10 enhance prices and to pre-
vent waste. The bill also includes the
Federal provisions TO prevent boarding
and speculation I'm food products, bu
exempts from its provisions farmers ant
gardeners and cooperative association;
Of farmers. like the Dairymen's League
from the operations of the bill, including
raisers of live stock,