The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-24
AUTHORITY TO FIX
PRICES ASKtOfOR
tXECU TIVE
Secretary Houston Lays Plan for
rood Control Before Congress
FARMERS WILL COOPERATE
Department Of Labor VIII Organize a
Million Boys to Work on
Land.

Washington, April 2S.-Congres
took up the food problem today IL
public hearings by the senate agri
culture committee, at which Secretary
Houston set forth the administration:
food control program. At the same
time, the federal trade commission, di
rected by President Wilson to inyesti
gate with the agriculture department
the causes of high food prices, asked
all state governors to send representa-
tives to Washington april 80 for a
conference on state cooperation in the
inquiry.
Before appearing at the committee
hearing. Secretary Houston put his
plans before the heads of five OF the
country's big farmers organizations
and received assurances of support for
any measures the government contem-
plates for getting firmer grasp on
food production and distribution. The
farmers representatives promised
even to give their endorsement to leg
islation giving the government power
to fix maximum and minimum prices
in an emergency.
AS its part in the governments
plans, the department of labor an
nounced that it had undertaken the
mobilization of a million boys through
out the country as active farm work
ers for the summer An organization
win be formed to be known as the
United States Boys Working Reserve.
Its operations win be directed from
Washington by William Edwin Hall
of New York, president OF the Boys
Club Federation, called here by secre-
tary Houston for the task.
Two announcements of the day hear
ing on the food situation were defini-
tion of the duties to be performed by
Herbert G.. Hoover as chairman of the
food committee of the Council of Ma
tional Defense, and the statement that
William j. Bryan would tour the west
to help spread the agricultural depart
ments appeal for increased food pro-
duction. Mr.. Hoover, it was said, will
advise as the best means of assisting
the allies to meet their food needs and
will assist state agencies and COM
munities in meeting their food prob
lens.
Appearing with Secretary Houston,
were the representatives of the farm
ers' organizations. Mr.. Houston am
plified the letter he sent the senate last
week and answered questions about
food supplies, high prices and pro-
posals for minimum and maximum
price fixing legislation. He said his
department lacked machinery to OBJ
tain an accurate estimate OF the food
supply of the country at the present
time and needed legislation to pro-
vide it.
Aside from the wheat and potato
crops, there had been no indicated
shortage of staple foodstuffs, the sec
retary said. The nation needs for its
normal domestic requirements about
GAO 100000 bushels of wheat a year,
he explained, including 100000
bushels for seeding purposes. That
amount he said, was about this years
crop. Last year the nation had a
"carry-over" of about 170,000,000 bush
els. From July last until March l
last the amount exported was about
130p000,000 bushels. With all these
facts, he said, it was hard to deter
mine the cause of s2.92 wheat.
Probably" he said. there is part
ly an economic justification; partly
there is apprehension that the low
prices few years ago will be paid
again AS to what extent prices may
be controlled, have no facts to base
an opinion
Il suggest that we should have leg
islation to fix a minimum price..I do
not believe congress should attempt
to fix prices of things that would be
subject to shift, and the power should
be conferred on the executive. Per-
haps in certain extreme emergencies
there should be the power to fix max
imum prices. There might be cases
of speculation that could be controlled
that way. / suggest you confer the
power on the council of national de-
fense to act at the direction OF the
President in fixing maximum and
minimum prices"
Mr.. Houston said he did not be-
lieve the power to fix prices would
have to be exercised and he did not
think the government should go into
the wholesale business.