The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-22
RUMOR OF FOOD RIOTPLOT:
$40, 600 FUND is CHARGED;
EMBARGO AS ITS OBJECT
FOOD RIOTlNG.
STIRS SENATE
BOrah Finds a Parallel in
French RevOlutiOn-NOr-
ris utters Warning.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2f.-The food riots
IN New York city ana warnings Of
serious shortage in the necessaries Of
life In other parts of the country started
an ominous echo in Congress to-day.
Senator Norris of Nebrs ska. pointing
satirically to the contrast between the
lot OF those who have money to pay and
pay extrava gantly and those who have
scarcely enough to keep body and soul
together. prophesied that ultimately
there will be revolution.
Those who are hungry and cannot
make a living" he said ''are increasing
In numbers by thousands as the cost of
living ascends the scale"
Senator Borah OF Idaho declared that
Congress could not adjourn SO long as
1t could be OF service in the deplorable
situation. He found parallel to
existing conditions in the days lmmc-
diately preceding the French revolution
when the revolut!onists marched the
streets of Versailles crying for breid.
The same thought was expressed by
members Of the House of Representa-
tives
Wide VI nq uiry Planned.
Confident that Congress will appro-
pirate the necessary funds the Federal
Trade Commission Is laying its plans
for an elaborate inquiry for the pur-
pose of which Il virtually independent
organization will be created. The field
Is TO be subdivided into ten parts as
follows:
Meat and meat products. dairy prod
ucts. poultry and eggs. including cold
storage. fish. cereals and milling prod
ucts. vegetable oils. perishable fruits.
sugar and canned goods. perishable vege-
tables and ice.
II Congress provides the $4OO, 600 asked
for the commission will select economists,
accountants and trained investigators 20
obtain information concerning all phases
OF these ten subjects-production as we'll
as marketing and distribution-and IL
violations of the law are discovered they
will be reported to the Department OF
Justice. -
Predictions that conditions would be
come worse instead OF better unless steps
were hastily taken by the railroads to
devote their energies to the transporta-
uon OF food supplies and that riot and
anarchy would break out In communities
on the verge Of famine were made by J.
T. Griffin. president OF the Chicago Board
OF Trade. In telegram to the Interstate
Commerce Commission. The railroads.
he said. failed to meet the emergency,
and embargoes on all products except
those necessary to maintenance of life
must be declared at once.
Whole Country Affected.
a statement issued tonight by the
commission on car service Of the Ameri-
can Railway Association indicates that
the acute food shortage in parts OF the
country has arisen despite the falling of
OF exports due to stagnation Of shipping.
the result OF the German war zone de-
cree.
For the first two weeks Of February.
for example. only c.637.7s+ bushels of
grain were delivered at New York for
export, compared with l3.3"2.143 bushels
for January.
Senator Works Of California reechoed
the anti militaristic cry BY asserting that
Congress was appropriating extrava-
gantly for war purposes and ignoring
vital matters connected with the daily
life OF the people, intimating that day
of reckoning was not far OFF. Senator
Thomas OF Colorado drew compari-
son between the breadlincs and the
munitcence of Congress in appropriatinG
the public money.
Face 10 Face with want.
The cost of living has been going up
at such a tremendous rate" said Senator
Norris, that all those who are depen-
dent upon salaries have been face to
face with want and suffering.
'These women" he added after reading
from a press despatch the account of the
food riot in New York city, were moved
by hunger and the love of their children
their babies were crying for bread in
the great city OF New York. the great
metropolis Of the country. at time when
We are told we are enjoying the greatest
prosperity in the history Of the nation.
I'm this connection wish to state that
a member of this body told me yesterday
that Just a few days ago friend Of his
In the city of New York, who had just
come from there to this city. told him
that In the great hotels, the high priced
hotels of New York city. 1t was impossi-
BILE to get n room.
THAT only illustrates that there are
two classes. the one away down and the
other away uD"