The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1917-08-23
Government Supervision
of Necessities Defined

lueuL UT dSSuCy VI S1C 6OSC1uuAeul VI
the United States.
:. Governs Production Of Necessities. ..
The food control bill establishes.
during the war. broad government
control over foods. feeds, fuel, oils,
natural gas, fertilizer and its ingred-
tents, tools, utensils and equipment
required for the actual production OF
all such products designated ''neces-
saries.'
In establishing government control,
the bill authorizes the president to
enter into any voluntary arrangement,
create or use any agency or agencies,
to accept service of any person with
out compensation. to cooperate with
any agency or person, to utilize any
department or agency of the govern
ment, and to coordinate their activi-
ues.-
In pursuance of such authorization,
President Wilson has appointed Her
bert c. Hoover food administrator.
Control of other necessaries named
may be accomplished through other
agencies. The house provision for an
individual food administrator was en-
acted only after the president had
prevailed upon the senate and house
conferees to eliminate a senate
amendment, inserted by two over
whelming votes of 60 to 10 and 60 to
%, proposing board of food control
of three subject to senate confirmar
tion.
The bill appropriates fund Of
f, $3.50. 100000 to be used in its admins
tration and $10.O00.OO0 for federal
purchase and sale at cost of fertilizer
The prohibition provisions, com
promise for "bone dry" prohibition
proposed by the house. forbid manu-
facture and importation of distilled
liquors for beverages during the war
! authorize the president to suspend
, manufacture of malt, fermented and
vinous liquors or limit their alcoholic
4 content, and authorizes and directs
\ the president, in his discretion, tt
commander distilled beverages II
bond or stock when necessary fo1
i redistillation into alcohol for militar!
or other public defense purposes or tt
-4ssIonserve foodstuRs. ,.,- -.
n Congressional leaders understand
b the president does not intend to com
! mandeer distilled spirits or to curtai
4 their consumption unless militar.
exigencies require. The so calle,
Smoot amendment, directing fedora
purchase of distilled beverages II
bond at cost plus 10 per cent profit
!. was eliminated.
4 Can Control Coal Price.
] Sweeping powers to control Goa
!, prices also are provided. The bill
authorizes the president, through tn
;, federal trade commission or othe
} agency, to fix coal and coke prices
[ the mines and among wholesalers an
, retailers, to regulate method of sale
shipment and distribution among dea
J, ers and consumers, and to requisitio
Z and operate mines or other coalin
facilities.
d. A system of federal licensing of al
, agencies related to the production
. transportation of the designate
necessaries also is provided, and rigi
: provisions against boarding, speculs
tion and monopolization established
under heavy penalties. Farmers ar
, exempted from the boarding prov
sions.
The bill also authorizes the pres
dent to requisition, for military o
public defense needs, all necessarie
named, and, to guarantee REASONABLE
\ prices to producer and consumer, t
buy and sell fuel, wheat, flour, meal
beans and potatoes. The bill ais
authorizes the president to requisitiol
and operate any factory, packing
house, mine or oil pipeline, at jus
j compensation, for military or public
defense uses.
Another clause, inserted by th'
1 senate after much criticism of alleged
sale by members of the advisory com
missioners of their own products tt
the government, prohibits federal a
gents from soliciting or including
cotracts with the government il
! which they are interested.