Malvern daily record., 1917-04-20
TO ASK POWER
 1 OF FOOD CONTROL

OA VOO VV4t AVA GOVERNMENT TO SEEK UMPIRE CEDENTED AUTHORITY IN PRESENT CRISIS MAY FIX PRICES.
 
 Washington, April 20.-Legislation to give the government a firm grasp on food control will be introduced in congress today. Power will be asked to supervise production and to deal with distribution to insure a fair sup ply at reasonable prices. It is be- lieved actual price fixing may be ask ed and that authority will be request ed to establish virtual food dictator ship if that becomes necessary
 The food situation, officials realize, presents one of the most serious prob lems the country will have to meet during the war. The United States faces feeding not only it's own popula- ton on a small food reserve and poor crop prospects, but supplying as far as possible the allies.
 Administration heads are bending every effort toward convincing the country of the need for greater pro- duction and for rigid food economies.
 The department of agriculture is building up an organization of state and county boards, through which to reach both producer and consumer in every corner of the country. In this work it is calling on experts for ad- vice and help, and is reaching out through state agriculture departments and agricultural colleges to set it's purpose before the public.
 Houston Names Assistant.
 Secretary Houston today named R. A. Pearson, president of the Iowa State College of Agriculture, to serve indefinitely as an assistant secretary of agriculture He invited the heads of five farmers organizations to come to Washington Monday for a food con ference. Mr. Pearson will serve with Dr. B. T. Galloway, former assistant secretary of agriculture. He will have charge of organization of state boards.
 The farmers society presidents com- ing Monday are: D. 0. Mahiney, of Wisconsin, of the American Society of Equity; Oliver Wilson, of Illinois, the National Grange; H. I. Simmer, of In diana, the Ancient Order of Cleaners; c. s. Barret, of Georgia, the Farmers Union, and H. E. Stockbridge, of Geor- gia, the Farmers National Congress. They will be asked for suggestions re- garding the situation, and may be ask ed to approve food production and conservation program adopted at St. Louis last week by college agricultural authorities.
 The department of agriculture's plans for meeting the food problem contemplate central organization in the department with state and county branches. The department has 17,000 persons in it's employ, and agricultural colleges and state agricultural depart ments have as many more. Combined, the secretary said, these agencies ex- ceed those of any other three nations of the world.
 A food committee of the Council of National Defense, which will be head ed by Herbert c. Hoover, will work with the agricultural department in solving food distribution problems. MT. Hoover is expected to arrive soon from Europe to take up his duties.
 Food exports will be discussed with the British and French commissions coming to America, to arrive at some agreement concerning rationing the northern European neutrals and pre- vent food reaching Germany through their territory.
 In congress yesterday the Senate Commerce Committee approved bill to give the president authority to enn- bargo exports, and Representative Ayres, of Kansas, introduced 2 bill to punish by fine and imprisonment arti- ficial manipulation of food prices.
 Salesman Wanted