The Washington herald., 1917-10-07
HaH-Year Var Repiew Shows u. S Is PREPARED

construction and contemplation . to-
tai tonnage OF nearly u.ooo.ooo dead
weight capacity.
The total authorization for this
work is approximately q, 10, 10000 for
the Shipping Board and the Emer-
eency Fleet Corporation. OF this
amount the appropriation Is Q.o65.-
ooo. 900. including the amount carried
In the recent Act. The authorize
ton will carry the Emergency Fleet
Corporations building program well
into the year 1913, but a very large
part of the 1soes vessels now under
construction will be completed during
the calendar year 1915.
In addition to the tonnage being
constructed by the Emergency Fleet
Corporation. there have been taken
over 100 German interned vessels with
a total tonnage Of eii.7ss deadweight
tons. All OF these except %. with q
tonnage Of 1eo,50o tons have been re-
paired and are now in the service Of
ernmeut. The remaining % are still
In process of repair and will be sim
ilariy employed when the work upon
them is completed.
In addition. IA Austrian interned
ships have been acquired for the use
Of the United States and our allies.
Their tonnage aggregates ss.5o5 tons
Food Administrstien.
The passage OF the food control
bill was followed by the appoint
ment by the President of Herbert
Hoover as food administrator. An
immediate appeal was issued to the
country for assistance in the task
OF encouraging the production and
conservation of food and the pre-
vention Of boarding and manipuia-
tion Of prices. The women or the
country were mobilized for service
and thousands registered for mem
bership In the Food Administration.
An August IL, the Food Admins
tration announced its plans for the
control of wheat, flour and bread
and two days later the President,
by proclamation. required elevator
operators and millers of wheat and
rye to procure licenses.
The President named a committee
on August Is to determine a fair
basic price to be paid in govern
mental purchases OF wheat and ap-
pointed DR.. Harry A Garfield as
chairman. On August 30, the Presi-
dent announced the fair wheat price
as recommended by the committee.
The Food Administration Grain Cor
poration had been chartered on
August 1s. with Julius H Barnes az
president.
September II. the President by
proclamation, required importers of
sugar and manufacturers of sugar,
sugar syrups and molasses to secure
licepses, and September 20. 1917, an
international sugar committee was
formed to arrange for the distribu-
tion Of the available sugar supply.
September 81, 1917. the Food Ad-
ministration announced that sugar
refiners had agreed to refine sugar
on a net margin OF approximately
1.so cents per pound. and September
%. 1917, the Food Administration
appealed to the American people to
make q special effort to save sugar
in order that the shortage in France
may be relieved.
The week OF October zI-zs has
been formally announced as Food
Pledge Week." and the Food Admin
istrator issued an appeal to the
country to Join the administration.
Fuel AdBinistration.
On August p, 1917, the prices OF
bituminous coal at the mine were pro-
yisionally fixed by the President; on
August . the prices OF authracite coal
and the margins OF tobbers were pro-
visionaliy fixed. and DIR. Harry A.
Garfield was appointed fuel admins
traitor.
Shortly after his appointment Or.
GARFIELD announced that he would ap-
point a representative in each State
anu Territory, who, with the advice
OF committee Of citizens, subject
to apeal to the United States Fuel
Administrator. would administer the
distribution Of coal In that State, and
that in each county and in each city
OF more than 1000 population, a Local
committee would be appointed by the
State representative.
On October ] the administrator is.
sued an order fixing the retail price,
Of coal.
Other important acts Of the fue
administration have been the reduc.
ton Of the price OF Pennsylvania an,
thracite pea coal at the mines, tho
PRONUNCIATION of a number of ruling,
In cases involving the Interpretation
or application Of the Presidents pric,
hxing orders. the temporary prohibi
ton of coal shipments into Cansdl
from Lake ports. in order to reliev,
the shortage in the Northwestern
States. and the adjustment OF wagV
disputes between operators and min
ers.
| Council of National Defense.
The council and its advisory com
mittees have played a leading part Il
| the mobilization OF the country's re
1 SOURCES and in tha arn.nSfor ~ a.