The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-05-23
FIXING OF PRICES
OF FOOD INCLUDED
Administrations Food Regulation Bill,
introduced in the House, Gives
the President Great
Powers.

ond OF the administration food bills, re
vised to create an emergency agency to
control under the presidents direction
distribution and sale of the necessaries
of life, was introduced in the House. yes
terday by Chairman Lever of the agri'
culture committee. The first bill aims
at stimulation of production and calls for
a general survey of the country's food
resources.
The regulatory measure was redrawn
after President Wilson had held series
of conferences with Herbert c, Hoover,
who is to be food administrator under
the bill, and with Secretary Houston
and members of the agriculture commit
tees of both houses. 1t places the wild.
est powers of control over necessaries OF
all kinds, including price fixing, in the
hands Of the executive.
Consideration of the food measure will
be hurried as much as possible in Con-
gress. The Senate will take up Che first
bill to-day and the Senate committee Is
expected to report out bill similar to
the one introduced yesterday within a
short time. The House will take up the
food question as soon as the revenue bill
is out of the way.
The legislation as now proposed by the
administration, Mr.. Hoover thinks, will
meet the food problem. He issued this
statement last night regarding the sec
ond bill.
"The bill covers very ably and intelli-
gently the powers necessary for the pres
ident to possess in order to set up
competent food administration. These
powers combined with the power of en-
barge proposed in other legislation should
make it possible to eliminate boarding,
speculation and waste in distribution.
They are more moderate than those pos
sessed by the various European food
but with the good will and
the cooperation of the distributing
trades should make success possible with
out in any manner being burdensome
upon legitimate trade"
The measure classes specifically as nee
essaries food feeds, shoes, clothing and
fuel. In statement outlining its pur-
poses Mr.. Lever said:
while the powers are sweeping, they
are flexible and to be used only when
specifically prescribed conditions have
arisen requiring their exercise, In every
instance in which itself does not speci
ically define the requirements affecting
private conduct, the president must pre-
scribe these with precision and certainty.
When property is authorized TO be TAX
IN by the government, just compensation
s provided for
Briefly the measure would do these
hings:
Declare the production, manufacture,
torage distribution and sale of neces-
aries to be affected with a public inter |
st.
Make it unlawful to commit or permit |
,reventable waste or deterioration OF |
to restrict supply or distri- |
,ution or to enhance prices to excessive |
evels.
Authorize the president TO establish
tandards and grades of foods to estab
ish their quality and value.
Authorize licensing of manufacturing |
forage and distribution of foods to pre-
'ent uneeonomieal manufacture or in.
quitabe distribution; empower the pres
dent to direct the disposition of boarded
tocks.
Authorize the president TO prevent
oarding, monopolization or the exacting
f excessive profits, by having the gov
rnment either manufacture or deal in
ecessaries, authorize the taking over of
actories or plants for government opera
ion if necessary to provide proper dis
at fair prices.
Authorize the president to prescribe
ules for the conduct of exchanges and
cards of trade, or to prohibit entirely
heir operations if in the public interest.
Authorize the fixing of minimum
rices to the producer to stimulate pro-
uction: authorize import duties ii i'm
ortations threaten operation of guaran-
red minimum prices; authorize pur-
hase by the American government at
be prescribed minimum price supplies
Or allies of the United States.
Establishment by the president of
Maximum prices to break food corners
r to prevent boarding and speculation
Authorize the changing of milling
rades or the mixing of grains in max
lg flour.
Authorize the president to prescribe
estrictions on the use of foodstuffs in
he manufacture of alcoholic liquors.
The measure is based on the war pow
RS of Congress and operates throughout
he country irrespective of state lines.
Liquor prohibition legislation impends
9th in the Senate and House in connec-
ion with the food bills and also, but
My in the Senate, upon the war taxa
on bill. Senator Gore, chairman of the
enate agriculture committee, who will
ave charge of the food production bill
, be pressed in the Senate to-day, said
ne committee will resist any effort to
ttach prohibition amendments, OF which
score are pending, to that bill.
Apparent spread of sentiment in Con.
ress for some degree of prohibition leg
lation. effective during the war, both
wartime measure and also to CON
rive foodstuffs, is causing widespread 7
slef in ultimate enactment of "dry" q
ws, at least 10 limited extent.