The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-06-15
FOOD CONTROL BILL
GIVES PRESIDENT
Power to Control NeceSsa-
ries During the War.

tives, on May ~ introduced leNi9
ion of the food-control bill I'll. H.
4125 upon which hearings have
been held by his committee during
The past 10 days. The new bill Is
designated H. R. $500.
The bill deals with necessarles OF
life, including foods, feeds, SHOES,
clothing, fuel, and articles required
for their production, and is strlctly
war emergency measure. 1t pro-
vides for Government control during
the war of necessaries and declares
every business dealing with them to
be affected with a public interest.
Powers Vested in the President.
The revised bill deals practically |
exclusively with emergency powers to
be vested in the President for the du-
ration of the war. All the powers
proposed under all the sections, eX-
cept perhaps the section dealing with
market grades and standards, doubt,
less will be exercised, by direction OF
the President, through an emergency
agency which the President is au-
thorized by the bill to create. The
President is empowered to coordinate
all Observation-Disclosures so as to insure
promptness, harmony, and economy
in carrying out the purposes of the
legislation. While the powers are
sweeping, they are flexible and to be
used only when the President finds
that specifically described conditions
have arisen requiring their exercise;
In every instance in which the blll
itself does not expressly define the
requirements affecting private con-
duct the President must prescribe
these with preciseness and certainty
When property is authorized to be
taken by the Government just COM
pensation is provided for.
The measure is based on the war
powers of Congress. Therefore it OPP
crates throughout the country, ire
spective of State lines. 1t is believ-
ed that each provision is constitution,
al. Indeed, Congress is authorized
by the Constitution to go much TAR
Their if occasion should require Ev-
erv safeguard in the Bill of Rights
has been Observed No constltu-
tional guaranty is invaded.
The chief aims of the bill are to
facilitate and clear the channels OF
distribution, prevent boarding, assure
fair prices, restrain injurious specula-
ton, prohibit evil practices on eX-
changes, and protect the pubic
against corners and eXtortion.
The revised bill differs from the
former dill particularly in expires ~
defining "hoarding." Within the
meaning of the act, ne:essar4c5 vii
, lie deemed to be boarded o. Wller
, held, OF contracted or arranged ter
by any person in quantity IN eX
4 cess of his reasonable requirement.
, for use or consumption by himself
and dependents for reasonable time
. or GU when held, or contracted or ar
: ranged for, by any manufacturer
| wholesaler, retailer, or other dealel
t in a quantity in excess Of the rIeas
' enable requirements OF ms business
2 for use or sale by him for a reason
' able time; or (3) when withheld iron
/ the market for the purpose CT IN
$ creasing or diminishing the price; but
2 following the precedent Of the Cana
dian law, farmers, gardeners, ant
others are exempted so lar as re
!. lates to the products Of land cult
waited by them. :,
: Standards for grades of foods
: feeds, and seeds may be established
$ and enforced, and the labelling o
!, such commodities may be SUBJECTED
to regulation. The manufacture
storage, and distribution Of foods
: food materials, and feeds may be re
ouired to be licensed and subjecte
oDr+TO1 ItrbaN
G tial to prevent unaconom!caI manu-
t factuIe CT inequitablc distribution
t Licenses may be required to ~
r boarded stocks on the market and t
:. refrain from unjust practices IN
charges.
The disposition of food in storage
l. in tranit, or held for sale, which
@ about to go out Of condition, may b
n directed so as to prevent It's spoI
l. age, and when essential to pre-
s vent gluts or to effect equitabl
apportionment of perishable product
~ among markets, their market mov'
% ment or distribution may be COZ
trolled.
Holders of boarded necessaries ma
- be compelled to disgorge and pl
UHGIl OIL Tic mai net @AuNlIOIiIS
" given to procure necessaries by pu
chase or otherwise, to store ther
and to dispose of them at cost. Ar
factory, mine, or other plant, in Whit
food or fuel may be produced or mi
ed may be requistioned and operate
In order to eliminate evil practic
on exchanges in which necessaries a
dealt in they may be regulated an
er if need be, closed. If it becomes c
sential to stimulate production of ne
essarics within the United States,
guaranteed price may be fixed
the President which domestic prod
r. GERS, who act in reliance upon t
~ guaranty, will be entitled to receiN
ur The bill contains an anti-dumpil
clause, in order to prevent fioodil
ie- the American market with eXcessi
'ba importations which might defeat t
M practical operation of the guarant
if essential, duty, the amount
is which will be ascertained by t
y President, is levied on such import
lat tions. In case of extreme emerge
ell CIV, in order to break corners or
ny prevent extortion, the President m