Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-16

washington, Aug. 10.-The American
government to-day assumed control OF
the countrys food supply with the sign
ing by President Wilson of the adminis-
tration food survey and regulatory bills.
Formal announcement of Herbert
Hoover's appointment as food administra-
tor was made at the White House soon
tonight Mr.. Hoover set forth the aims
of the food administration in a state
ment declaring it's purpose will be to
stabilize and not to disturb conditions.
Every effort will be made to correct
price abuses made possible by abnormal
times. Mr.. Hoover said. but drastic
measures will not be attempted until It
is seen the purposes Of the admnistra-
ton cannot be accomplished through con-
structive cooperation with food produce
ing and distributing industries.
The very existence Of corrective pow
ers, Mr.. Hoover declares. will tend to
check speculation and price imitation.
SWEEPING POWERS GIVEN.
The two measures signed to-day give
to the government sweeping wartime
powers. The regulatory bill is designed
to put food distribution under direct
government supervision. and provision
added as an amendment extends an even
more drastic government control over
coal and other fuels including the power
to fix prices and authorizing government
operation Of mines. The survey bill is
intended to encourage production. and
gives the government authority to keep
UP a continuous census of the amount of
foodstuffs in the United States. 1t will
be administered by the department OF
agriculture.
Both the food administration and the
agriculture department have been ready
since long before the bills were passed
to go ahead with the work. The food
administration has assembled a staff and
already is enlisting the country's women
in a household saving campaign. Mean
while the federal trade commission
authorized some time ago to conduct an
investigation into food prices with spe-
cial reference to antitrust law violations
is gathering information which 1t will
turn over to the two agencies and to the
department of justice.
The first move Of the food administra.
ton will be to bring about changes ir
the system Of distribution Of wheat and
the manufacture and sale Of -four and
bread. 1t will take up next the produc-
ton Of meat and dairy foods. The trade
commission has Investigated now in the
flour mills and In the meat packing
houses.
MIR. HOOvER's STATEMENT.
Washington. Aug. 10-Mr. Hoover,
| statement outlining the governments pur
poses in administering the food legisla
! ton follows:
1.-THE hopes Of the food Administrative,
are three fold. First, to so guide the trad
| in the fundamental food communities a.
to eliminate vicious speculation, extortiol
and wastefnl practices and to stabilize
| prices In the essential staples. Second t,
guard our exports SO that against tn,
| worlds shortage, we retain sufficient sup
plies for our own people and to co-operat,
| with the allies to prevent initiation O.
prices and third, that we stimulate in ev
cry manner within our power the savinf
of our food in order that we may increas,
exports to our allies to a point which will
enable them to properly provision thei
armies and to feed their peoples durin5
the coming winter.
THE food administration is called into
being to stabilize and not to disturb con
ditions and to defend honest enterprise.
against illegitimate competition. 1t ha.
been devised to correct the abnormalities
and abuses that have crept into trade by
reason of the world disturbances and tc
reasonable basis.
FAITH IN BUSINESS MEN.
THE business men of this country, ]
am convinced. as a result of many hun.
dreds OF conferences with representatives
OF the great forces Of food supply, realize
their own patriotic obligation and the sol.
emnity OF the situation. and will fairly
and generously cooperate in meeting the
national emergency. ! do not believe thai
drastic force needs to be applied to main.
tam economic distribution and sane use
OF supplies by the great majority OF
american people. and l have learned q
deep and abiding faith in the intelligence
Of the average American business mar
whose aid we anticipate and depend or
10 remedy the evils developed by the wal
which he admits and deplores as deeply
| as ourselves. But II there be those whit
expect to exploit this hour of sacrifice, Il
there are men or organizations schemins
| to increase the trials of this country, w,
shall not hesitate to apply to the full tn,
drastic. coercive powers that Congress
has conferred upon us in this instrument
COORDINATION THE KEYNOTE.
I'm enforcing the measures of the &C
1t Is not our intention to proceed will
host of punitive measures but rattle
by coordination with the variou
trades to effect such constructive regu
lations as will render gambling, ex
tortion, and other wasteful practices
impossible and will stabilize prices
Indulgence in profteering in this hou
or national danger Is far from the wisl
or the will of the vast majority of on
business people and l am convince
That while we must have ready in re
serve the corrective powers given US