The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-08
Will STOP FOOD
SPECULATION BY
FEDERAL STATUTE
Plan to Stimulate Produc-
ton and Reduce Waste
of Necessities.

of Necessities.
Washington, D. c. May 8.-Con-
gresham Asbury F. Lever, Chairman
of the House Committee on Agricu1-
ture has introduced in the House a
bill Oh R. 4125), supplemental to
the measure Oh. L. Res. 75) intro
duced by Mr.. Lever last week, for
Carrying into effect the recommends
ton of Secretary Of Agriculture
| Houston as to the food situation.
The new bill deals with all the
necessaries of life, including foods,
feeds, shoes, clothing, fuel and ar
| t1cles required for their product on.
The measure is intended only to meet
the present emergency. It is limited
to the period of the war and a suffi-
c1ent time thereafter for readjust-
ment 1t is based on the war clauses
of the Constitution and is applicable
! throughout the country, irrespective
of state lines.
The purposes are to stimulate pro-
duction, to reduce waste, to clean up
the channels OF distribution, to pre-
vent boarding, to assure fair prices,
TO eliminate injurious speculation, to
I prohibit evil practices on exchanges,
and to protect the public against ex-
tortion.
The suggested legislation recog-
nizes that the war will disturb the
normal courses of trade. Accordingly,
1t provides machinery, first, for slim
ulating production and regulating
distribution so as to assure a fair
profit to those entitled to it; second
ly, for preventing the exploitation Of
necessaries of life by those who aim
to take advantage of the war emer-
gncy to amass unearned fortunes.
With these objects in view, the bill
vests wide authority in the govern
Iment to control the situation.
The mere comforting of the more
extreme new powers it it hoped may
be sufficient, without its becoming
necessary to disturb legitimate bust
ness activities. If it hereafter APP
pears essential to exercise the new
powers, provision is made for pres
cribing the limitations on the con-
duct of these activities with such GER
tainty that those Affected should ex-
perience little difficulty in meeting
: the requirements. On the other hand,
heavy penalties ar provided for those
unwilling to fall in line.
Il The President is empowered to eff,
feet preference movements by COM
mon carriers in order to assure an
4 adequate and continuous supply ), OF
, necessaries. He may also prescribe
/ limitations, regulations Or prohibit
tions upon the use of foodstuffs In
] the production of alcohol and of al
!, coholic or non-alcoholic beverages
| and may require reduction of the al
, coholic content of beverages. Fac
t tories, plants, mines or other estab-
in mi y1ac
! essaries may be requisitioned and op-
: GRATED by the government If it be es-
: sential. Just compensation for the
: use Is provided. The government is
:, further auth orized to purchases, pro,
duce or otherwise to procure neces.
, saries and sell them at cost.
81 Power, is granted to compel holder.
: to disgorge and put on the marke
4 necessaries held by them in excess o.
: amounts reasonably needed to supply
r their legitimate individual or bushes.
: Requirements for a reasonable tome
: The President may regulate ex
9 changes, including their practices
: quotations and. the like, SO as t.
avoid their employment as instru
9 mentalitiess to effect unjust marke
: manipulations, injurious speculation
f and undue enhancement Of prices.
), The President is empowered to fl.
t minimum prices, assuring fair ant
e just returns to producers or owners
y whenever, in an emergency, he find
= such action essential in order to en-
e courage. greater production. In spcl
e case, the government will guarante
producers of necessaries within tn
United States. who act in reliance up
on the guarantee, that they will re
s ceive not less than the minimum
price prescribed for their products
\ The bill also contains an anti
4 dumping clause. This vests power il
the President to find what. rates o
duty on the importation Of necessar
n les, for which minimum prices hav
+ been prescribed, are required to pre-
u vent flooding of the American mar
q ket with such. excessive importation
L as to, defeat the practical operatio
le of the minimum price plan. When h
: determines these rates, by force Q
/ the statute itself they go into i'm
N mediate effect.
os Whenever the President shall fin
IT that an emergency exists requirin
IL such action, he is also empowered t
le fix maximum prices of necessaries,
/ essential in order to prevent extol
" ton. If a maximum price for an
=. particular necessaries be established
IN 1t is made unlawful thereafter to des
in the article at a higher price.
/ The Secretary of Agriculture is at
9. thorfzed to establish and enforc
T. standards for grades of foods, foo
81 materials, feeds, seeds, other agricu
Oh turali products and fertilizers, and fc
s. the capacity of their receptacles; ais
~ to require proper labelling SO as 1
~ ~ prevent deception. In addition, he
~ given power to license and contr,
MS the manufacture, storage, and distr
ne button of foods, food materials an
ne feeds when essential to prevent III
u economical manufacture or inequi
able distribution of the articles. E
II may prescribe the percentages
el flour which shall be milled fro
OF wheat; and, when essential to il
NJ crease the food supply, he is autho
'.s5 lied to regulate the mixing of whea
ne wheat flour or other wheat produc
with any other cereal, cereal flour
material of vegetable origin, in tt
production of food