New-York tribune., 1917-06-20
Exploitation of People by
Spectators Revealed
to Senators
Prices Higher Here
Than in England
$50, 900, 900 a Month Taken
from Public in Flour
Alone
frrom Tho Tribune Bureau1

tFrom Tho Tribune Bursau)
Washington. June ls.-For more than
four hours to-day Herbert c. Hoover,
prospective food dictator, told hfty
Senators why the Administration food
control bill should be passed. These
were his big points:
l. Production must be increased and
waste eliminated il We are to help feed
our allies and at the same time avoid
pinching American stomachs.
2. Speculation must be kept within
bounds by means Of governmental con.
troll, or the threat OF governmental con.
troll, OF the great exchanges. 1t would
be a fatal error blindly to legislats
against dealing in futures, because that
is an economic necessity. But the
American people have been gouged to
the extent Of s5o,Ooo,ooo a month for
five months by spectators in -four
alone.
3. Exports must be regulated.
Fears Further Rise
4. Prices in the United States al
ready are in many instances higher
than in countries which have been at
war since the beginning, and unless
government food control comes we will
soon look back upon present prices as
cheap in comparison to what will be
endured.
5. The price Of -four in the United
States never ought to have been higher
than 80 barrel, ye: the average Is
sii, and regdfsr price of $40 is
threatened.
s. Unless present conditions among
the great mass of the people Of the
United States, due TO the abnormal
prices of foodstufrs, can 1e smeliorsted,
ard unless further advance in prices
can be prevented, it will be necessary
to rearrange entirely the wage level,
with alb the hardships and social dis.
tutbances which that would imply.
While Mr.. Hoover was addressing
the Senators and answering their ques-
tions the Senate and the House con-
tinued desultory debate on the food
control bill, but the Senate recessed
early, and in the House, although de-
bate continued TO late into the night,
no more than a handful of members
was present.
Opposition Disappearing
Expert observers say that opposition
IN the House is disappearing rapidly.
Representative Graham, of Illinois,
aroused interest by submitting COM
parative list of American and British
prices on staples received by him from
Ambassador Spring Rice on MAY 10.
Some of the English prices were lower
than the American prices, despite the
fact, as Mr. Graham said, that Eng
land is surrounded by submarines"
The prices follow: English beef. a
cents a pound; butter, 40 to 56 cents
bacon, 48 cents a pound, and -four, $500
a barrel.
The American prices on the Same
day were: Beef, az cents a pound;
butter, 421a cents a pound; potatoes,
s3.75 bushel; bacon, IS cents a pound,
and -four, $3.50 a barrel
That the rationing or other enforced
regulation of the American dinner
table is proposed was denied by Mr..
Hoover. Also he said requistioning
of factories or regulations of wages
are not contemplated. and that excision
Of war profits in distribution of food,
largely by voluntary cooperation OF
business interests involved, is the
prime object of the bill.
Federal commissions to control
wheat, sugar and a few other "prime
commodities" by regulation of produc-
tion, storage, transportation and sale
also are contemplated, he said, but
instead Of injuring farmers. ~ some
have asserted. these things will benefit
both producers and consumers without
curtailment of niddlemen's norma. and
fair profits.
Allies Need Our Help
Asserting that the Allies food sup
ply will be 40 per cent deficient even
with Americas food surplus assisting,
Mr.. Hoover said the deficiency must
be made up by sacrifice abroad and
economy here. Saving of cents .
day per capita in this country, he de-
clared, would save $4,000, 900, 900, while
a 20 per cent saving in -four would
give l00,000.000 bushels more to the
Allies.
Senators Gore, Reed and Vardaman
piled Mr. Hoover with questions in
such fashion that he told them with
some emphasis that he had not asked
Congress to do anything. although he
believed the proposed legislation vital
70 the conduct of the war. The oppos-
ing Senator'S contended that the bill
would reach into infinite avenues Of
American life. disturb business, take
property without compensation and
embark upon an enterprise OF varied
dangers.
Mr.. Hoover began his appeal by out
lining broadly the question Of prospee.
tive food supplies.
Big Problem Ahead
"The real question" he said in .
prepared statement. preliminary TO
Senatorial questioning, "is whether the
shortage will continue next year and
what will be the needs Of the Allies
and America. Despite the reduced con.
sumption Of the Allies, they will 70.
ouire larger amounts of cereals next
wear than ever before. The Allies are
more isolated in food sources. II takes
three times the tonnage and double
the trouble to get Australian wheat.
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