New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-15

winter wheat yield, and helped along
I by recent frantic buying of representa-
/ tives Of the Allies and the squeezing
Of unfortunate shorts, has caused the
government to redouble its efforts in
behalf of food control legislation.
Urges Controller General
Senator Gore to-day introduced q
resolution authorizing the President 70
appoint controller general of food
supplies, concentrating in one man
/ food control powers now vested in
other departments and bureaus. His
salary and status would be that of q
Cabinet member, and he would be en-
powered to act in connection with the
Allied governments in food control
problems.
Maximum price fixing plans, as ex-
planned to-day by Secretary Houston,
do not contemplate maximum price
on staples generally, but application of
the principle only when 1t appears a
food corner is in sight. In this way
the Agriculture Department believes
price manipulation could be controlled
in an effective manner. The depart
ment believes it will be possible when
the food control bills are passed TO
stop all food speculation for profit and
still leave the way open for the buying
Of legitimate futures.
Favor Drastic Action
Senators who opposed the Thomas
amendment thought il would stife COM
merce. The great majority of opinion,
expressed in terms which for force
and range OF adjectives had seldom
been heard in the Senate chamber, IA
vored some drastic action 10 stop food
speculation, which. they said. makes for
artificial prices and threatens the ma
tion with the pinch Of hunger.
Senator Lewis, Democrat, said he
thought legislation such as proposed
by Senator Thomas would work injury
TO many and should not be passed with
ont deliberation.
"If this is adopted" said he. "you
will force the grain in the bins into
the hands of those who fear at present
that day of desolation and darkness
that some members Of the Administra-
tion unnecessarily are holding out to
the country. | believe in the need of
economy, but not in parsimony. II the
people understand the truth they would
not be holding grain out in fear,
timidity and terror. What is needed
at this hour is a provision Of law
authorizing the President on evidence
satisfactory TO him that food is being
unnecessarily held 70 seize such food
and order its distribution under the
proper branch of the government. with
compensation TO the owner and a just
market price assured the people"
Flames False Agitation
al think" said Senator Reed. Demo
crat, Of Missouri, that means ought
20 be taken TO stop speculation in
foodstuf within the limits of the
vowers Of Congress. But il is Won
der 10 me to-day that we do not have
81 wheat and accent cotton and S.
or Sc potatoes and beef 90 or 60 cents
2 pound. There never has been in the
history Of the world an agitation that
parallels the present one. We are
practically told that the United States
Is on the verge Of starvation and that
the world without is starving and then
we are informed that when next win
ter comes the wolf of hunger will be
bowling at the door of every human
being in the world. When that infor-
nation is put forward men are aston
ishcd that the prices paid for food
stufs mount. If a plan had been con-
ceiVcd 20 make them mount the one
adopted could not have been improved
upon by the ingenuity of man or the
devil himself
"The thing 70 teach the American
people now, is that America will not
be starved; that she can't be starved
and the consequence will be TO lessen
the conditions that confront us and
poster us"
Food spectators were denounced as
"robbers" by Senator Kenyon, Of Iowa,
who recommended, however, that the
food speculation measures be held
over TO be considered with the food
/ bill.
I'VE should blot out this specula-
ton in food said he. but we should
do IL with adequate consideration.
"lf Congress can't stop this robbery