Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-24
FOOD SITUATION
IS LESS SERIOUS
Railroad Congestion Rapidly
Being Relieved; Normal
Conditions Now Near.
TO ATTENTION OF CAB!NET 7
President Wilson and His Ad-
visers Discuss Issues From
Every Viewpoint.

WASHINGTON, Feb, 23---rho soar
Ing cost OF foodstuffs thruout tho
country today engaged the attention
of virtually every governmental
agency with even remote relation 10
the problem.
President Wilson and the cabinet
discussed the situation from many am
giles its cause and possible remedies.
Views held by some OF the conferccs
were that the record prices were in
tertWincd with the general car short
age and Indirectly affected by the
German submarine warfare which has
resulted In vast accumulaiions OF
freight and resultant car congestion
at eastern scnporis.
Department of Justice agents re
sumed with new energy their inN"sti-
cation OF prices TO determine If there
Is an actual shortage of foodstuffs AZ
large cities where riotng has oc-
Cured. AttOrncy-Gcucral Gregory am
nouucod that measures which may lie
Of considerable aVaiI' toward bet
tcring that situation probably would
be announced shortly
Relieving condition.
The interstate commerce commits
sion announced the transportation
west of many trains of omptlcs
chiefly FOR relief at Chicago. ana was
reported TO be satisfied that the gi-
euutic task of restoring conditions 10
normal vas progressing as speedily
as might he expected.
Tho car service commission OF the
American Railway association, the
railroads supreme court In an sub
ioCts affecting shortage ana cougcs-
iion. disclaimcd all responsibility on
behalf Of the roads for contribution
to tho rise thru failure To furnish
transportation facilities and am
nouuced that nj no time had any
complaint been received which would
indicate that there was shortage OF
food anywhere In the country.
Merchant Marine Available.
Tho newly created shipping board
submitted To- the prosideft plan for
relief by placing American vessels IN
tho claat-to-coist trade. thus releasing
freight cars required for transcontj-
mental traffic A large merchant ma
rive which could bc used for this dusy
sailing hy way II .hc Panama canal
would be available on the passage 10y
congress Of amendments to the ship
ping hill nov pending.
In congress Senator Lewis nitro
CuceG an amendment 20 tie revenue
hill authorizing The president To seize
any foois,uffs which he may believe
to hc held los q monopoly on for IAN
unjust Increase IN price, and dispose
of them thru public sale at prices Z"
he fixed lay the department author
iacd 70 conduct the sale.
Embargo Proposed.
Senator MARITIME introduced a bill
which would empower the president
e. declare nm embargo on the export
Of foodSuffs
Heads of the Departments of agri-
culture and commerce announced that
they were using All means within thei
power 10 ameliCrate conditions. NJ
the department Of agriculture a state
mcnt was issued urcing that the pro-
rosed nationwide investigation which
the president wants the federal trade
commission and the department ia
,ordrct be made POSSIBLE at once b.
congress
wide diversity Of oplnlon rs 20 tho
causes Of advancing prices was mani
tested by expressions from the various
arcncics concerned. Interstate cCm'
,ncrcc commission officials are undcr-
stood 20 believe that the relation he
tween the car shortage and congestion
and the rise in prices IS comparatively
slipht Virtually all dr, nCics a'recd
that thc food supply IN the country
t. ample 90 meet all needs and that
the question is largely one %: distribu-
ton ana conservation.