Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-23
Mr.. Lewis Offers Measure to
Seize Necessities Held by
ManipuIators.
FULL POWER TO ACT Is
GIVEN TO GOVERNMENT
Senator MARITIME Proposes Embargo
Re Placed On Exports of
All Edibles.

Authorization for seizure and
sale by the government OF food
supplies to break monopoly and
lower exorbitant prices is pro-
posed in a measure offered in the
Senate today by Senator Lewis
of Illinois.
Senator Lewis presented an
amendment to the pending reve-
nue. bill. empowering the Presl-
dent whenever. in his Judgment,
food and necessaries of life are
being nonopolized and wrong
fully held BY persons in the United
States for the purpose of unjust
increase in price. TO proclaim the
TACT. and then in any court of the
United States process may be
filed by a United States attorney
for the seizure OF such necessities.
Public Sale Provided.
The food when seized may be disposed
of at once at public sale in a manner
Judged proper by the officers Of the law
to whom judgment in condemnation now
is authorized by Law in condemnation pro-
ceedings for the United States govern
Y1aent the goods so condemned 10 be dis
of rn necessities are
first to be relieved.
The price TO be obtained from such prod
ucts shall be no higher than a rate TO
be prescribed by the department of the
federal government TO be designated by
the President. Regulations are provided
for the seizure snd ascertainment of fair
market value after the foods have been
sold and distributed
Senator Lewis will urge his amend
nenf at the proper stage in the consid-
GRAFTON Of the bill
Additional Reports of Suffering.
Additional reports of the food short
age. high prices and the suffering OF
the poor in consequence today stirred
the members OF the Senate
In addition to Senator Lewis meas
ure Senator MARITIME of New jersey of-
fered a joint resolution placing an en-
bargos on the shipment of foodstuffs
from this country, as a solution Of the
difficulty 1t was referred TO the for
eign relations committee.
Machinery for Relieving the Poor.
Meanwhile other senators discussed ways
and means OF relieving the immediate SUI
terins OF the poor in the great centers
like New York, Philadelphia and Boston
Some of them had under consideration the
introduction of q resolution appropriate
ing millions OF dollars to purchase food
and feed the poor. Among these senators
were Borah of Idaho, La Toilette of Wis
consin, Kenyon of Iowa and others. Such
Al resolution may be offered today, it was
said, II an opportunity arises
The revenue bill is before the Sen
ate, and only by unanimous consent
could such a resolution be offered and
considered.
1t was pointed out that the machinery
for purchasing food and it's distribution
is already at hand. The quartermas-
die the purchase of the food, and in
cooperation with local organizations
could look to its distribution The Sec
retary of War or the federal trade
commission were suggested as the
proper authorities to put in charge o1
the matter.
On the other hand some of the sena-
tors contended that to appropriate
money for the distribution of food iI
this country would be to set a danger
Gus precedent.
Appropriation Not Considered.
Senator Martin Of Virginia. chairman
Of the appropriations committee, saic
shat SO far the matter of an appropria
ton TO aid the poor to get food had no
been considered by him or his commit
zee. He said that he had not yet beer
able to learn how widespread was tn.
suffering and the need for such action
nor whether this agitation over foot
had been manufactured in large part.
Attorney General Gregory came ir
for much criticism because he has no