The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-08

mate business activities because 1T
is hored that the mere con1errIng or
the more extreme new powers will be
sufficient without it becoming nee
essary to exercise them.
It is known that officials hold the
same view.
Supplemental Measure.
The bill is supplemental to the ad-
ministration food measure introduced
in the house earlier in the week. pro-
vidjng for a survey of the country's 9
food resources and corferring certain
Dcwers to prevent food speculation.
This measure was ordered favorably
reported from the agricultural COM
mittee today after the committee had
reduced the appropriation carried
from S25,000,000 to approximately
SIC, 1000 OO0 and had eliminated Sec
ton authorizing the secretary OF az
riculture to order the immediate sale
of any food in such condition that
unless promptly disposed OF it Will
become unfit for use. The section
will be incorporated in coming
third measure which is to confer
broad powers on the council of ma
tional defense.
Mr.. Lever expects to get both OF
the bills up for action in the house
next week.
For Period OF War.
"The new BILL" said Mr.. Lever,
IDEALS with all the necessaries OF life
including foods, feeds, shoes, cloth
ing, fuel and articles required for
their production. The measure is in
tended only to meet the present emer-
geney. 1t is limited to the periods
of the war and sufficient time there
after for readjustment. 1t is based
on the war clauses of the constltu-
ton and is applicable throughout the
country, irrespective of State lines
"The purposes are to stimulate
production, to reduce waste, to clear
the channels of distribution, to pre-
vent boarding, to assure fair prices
to eliminate injurious speculation, to
prohibit evil practices on exchanges
and to protect the public against eA-
tortion.
To Prevent Holding.
Power is granted to compel hold
ers to disgorge and put On the marker
necessaries held by them in excess
of the amounts reasonably NEEDED to
supply their legitimate individual or
business requirements for a reason
able time. The president may regu-
late exchanges, including their prac-
tices, quotations and the like, so as
to avoid their employment as instrn-
mentalities to effect unjust market
manipulations, injurious speculation
and undue enhancement OF prices.
"The president is empowered to h9
minimum prices, assuring fair and
Just returns to producers or owners,
whenever in an emergency he finds
such action essential in order to en-
courage greater production. In such
case the government will guarantee
producers Of necessaries within the
United States, who act in reliance
upon the guarantee, that they Will
receive not less than the minimum
price prescribed for their products.
"The bill also contains an anti
dumping clause. This vests power III
the president to find what rates OF
duty on the importation of necessa-
ries, for which minimum prices have
been prescribed, are required to pre-
vent flooding of the American marker
with such excessive imPortations as
to defeat the practical operation OF
the minimum price plan. When he
determines these rates, by force OF
the statute itself, they go into I'M
mediate effect.
whenever the president shall nnd
that an emergency exists requiring
such action he is also empowered TO
fix maximum prices Of necessarles, Il
essential, in order to prevent extor-
ton. If a maximum price for any