Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-20
nation IS ROBBED
BY SPECTATORS
They Have Taken $25O,cO0,OOO
During Last Five Months
in Flour Alone.
HOOVER MAKES CHARGE
Food Administrator Points Out
to Senator'S Vital Impor-
tance of Legislation.
HOOVER MAKES CHARGE

WASHINGTON. June l9.-Whilc both
branches of Congress continued dcsul-
tory debate on the governments
food control bill to-day. Herbert L.
Hoo .er, food administrator. spent four
hours at the CaDitc! emphasizing to
sc,rc OF Senator's gathered inform
ally to hear him the vital Importance
rf TIE Legislation TO success in the
war
Under sharp and arsumcntative qucs-
tioninE by group headed by Senators
Gore. Reed and Nardaman opposing
the legislation. Mr.. Hoover outlined his
plans for conserving tho nations food
supply. increasing production and cut
ting off the excessive profits OF specu-
lators. He did not conclude and will
return to the Capitol on Friday for
further examination. in an effort to
clear up congressional and public mis-
conceptions and hasten action.
SENATE TAKES RECESS
AFTER BRIEF DISCUSSION
Tho Senate had only a brief discus
sion OF the bill, and recessed until to-
morrow. Senator Chamberlain an
nounccd it would be kept continuously
before the Senate until disposed Of.
and that Senator'S would be pressed to
With but Il handful OF members at
tending. House debate continued until
late tonight. Opposition there ap-
pearcd to be waning. and leaders hoped
to conclude general debate tomorrow
and pass the bill by Friday or Satur-
day.
Food conditions which face the al
lies and this country were frankly and
fully eXpla ined by MIR. Hoover. With
out government food control. he said
success in the war may be impcrilcd.
Such control to a great degree in ac-
tual administration. he explained will
be voluntary and not cnforced--a mo
bilization of the spirit Of self-denial
and self-sacrifce" in preventing waste
Of foodsturs.
That the rationnE or other enforced
regulation of the American dinner
table is proposed was denied by Mr.
Hoover. Also. he said. requisitioninS
OF factories or regulation 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
primo object of the bill
FOUR BASIC MEASURES OF
FOOD CONTROL PLANNED
Four basic measures of food control
planned, Mr.. Hoover said arc export
regulation. control of distribution in
Guiding speculation: mobilization OF
Americas women and mon in cam
paign for economy and against waste.
and participa tion of the States in ad-
min iStration work
Federal commissions to control
! wheat. sugar and a few other prime
commodities" by regulation OF pro-
duction. storage. transportation and
sale. also arc contemplated. he said.
but instead Of injuring farmers. as
some have claimed. these things will
beneht both producers and consumers
without curtailmcnt of middlcmcn's
normal and fair profits.
Asserting that the allies food SUNNY
VIII be 40 per cent deficient even with
Americas food surplus assisting, SIR.
Hoover said the deficiency must he
made up by sacrifice abroad and ec,n
| omy here. Saving OF cents a da, nor
capita in this country, he declared
would save 10000 900. while a 20
! per cent saving in -four would give
lo o0.o00.o00 bushels more to the allies
In this connection he told tho Senators
that SPECTATORS in -four alone have
taken s3O,o0o.00o month from the
American public during the last FIVE
months
HOOVER HAS NOT ASKED
CONGRESS- For ANYTHING
Senator'S Core. Reed and Vardaman
piled Mr. Hoover with questions in such
fashion that he told them with some
emphasis that he had not asked Con-
Eress for anything. although he be-
licvcd the proposed Legislation vital to
the conduct of the war. The opposing
Senator'S contcnded that the bill would
reach into infinite avenues of Amcrican n
life. disturb business, take property
without compensation and embark upon
an enterprise of varied dangers.
Opposition dropped pcrceptibly in the
House as the debate dragged along to-
day. To- might Representative Haugcn.
OF Iowa, tho only member of the Agri-
culture Committee 10 file minority re-
port against the bill. said there would
not he fifty negative votes on final
Continued on Niuth PagcD