The sun., 1917-05-25
BARUCH AND HOOVER
ATTACKED IN HOUSE
Rep. Moore Of Pennsylvania
Opposes Entire Proposition
of Food Dictator.

WASHINGTON, May 24.--Attacks on
Herbert c. Hoover and Bernard NJ. Ba-
ruch marked the debate to-day in the
House on the Lever bill to stimulate as-
ricultural production and facilitate dis
tribution. Representative J. Hampton
Moore, Pennsylvania, started tho at ack,
which was not generally indorsed on
either side of the aisle.
On the Republican side Moore's atti-
tude was generally considered Ill advised
and the attack untimely, to say the least.
Republican leaders who believe the coun-
try will have to look to their party to
keep the spotlight of fair and construc-
chinery, seemed to feel that Mr.. Moore's
attack might discredit in advance more
serious and balanced efforts to correct
the defects which they feel are bound
to demonstrate before long the ne
cessity of a general housecleaning in
certain OF the Government departments
Representative Moore said he was op-
posed TO the entire proposition OF food
dictator. He also said the idea Of en-
ploying all assistants without compensa-
ton was an insult to American working
men. Many workingmen need the 81 q
| year which the Government must pay
! any one II employs to evade the statute
, which prohibits employment without
| compensation. said Mr.. Moore. He ther
launched into an attack on Bernard Ba
| ruch. based ON the statement in morn
4 ing papers that Mr.. Baruch might b.
made purchasing agent for the United
States in acquiring war supplies.
Representative Lunn, New York. de
Tending Mr.. Baruch. said: mfr. Barucl
has secured for the Government a prc
for copper around 6 cents instead of III
- or 35 cents which it was bringing II
the open market AT that time. That wa
a saving of millions of dollars. lie als'
secured a reduction in the price of stee
which was tremendously favorable to tn
! Government"
Speaker Clark interrupted: "You sa
Mr.. Baruch got price ot l6 cents 70
copper. Do you know the Utah Cope
Company in its report to it's stockhold
ers said It could put copper Z. o. b. til
cars at 5is cents pound?"
IF that is a fact returned Mr.. Lurr
I'VE have made tremendous mistak
In our revenue oil! that we did not pu
| care of that"
Later the Speaker asked: why doe
not the Acknowledgement OF the Unite
States hop onto those fellows who DIT
It "copper" up to 80 cents? lam willn
to give Baruch credit for pulling
down from 80 cents TO l6 cents, but h
did not pull II down far enough, an
the Attorney-General should put ever
one of those fellows in jail between no.
and Saturday night who kept the pric
up"
Representatives Green. Iowa, said Mr.. Ba
ruch was not responsible for the low pric
of copper The fact is tina. Mr.. Baruc
was not at all responsible and Is M
entitled to any credit for the reduce
price at which the copper was obtained
he said. The copper was offered to Il
Government by the copper trust volui
tarily nut az l think with Il very del
mite puse,se in mind when the offer VIZ
made. The House will remember tn;
at a previous session there was a "a
placed on copper in the revenue hi
which was stricken out by the Senat
In my judgment. II ought to have bee
taxed and should have been II
cluded among tho industries which WEI
so taxed on account OF the enormo,
profit they were making. II this Is Il
achievement which Mr. Baruch Is
have to his credit, there Is nothing abo
1t that would justify the passage of Il,
bill and the extraordinary powers tn
l are to be conferred on some parties wi
! reference to the purchase of suppl
, and foods"
, The House had not concluded consi
GRAFTON of the bill when adjournme
was taken.