The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-11-24
AFTER SHORE GAMERS
Fifteen Marylanders Accused of VIC
lating Food Control Act-Must
Explain TO Hoover.

Washington, Nov. 23.-It devol-
oped today that charges of extensive
violations of the boarding caluSe or
the Food Control act by Maryland
Gamers have Deen received by the
United States Food Administration.
Fifteen Gamers on the Eastern Shore
are involved. The specific charge is
that they packed and stored away in
warehouses their canned products in
violation of the Lever act.
The packers involved were notified
today 10 come to Washington or send
a representative to answer the char
ges before Herbert Hoover. Their
names Will not be disclosed until they
have been given an opportunity to
make an explanation. The "promi-
nent packer" who was asked yester-
day to explain the boarding charge,
failed to put in his appearance to-
day. He will be given a few days
longer and if he fails to meet the
charges IAN example will be made of
him. it was stated at the Food Ad-
ministration.
Food Administration officials de-
clared tonight that while there have
been reports of extensive violations
the country, the charge against the
Maryland Gamers are the most
definite" yet received. They are
under the impression that the Mary
land violations are due more to
misunderstanding or misinterpreta-
ton of the Lever act than to an in
tention to break it willfully on the
part of the canner for the purpose
of testing its constitutionality. The
Government officials stated however,
that if the Marylanders are planning
a fight On the validity of the act, their
challenge will be accepted at once.
Under the Lever act Mr.. Hoover
can put the Gamers out of business.
He has the authority to revoke their
licenses, under which they are COM
PEELED to operate, and then prosecute
them. The penalty is two years in
prison or $4,000 fine.
In discussing the matter today, the
Food Administration officials made it
plain that they intend to enforce the
law to the letter against the first
willful violator of the boarding and
speculation clause in order to make
it clear no infraction of this provi-
sion will be countenanced. It is
not Mr. Hoover's intention to prose-
cute cases where the violation was
due to ignorance or misunderstood
ing. In these cases, the packers will
be told to put their warehoused
goods on the market and not to
break the law again, and if they do
this, the matter will be dropped.
The charges against the Maryland
Gamers. together with those from
other States, show that Hoover has
a thousand eyes" Not only gov
eminent officials, but persons not
suspected in their communities are
keeping him in touch with the ma
tons food situation, and when a
charge of violation of the Lever act
is made to him it is investigated
promptly and the food handler is CIV
en- an opportunity to explain. So far
the bulk of these violations are made
in ignorance of the law.
Mr.. Hoover sent kilograms tonight
to all the State food administrators,
including Edwin G. Baetjer, food adj
ministrator of Maryland, in which
they are asked to warn all food han
dlers coming under the license law
to take steps to procure their licenses
without delay. 1t appears that
large number of food distributors
have done nothing toward obtaining
a license. Mr.. Hoover's telegram is
in the nature Of warning, and if
it is not needed, prosecutions will
follow if the men continue in bust
ness.-The Sun.