New-York tribune., 1917-07-23
The Food Control Bill

through the Senate on Odtuiuoy
even more guarded and restricted than IL
is, its passage would still have been wei
come. The food measure is snow out OF
purgatory. 1t has run the gantlet OF that
branch of Congress in which the obstruc-
tive power of the food monopolists can be
exerted TO greatest advantage.
The initiation of food control system
"A war measure of the highest impor-
tance-has been delayed for several weeks
by the secret or open opposition Of those
who benefit from the old methods OF ma
nipulation and extortion. Precious time
has been lost and the public has been
obliged to pay artificial prices for food at
a moment when compulsory profits OF
that sort to spectators and al-the-trafflc-
will-bear distributors ought to be out
lawed. The conference committee will do
well if it makes up for the inexcusable
delay in the Senate by quickly granting
the government regulative powers which
it should already be exercising.
From the beginning the main thing in
view has been to suspend the fragrant
system of profteering which the distriout-
ers of food supplies have been permitted TO
establish. This odious monopoly has had
the public by the throat for years All
efforts to break its grip through criminal
prosecutions under the Sherman anti
trust law have failed ANONYMOUSLY. 1t
is no help to the public to send few
food extortionists to Jail if the system is
allowed to go on turning out profits for
them even during their incarceration.
To fine them is simply to invite them 10
recoup themselves out Of the pockets OF
the consumer.
What the country needs, even In time
of neace, is q rational control OF the ma
chinery of food distribution, which Will
restore sound economic relations between
food producers and food consumers. To
create that control has been a task beyond
the imagination and will of our weak
hearted and indolent lawmakers. But
war. with its intensified demands for ma
tional organization, cannot tolerate gov
ernmental weak-heartedness and lndo-
lence. Congress has now been forced,
willy-nilly, to cast out the old monopolis-
tic system-at least for the duration OF
the war-because that system is an obsta-
Gle to military efficiency.
There has naturally been much reluc-
tance among lawmakers who still cling to
the ancient principle Of unrestricted in
a lkryr NJ a n
nomic incubus. But the riddance had TO
be effected. The passage of the food Dill
by the Senate marks final break with
the obsessions of the past. The great re-
suit which it signalizes is the recognition
at last by the government of its duty in
this crisis to take over and use the ma
ehinery of food distribution for military
purposes, to bring order out of anarchy
and to replace profteering run wild by a
true economic service.
The Senate bill does all this, although In
q spirit more cautious and circumspect
than that shown by the House. 1t has
sought to temper the wind little to the
shorn food monopolists. 1t has consoled
itself, for instance, with the idea that it
was casting an anchor TO windward
in taking the power of regulation out
Of the hands of one man and putting
it into the hands of board Of three
members. It is not in sympathy with Mr..
Hoover's resolute ideas. 1t has hoped
that he might somehow be Demanded by
associating with him two colleagues more
timid in temperament or more susceptible
to political influences.
We hope to see the food triumvirate
idea dropped in conference. One head is
vastly better than three heads in a field
where quick decisions and vigorous ad-
ministration are necessary. But, after all,
if President Wilson should give Mr..
Hoover two suitable associates he could
still do the work which has TO be done.
There need be no repetition Of the Ship
ping Board deadlock if the Administration
is wise enough TO heed public sentiment
with regard 70 the Goethals-Denm
fiasco.
The Senate's bill affords protection
against extortion and artificial price rails
ing by wholesale food operators. It al
lows the President TO close speculative ex.
changes and TO license operators Of grain
elevators, meat packing houses and cold
storage plants. But it puts no check on
the retailers. State legislation will there
fore probably be needed 10 supplement the
Federal law. A comparison Of wholesale
prices for food products in this city with
retail prices will show that the retailer Is
making an excessive and artificial profit.
II would be bad policy to leave him free
hand. What the Federal government pur-
poses doing TO the wholesale operators the
state government ought TO do 10 the re-
tsilers. II ought to provide for control Of
the retailing machinery and it ought 10