The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-21
CENTRAL CONTROL
IS NECESSARY
Government Duties Are Over
tapping and in Some Gases
Conflicting at Start
of War.
NOT ALL IN HARMONY
Three Agencies Taking up the Food
Problem Is One Striking Ex-
ample Of Need Of
Capitalization.
NOT ALL IN HARMONY
[By Carl D. Groat, United Press Staff
l a.. l-,a 1

| Icy Carl D. Groat, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 21.-America
may have to centrali7e her govern
ment further for war times, just as
England and France have done.
The reason for this. in the view OF
! many here, Is that at present many
administrative duties are overlapping
If not actually conflicting.
The food situation is a striking ex-
ample OF the problem before the gov
ernment. Three distinct agencies are
discussing 1t, or wanting to probe it
to the bottom-the agriculture de-
partment. the federal trade commits
sion and the national council Of de-
fense.
That there may be Just a trace of
friction in these three divergent ele-
ments was indicated by the renar X
OF Secretary Of Agriculture Houston
when asked If Herbert Hoover, act
ing for the national council, would be
in charge Of food Investigation.
why. / thought. the secretary Of
agriculture would be in charge" Hous-
ton replied.
Many here have thought that Hoov-
er was to have a sort OF food dicta-
torsh1p-but he won't il Houston S
ideas are correct
Another instance OF where the
government branches apparently fail
to team together fully, is Indicated
from the fact that Sunday President
Wilson appealed to the country for
its service and to practice economy.
A few days later, Howard Coffln, Of
the national council of defense, is
sued statement explaining what
kind of economy to practice and vir
tually saying don't practice extra.
ordinary economy"
Reports are current that some OF
the government branches are not en-
tirely pleased at the national council
Of defense with its divergent views
as represented by men from many
walks OF life.
In the circumst stances, there Is talk
here today that something may have
to be done to give broader central
control-for the war only. France, a
great republic, finds herself highly
centralized and the upshot in this
country may be the same.
To Aid in Food Blockade.
WASHINGTON, April 21.-Meas-
uras to prevent food and supplies
reaching the enemy through peace
time American trade channels to the
Scandinavias, are under preparation
by the administration, the United
Press learned today.
The problem is one of general
series of trading with the enemy"
restrictions. being worked out by the
special trading with the enemy COM
mittee appointed by the cabinet and
of representative each of
the state. justice and commerce de-
partments.
Legislation to seal an air tight
economic blockade about. the central
powers is expected to be presented
to congress shortly.
While the United States went on
record against the principle of the
blacklist, some means, 1t
was stated, must and will be found
to prevent Swedish and Danish mer
chants from acting as go-betweens
for Germany.
The government also faces the
problem of preventing German-Amer-
lean traders here from showing sup
plies through the Scandinavias via
Sy,,n l