Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-21

the legislation asked for are: Full in
quiry into the existing available stocks
or foodstuffs and into the costs and
practices of the various food produc
ing and distributing trades: the pre-
vention of all unWarranted boarding of
every kind and of the control of food
stuffs by persons who are not in any
legitimate sense producers, dealers or
traders: the rcquisitiCninG when nee
cssary for the public use of food sup
plies and of the equipment necessary
for handling item properly: the Ii
censing of wholesome and legitimate
mixtures and milling percentages; and
the prohibition of the unnecessary or
wasteful use of foods.
Authority to Fix Prices
Authority is asked also to estab-
lish prices-but not in order to limit
the profits of the farmers, but only to
guarantee to them when necessary a
minimum price which will insure them
a profit when they are asked to at,
tempt new crops, and to secure the
consumers against extortion by break
ing up corners and attempts at spec
ulaton when they occur by fixing tenn
middlemen must sell.
Il have asked Mr. Herbert Hoover
to undertake this all-important task
of food administration. He has OK
pressed his willingness to do so on
condition that he is to receive non
payment for his services. and that the
whole of the force under him. eXclu-
sive of clerical assistance, shall be
employed so far as possible upon the
same volunteer basis
He has expressed his confidence that
this difficult matter of food administra-
ton can be successfully accomplished
through the voluntary cooperation and
direction Of legitimate distributors Of
foodstuns and with the help of the wo-
men of the country.
To Combat Selfish Minority
although it is absolutely necessary
that unquestionabIc powers shall be
placed in my hands in order to insure
the success of this administration of
the food supplies of the country, l am
confident that the exercise of those
powers will be necessary only in the
few cases where some small and selfish
minority protes unwilling to put the
nations interest above personal advan-
tage, and that the whole country will
heartily support Mr.. Hoovers effort by
supplying the necessary volunteer
agencies throughout the country for the
intelligent control of food consumption
and securing the cooperation of the
most capable leaders of the very inter-
ests most directly affected, that the OK
ercise of the powers deputed to him will
rest very successfully upon the good
will and cooperation Of the people
themselves. and that the ordinary eco
nomic machinery Of the country will be
left substantially ;undisturbed.
The proposed food administration is
intended, of course. only to meet a man
ifest emergency and to continue only
while the war lasts. Since it will be
composed for the most part of volun-
teers. there need be no fear of the pos
sibility of a permanent bureaucracy
arising out of it, All control of con-
sumption will disappear when the emer-
gency has passed.
To Mobilize Producers
lit is with that object in view that the
administration considers it to be of pre-
eminent importance that the existing as
sociations of producers and distributors
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