Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-27
NEWS OF THE LEGISLA TURE
FOOD INQUIRIES
START CAPITOL
Several Resolutions Presented
Following Governor Brum-
baugh's Letter

Governor Brumbaugh last night
called the attention of the general as
the soaring prices of food stuffs in
Pennsylvania and suggested that the
legislators take some action. No less
than three resolutions looking to in
quiriss into the cost OF food and the
conditions attending stored and unsold
provisions. grain and vegetables ap-
peared in the House, two being adopt
ed.
The governors letter on the subject
was as follows:
My attention has been attracted to
the food supply problem IN this COM
monwealth. In our great urban COM
munlties the demand for food has in
some cases been accompanied with dis
turbance of the peace, If not with vio-
lation of law. Many staple foods have
reached a price so unusual and so eX-
ceSsive as to cause serious concern for
our armies of toilers and their fami-
lies. There is great unrest and q
condition of serious portent in this
situation. The people of Pennsylvania
must have food and they must have 1t
at price within their resources.
1T is held that there is a short
age of food. The reasons for this short
age are in general as advanced. a small
crop and unusual expectation. 1t is
held that there is no adequate transpor-
tation, due to congestion in traffic,
from the centers of production to the
great centers of consumption or food
1t is held that markets are cornered,
that food is unduly withheld for the
purpose of still further advancing
prices. In fact, all sorts of statements
are made and the general effect is to
cause unproven criticism to lie against
one or another agency In interest.
"Of the truth or untruth of these
charges / am not advised. That the
truth may be known and known at
once, l respectfully suggest that you
formulate such directive action as will
empower your executive to name a COM
mlttee of broad-minled, capable citi-
zens. who. without cost to the conf
monwealth, may be empowered to make
full and thorough inquiry into the food
supply problem of Pennsylvania and re-
port within fifteen days to your honor
able bodies upon the matter committed
to them together with such recommen-
dations as to them may be wlse."
The Governors letter went to the
appropriations committee
Action In House
When the House met Representative
Glass, Philadelphia, presented a. resolu-
tton empowering the Governor to name
commission to serve without COM
pensation, Ito investigate and report
the cause or causes of the increase in
the cost of foodstuffs and other neces-
saries of life" The commission is to
be empowered to cooperate with simi-
lar commissions from other States and
TO investigate through marketing or
other facilities, the possibilities of re-
duction of cost. The commission is
given wide powers and may sit in any
part of the State. compel attendance of
witnesses, production Of books and pa
pers and to certify to courts refusal
of any person to testify or comply
with orders of the commission. Courts
are authorized to commit such persons
to prison for contempt. 1t was passed
and sent to the Senate.
Another resolution for an investlga-
tion of the increased cost of foodstufrs
was presented by Representative Boyer,
Philadelphia. which calls for a Joint
legislative committee, consisting of
three senators and four representatives.,
1t is a joint resolution and takes the
course OF a bill.
This committee is TO make "a full,
free anu unobstructed, comprehensive
and impartial investi ga ton" and is
given very broad powers, while the
Dairy and Food Commissioner is to make
careful inquiry through his office into
the causes of conditions" in so far as
the storage and any speculative opera
tions within the State may or may not
effect the price of foodstuffs" He is to
report March IL. The Public Service
Commission is directed to inquire into
certain changes that the transportation
companies are responsible for DELAYING
or failure to promptly transport food
stuffs, and, to report March IL, with
any suggestions.
The committee is to report not later
than April 80, being instructed to con-
fer with the Attorney General and
lay before him matters which require
prosecution. The commission is also to
suggest remedies at law.
The resolution carries an appropri-
alton of $4,000 and contains a clause
that persons giving testimony in which
they may be implicated shall not be
prosecuted.
A resolution was presented by Mr..
Black, calling on the Secretary of Ag-
riculture to inform the House of the
amount of food held in storage and to
give figures of 1915 crops and what
amount is held ty growers today. The
report is to be made February %. The
resolution was adopted.
Representative Edwin r. Cox, of
Philadelphia, introduced a bill authoriz-
ing cities of the Iirst class to pur-
chase food products to be afterwards
sold to residents of such cities at cost
Councils are given authority to dis
pose of proceeds of such sales as they
see ht