Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-06-19

Disclaimiue entirely that the bill
sets up a food dictatorship, Mr. H0oy-
err told the senator's it's purposes were
entirely TO organize the resources Of
The country and the people themselves
into a food administration 20 limit
middIemeu's commissions and prevent
extGrtioB.
THE price oi -four should not have
been over SO barrel he said Yet
il averages $l4 In the last five months
$3.50 600 600 has been extracted from
the American consumer in excess Of
normal profits Of manufacturers and
distributors
Not a single trade association,
Hoover told the senators, Is opposed
to ybe food control bill
The members of the agricultural
committee aud Senator Reed of Mis-
souri,, leading the opposition 20 the
bin, took a leading part in question:
ing Mr.. Hoover.
To resort to these extraordinary
powers lis only because Of the ware"
asked Senator Gore.
ITO provide not only more food for
the allies, but for ourselves" Mr.
hoover. replied Even IL we had not
gotten into The war we would have
been up against this tremendous de-
maud from Europe and probably driy-
en- TO some legislation to protect our
own people
Disclaims Authorship.
Mr. Hoover expressly disclaimed au-
thorship. personal interest or respon-
stbiIHy fer the bills provision extend
ing 90 fuels
The provisions for communicating
factories. mines and other plants. he
added would not be necessary in adj
ministering food questions
Senator Reed referred 10 q section
which would permit the government
10 take from cribs and bins grain stor-
ed therein excess Of the amount actu-
ally needed by the farmer. and asked
Sir. Hoover's opinion regarding the
enforcement.
"As far as I am concerned. 7 would
not attempt 70 enforce IL so far as The
present situation appears replied Mr.
Hoover
No Consumption Regulation.
Mr. Hoover also said the food admin
is1rauon had no desires Of regulating
consumption OF food as is being done
abroad saying that would be left to
the voluntary VIII of the people
Senator Gore asked Mr. Hoover if
be would deny 10 the farmer the right
10 Judge the amount Of crops he should
grow
IF the government guarantees
minimum price Mr. Hoover replied
I'VE might not get the beneficial re-
SUIT for the farmer unless We also
have the power TO limit imports"
viii Not Pix Rations.
s1r. Hoover said possibly" the bin
should be amended to give the farm
ors the right to determine their own
production We don't propose 10 go
to tne extent Of fixing consumers ra
tons. SIR Hoover added, except as
10 hotels restaurants. etc. regarding
the amount Of bread portions to be
served, and the like England did a
foolish thing in trying to fix maximum
prices failure wherever tried
Bread Cheap in Belgium.
Ar Hoover said. with all wheat inn
ported, bread prices in Belgium we're
SO per cent less than in New York
City while those in England and
France are 30 10 40 per cent lower.
He said that the millers had been
the spectators on the market and
said that any action taken would be
for preservation Senator Gore
said he had heard the millers during
the recent rise in the price Of wheat
offered approximately rs cents more
than offered by spectators
Has the wholesaler been rcspon5i-
bic for he increase in pricee?" asked
Senator Reed
Il woulon like to say that any
special trade has been responsible"
said Hoover
Mir Hoover outlined broadly the
question OF prospective food supplies
The real question he said I'm
senatorial questioning us whether the
shortage viii continue next year and
what VIII be the needs of the allies
and America. Despite the reduced
consumption of the allies hey will
require larger amounts of cereals
reXt year than ever before The al
lies are more isolated in food sources.
IL takes three times the tonnage and
double the trouble 20 get Australian
wheat Crop failures in the Argen-
tine give no hope of relief from there
before next spring.
Must supply so Per Cent.
The allies are denendsnt uro,,