The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-08
FO0DCONTROL BILL
HAS VIDE RANCE
LAW SgPERvISES FOOD, FEED
FUEL AND THEIR TOOLS
FOR PRODUCTION.
HOARD|NG UNLAWFUL
Rigid Provision Against Secreting Ne
cessities, Also Against Speculation
and MonOpOIization - Farmers Are
Exempted From Hoarding Clause.

Washington, Aug. S-The food con.
trol bill establishes, during the war.
| broad government control over foods.
feeds, fuel, fuel oils, natural gas, fer
tilizer and its ingredients, tools. uten.
sils and equipment required FOR the ac-
tual production of all such products,
designated "nefessaries."
In establishing government control,
the bill authorizes the president 10 en-.
ter into any voluntary arrangements.
create or use any agency or agenciesl
to accept services Of any person with.
out compensation, to cooperate with
any agency or person, to utilize any
department or agency Of the govern.
ment, and TO coordinate their activi.
ties
In pursuance of such authorization.
President Wilson plans TO appoint Her
bert C. Hoover food administrator. Cor
trol Of other necessaries named may
be accomplished through other agen.
! cies. The house provision for an indi.
vidual food administrator was enacted
only after the president had prevailed
upon the senate and house conferees
to eliminate a senate amendment. in.
serted by two overwhelming votes Of
SO to 10 and 60 to 20, proposing a board
Of food Of three subject TO senate con.
firmation.
Comprehensive powers are given in
the bill, passed as war measure, 20 as.
sure adequate supply and equitable dis
tribution Of the named necessaries to
facilitate their movement: 10 prevent
locally and generally, scarcity. monoplv.
boarding, injurious speculation. manip.
ulation or private control affecting sup.
ply, distribution and movement
Other provisions Of the bill fix a min.
imum price for wheat beginning next
year at not less than 81 per standard
bushel; provide for coal and coke price.
fixing, communicating and government
operation Of factories and mines produc
ing necessaries; for government. pur.
chase, sale and requisition OF various
necessaries, and for federal licensing
of agencies producing and handling
them.
The bill appropriates a fund Of $780,.
100000 to be used in its administration
and Sl0,OOO,OO0 for federal purchase and
sale at cost If fertilizer
Prohibition Provisions.
The prohibition provisions. a compro-
mise for bone dry" prohibition pro-
posed by the house, prohibit manufac.
ture and importation Of distilled liquors
during the war, authorize the president
to suspend manufacture OF malt, fer.
mented and vinous liquors or to limit
their alcoholic content and authorizes
and directs" the president, In his dis.
cretion, to commander distilled bev.
erages in bond or stock when neces.
sary for re-distillation into alcohol for
military or other public defense pur.
poses or to conserve foodstuffs.
Congressional leaders understand the
president does not intend to comman.
deer distilled spirits or to curtail their
consumption unless military exigencies
require. The Smoot amendment. direct.
ing federal purchase Of distilled bev.
erages in bond at cost plus 10 per cent
profit was eliminated.
In lieu OF the house provisions author
izing the food administration to fix
minimum prices for all necessarles. the
law provides that the food administra.
tion shall fix a minimum price for
wheat alone. UntIl May /. 1919. the
bill provides that the basic price shall
not be less than 81 per bushel. based
upon No. l spring northern at all pri.
mary markets
Sweeping powers 10 control coal prl.
ces also are provided. The bill author.
lies the president. through the fed.
eral trade commission or other agency.
TO fix coal and coke prices at the mines
and among wholesalers and retailers. to
regulate method OF sale. shipment and
distribution among dealers and consum.
ers, and to requisition and operate mines
or other coaling facilities.
A system OF federal licensing Of all
agencies related TO the production.
transportation and distribution OF the
designated necessaries also is provided.
and rigid provisions against boarding.
speculation and monopolization estab.
lished, under heavy penalties. Farm.
ers are exempted from the boarding
provisions
The bill also authorizes the presi.
dent to reQuisition, for military or pub
lie defense needs, all necessaries named
and to guarantee reasonable prices 10
producer and consumer, TO buy ana sell
fuel wheat, -four meal. beans and po.
tatoes. The bill also authorizes the
president to reQuisition and operate
any factory. packing house. mine or
oil pipe line, at just compensation. for
military or public defense uses.
Regulation Of grain and other food.
stun markets, to prevent injurious
speculation or, undue enhancement OF
prices, is another power conferred upon
the food administration through the
president.
Another clause. inserted by the sen.
ate after much criticism OF alleged sale
by members OF the advisory commission.
ers Of their own products to the gov.
ernment, prohibits federal agents from
soliciting or inducing contracts with
the government In which they are in,
terested