Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-11
FOOD CONTROL BILL
ORDERED REPORTED
House Committee Completes
Measure to Regulate Dis
tribution and Price.
PROVIDES BROAD POWERS

The second administration food con-
troll bill. granting broad powers to the
President, was agreed to by the house
agricultural committee today by vote
of IL to 3, and immediate report to the
House was authorized.
Chairman Lever expects II to pass
with less than two weeks debate me
first bill. now pending. is to stimulate
production of food; the second Is TO
control distribution and price.
The bill provides a guaranteed mini
mum price TO producers OF 'non-perisn-
able agricultural products under regu-
lations to be prescribed by the fresi-
dent. The committee dropped the plan
for maximum price-fixing on the ground
that II was unnecessary. A good deal
of opposition was expressed to 1t.
Provisions Of Bill.
The bill authorizes the limiting, reg
ulating or prohibiting OF the use OF
foods, feeds or feed material for both
alcoholic and non alcoholic liquors. 1t
appropriates s2.50O.000 for purely ad-
ministrative expenses and $150.O00.00o
more for carrying out the other pur-
poses of the bill which would include
the work or guaranteeing minimum
prices, operation Of factories. mines or
L
handling of wheat supplies by the gov
ernment, should that become neces-
sary.
The bill is entitled ito provide
further for the national security and
defense by encouraging agriculture
and regulating the marketing and dis
tribution Of foods and other necessities
Of life"
Includes Fuel as Well as Food.
1t includes fuel as well as food. 1t
does not designate any particular
agency or authority. but vests author-
ity in the President to use any agency
in his discretion. to enter into any re-
quisite arrangement or agreements TO
create an agency or agencies. 70 ac.
cept services of any person without
compensation and to co-ordlnate gov
ernment activities
Any such agency will have the power
to carry out these powers given ene
President as to production. manulac-
ture, storage. distribution, sale, marketing;
and other services in connection with FOOD
control The bill makes 1t unlaW1ul
to wilfully destroy necessaries OF ire;
to hoard or monopolize them. or TO 90
other acts designed to increase prices
nv discriminatory or wasteful methods.
or to limit the facilities for transport
ing food or fuel. or restrict the supply.
or to prevent or lessen the manufacture
or production of them. or TO compine TO
exact excessive prices.
The President is authorized to license
the importation. expectation. manufac-
ture, storage or distribution Of any
necessaries. including fuel. and to regu-
late the business of the licensees. ANY
one who boards food supplies will be
punished, but farmers and others ae-
tualiy. engaged in cultivation of foods
or feeds are made exempt from this
nrovtsion. The willful destruction Of
necessaries is prohibited.
The President is authorized to requi-
sition and take over for the use and
operation of the government. II he
or other plant utilized for the neces-
saries of life. but railroads are specific
ally exempted from this requisitioning
provision. Another broad power con-
is to regulate exchanges of all de-
scriptions that deal with necessaries
and. if necessary. to prohibit their
operation.