New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-09
Longest Step Toward So
cialism Ever Taken To Be
=. Law Tomorrow
Power of Control
May Be Delegated
Wilson Authorized to Take
Any Measures for Food
Conservation
From The Tribune Bureau

WASHINGTON, Aug. s.-With only
seven dissenting votes, the Senate la.s
to-day approved the food control bill
frankly regarded as the longest step
toward state socialism ever taken by
the American Congress. The measure
will probably become law on Friday.
when both Senate and House will be in
session. permitting the signing OF the
measure by the Speaker and Vice-Pres-
ident, following which the last remain
ing formslity is the signature of tho
President.
There is no mention of Herbert G..
Hoover in the bill--sll the power is
conferred on the President. There is
little doubt, however, that he will dele
gate this power, so far as food and
feed are concerned, at least, TO Mr..
Hoover as Food Administrator.
After having been written and re-
written dozens Cf times in both House
and Senate and then in conference, the
bill as il now stands has no chance Of
further change before it is written on
the statute books.
Scope of Bill Is Large
II relates now TO floods, feeds. fuel,
including fuel Gil and natural gas, and
fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients,
tools, utensils. implements. machinery
and equipment required for the actual
production of foods, feeds and fuel"
To carry out its purposes the Pres
ident is authorized to use such agen-
cies or person or persons as he may
see ft.
Hoardirg, wilful waste or destroying
for the purpose of enhancing the price,
attempting to monopolize, or to inter-
fere in any way with the production
or distribution of the articles TO which
the bill applies. are penalized.
Powers Given President
The President is empowered to Ii
cense, whenever he may find il essen
tial, all businesses relating to impor-
tation, manufacture. storage, mining or
distribution Of food, feed, fuel and
other articles named.
Thereupon, if the owners of the busi-
ness so licensed charge too much, or
conduct their business in way not In
harmony, in the judgment Of the Presi-
dent. with an economic scheme Of pro-
duction and distribution, the licenses
may be revoked, or terms and conoi-
tions of doing business prescribed.
This section does not apply TO farmers
or other actual producers, nor TO the
railroads.
The President is authorized, with .
view to protecting the ultimate con-
sumer against high prices, even if the
other checks and regulations on the
manufacturers and middlemen should
fail so TO protect him, to purchase,
store and sell wheat, -four, meal, beans
and potatoes.
This power is in addition to the
power granted the President to requisi-
tion any supplies he may need for the
national defence forces. There is an
exemption to protect supplies of food
stutfs needed by the owners for their
own consumption.
May Take Over Plants
For supplying the army and navy the
President is authorized to take over
and operate "any factory, packing
house, oil pipe line, mine or other
plant, or any part thereof, In or
through which any necessaries are or
may be manufactured, produced, pre-
pared or mined"
Whenever the President deems that
governmental need of such plants has
ended they may be restored to their
owners. Compensation, Of course, is
provided. All through the bill il is
provided that the President shall de-
termine what he deems a just compen-
sation. II this is not acceptable to the
party being deprived Of his property,
he may be paid rs per cent Of that
amount and be entitled to sue the
United States in court for such balance
as he may think he is entitled TO.
In the clause authorizing the Presi.
dent 70 operate plants il is provided
he may fix wages. There was much
dissatisfaction because the right grant.
ed workmen in such plants, under the
Senate amendment, TO make a fight for
higher wages was eliminated. The de-
cision would have been lodged with the
Board Of Mediation and Cancellation.
Appeals from union organizations
against this, and particularly with ref.
erence TO coal mines, were read to the
Senate to-day.
Provision Against Speculation
The President Is empowered to takl
any steps he may see At to limit speeu<
lation in foodstuffs and the other aYt1<
cles named, even TO the point Of ell
ing exchanges. II he does not wish
go this far he may issue any regula.
tions he deems At controlling dealings
on such exchanges.
A minimum price of wheat 10 fixed
based on No. l Northern spring grade
at 50 bushel. This applies until May
/, 1919. In addition. the President II
authorized in the future, during ths
life Of the bill, which runs until thS
end Of the war, to determine Whist yball
bs . sViahle guasaptaA q tSe Qzi1 O.
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