The Washington times., 1917-11-01
HOOVER NOW
FOODDOSSOF
j. s. UNDER
L|CENSEPLAN

Herbert Hoover became TIE feed
food administrator assumed absolute
control Of twenty basic food products
under the rigid licensing system and
more than 100000 concerns, including
meat packers, cold storage men, nts-
lers. tanners, grain dsalerS, manutae-
turers, and distributors came under
the Governments Jurisdiction IN ~
war on waste and high prices
Under the licensing system In ef-
feet beginning today the Goverususnts
Through Administrator HoovsF,
launches It's first big smash against
exorbItant prices for foods Greatest
power Is lodged in the food aAminiSs
traitor, who can revoke licenses IN
the event of failure OF ljcsussss to
conduct their affairs In the manner
dictated BY the food control act.
Under the Presidents proclamation
practically all middlemen handling
foodstuffs. as we'll a. all retailers
doing business in excess OF S100,0oo .
year, can operate only under license
granted by the food adminIstTation-
Hopes to Cut Prices.
Administrator Hoover said today
that he expected within . short ttms
TO effect material reduction In the re-
tail prices Of foods, a. wen a. to
eliminate waste and excessive profits
In the Importation, nAnufaetura,
storage, and distribution OF food
products.
While the Isw vests no power II
the administrator 70 fix retail prices,
he will WELD absolute power over the
retailer by controlling his source OF
supplies. inspectors wIl1 be kept ae
work in all parts OF the country IN
the campaign to detect retailers who
charge excessive prices. Every deal
er caught in the practice OF charE-
ing more than q fair price win be
cut off from further supplies. Under
the new regulations, giving abgo-
lutte control over licensed nanufac-
turers. wholesalers and other hand
Isrs OF food Mr.. Hoover IL confident
that he will be able to check high
prices.
To stop Speculation
Assisted BY a corps OF the abIest
legal experts Mr. Hoover said he
would set out Immediately TO stop ali
speculation and hoafding OF necesl
sary foods. II will be the policy OF
the food administration to make sx-
amplss OF those who are first caught 5
in flagrant violations. A $4,000 fine
or two years Imprisonment or both Is
In store for such licensed men or
firms found guilty OF eonspiring to
prevent enforcement OF the food con-
troll law.
Wholesalers and other distributors
Of staple foods In the District, in
cluding retailers. who are doing =
business Of 100000 a year or more.
were placed under license by the food
administration today
Their business will be supervised
by Clarence L. Wilson. District fo0d
and his assistants, who
will report any exorbitant or unrsa-
sonable prices charged the public. as
we'll as any boarding or manipulation
OF the foodstuis market
Action against offenders win be
taken by the food administration.
which estimates that 100 900 manufac-
turers, wholesalers. and other dis
tributers are under license today.
Purposes Of License
The license section Of the food ad-
estimates that when the
lists are complete there will be about
100, 900 licensees, including import
ers, packers, Gamers, manufacturers,
commission men, brok-
ers, auctioneers, storage warehouse
men, together with retailers doing
more than 100000 business annual
~, which embraces mail order firms !
and chain stores.
Small retailers will not be licensed.
These retailers, however, are all sub
Iect to the provisions OF the food
aw itself, which forbids speculation,
and excessive profits. e.
The purposes OF licensing are:
To limit the prices charged by ev-
Try licensee to a reasonable amount
,ver expenses; and forbid the ae-
luisition OF speculative profits from
rising market.
To keep all food commodities NOV :
ng in as direct a line and with as
title delay as practicable 10 the con-
umer.
To limit as far as practicable con-
.racts for future delivery and deal
ngs in future contracts"