Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-30
CONGRESS TAKES
UP FOOD PROBLEM
AND PRICE FIXING
10 License and Control Manu-
facture, Distribution and
Prices
COLD STORAGE PLANTS
MUST UNLOAD STOCKS
Of Production and
Conservation Of Supply
Main Features

! ""S"ihSlohi april oU.-COngress and
administrative departments TODAY turn.
ed to the problem of insuring the allies
and the American people of food at fair
prices during the war.
Administration legislation protecting
the nation Is entire food production in.
dustry under direct control Of Secre-
tary of Agriculture Houston was intro
dueed in the house and senate.
Inc senate agricultural committee
1 began its real work of probing before II
recommends that the senate gives Sec
retary Houston what he wants in the
way Of food conservation legislation.
In the meantime, the federal trade
commission unlimbered its batteries and
fired the first volley against the high
cost of living.
A preliminary nation vide investiga-
ton by the department. is urged in the
first joint congress resolution intro
duced today. The resolution authorized
the secretary of agriculture:
Proceedings Outlined.
To license and control "when neces-
sary, manufacture, storage and dis
tribution of all foods, food materials or
feeds;
To compel licensers to exact only fair
prices for all foods and TO refrain from
unjust or discriminatory practices or
charges;
To compel cold storage and other food
repositories to discharge unreasonable
boards of food and to force its proper
distribution to the public;
tn oanfpo1 h., ,,ar1, - :. \
distribution Of perishable products;
To prescribe percentages of flour
which shall be milled from wheat, and
to compel wholesome and economical
mixtures Of wheat, wheat flour or
wheat products.
Chairman Lever Of the house agricuI-
tural committee announced the commit
tee will take the bill under immediate
consideration and "expedite its consid-
Grafton by the house at an early time ;"
/" Time is an important factor in
whatever is to be DONE" Lever said,
for the planting season is rapidly
passing"
May Seize Some.
Further and broader legislation -
probably authorizing the seizure of
I" delinquent concerns will be short
ly introduced.
Stimulation of production and con
servation of supply will be threshed out
in this additional legislation.
Although today's resolution does not
authorize seizure, it wlfi in effect bring
the food industry absolutely under gov
ernmept control as it was pointed out
fhp UoVarnTnnpt oa n raf,tco - Eao,,.n "A
concern not complying with its de-
mands. This would close it down.
Food experts appointed by the gov
ernors of every state met in an all day
conference with the federal trade com
missioncrs on the first day of the $780,
600 nationwide food probe.
Each representative told of the meth
dds employed by his state in increasing
production, meeting probletms of dis
tribution and tracing food speculation
to it's source
Conference Meets.
This interchange Of information is
one of the primary ideas behind the
conference. Its Importance was shown
when Joseph W. Alsop, delegate from
Connecticut, told of efforts in that
state to import cattle to utilize thou
sands of acres Of wasted pasturage.
+. j. Heney, California, suggested
that these cattle be brought from the
far western prairies, where, he said, in
times of drought large numbers perish
ed needlessly
The added responsibility which war
has brought upon the commission was
strongly emphasized, national problems
having changed to International The
commission must now prepare the ma
.tions farmers for their task of feeding
the antiGerman world, it was stated.
William j. Harris, chairman of the.
commission, promised federal aid to
make investigations whenever desired.
Produce Exchanges to Aid.
Commissioner William b. Colver
urged that all cases Of suspected manip-
ulation be brought promptly to the at
tention OF the commission.
While these governmental agencies
we're at work, presidents of the big pro-
duce exchanges of the country called ON
Secretary Houston for reinsurance as
to the effect upon their lines of food
stuffs of the departments war food
program.
They were asked, and gave sugges-
tions as to formulation of the govern
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