The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-24
FOOD MEASURE IS
CERTAIN OF PASSAGE
Nationwide Prohibition of Use OF
Foodstuffs for Liquor Making Is
Coming.
CONGRESS TAVoRs MOVE.
Emergency Measures VIII &c Before
Congress Very soon, Looking to
Protecting Public and Conserving
Food.

Washington, May 23,-The admin
istration is certain that the new food
bill will be enacted into law with only
minor changes. which will not curtail
the powers necessary to abolish specu-
lation, boarding and manipulation of
necessaries.
Chairman Lever. of the house COM
mittee of agriculture said tonight that
the prospects were excellent for the
passage of the production and regula-
tory bills The production bill, which
provides for q food census and meas
ures to stimulate production, VIII be
handled first. The regulatory bill. Mr..
Lever hopes. will be before the house
by the middle of next week,
Emergency Prohibition Coming.
Asked about the probability of the
provision making il possible for the
president or for the food administra-
ton to limit the amount Of grain
which may be used for the manufac-
ture of alcohol being passed, Mr..
Lever said:
The house Is in favor of this
clause and the senate ovcrwhcim-
ingIy will favor cutting down the
amount of grain for distilIing and
brewing. The only question is
whether a more drastic stand will
not he taken. | would not be sur
prised to see clause which
means countrywide prohibition
Included i'm the bill "a it passes.
After declaring he was certain the
admin stration food bills now in the
house would he passed without taking
away any of the powers needed by
Secretary Houston and President Will
~.I To- - t1- n
be the presidents food administrator
Mr.. Lever said
None Of the powers asked are ex-
cessive. Mary of them may not be
exercised That there is a law en-
powering President Wilson 10 prevent
or stop boarding, speculation and
other abuses. Will be sufficient There
is no doubt that the majority of the
American public understands that
these war measures are intended only
TO meet emergencies. if they arise.
Price fixing may not be necessity.
but the power to protect the producer
and foil The gambler are needed.
when these powers have been placed
In the proper hands the public Will
be safeguarded q"
To CentrsIixe Buying.
Plans to cen:raliZe buying for the
| nited States government and the en-
tFute allies are fast nearing omple-
ton The allied purchasing agency
viii handle not only foodstuffs but
munitions il is understood. In whose
hands this expenditure of billions will
be placed has not been disclosed.
This allied purchasing agency will
work in con junction with the food
administration SO that the prices may
he held down To level which can be
justified by the law OF supply and de-
mand. Secretary OF War Baker and
Secretary of the Navy Daniels are re-
ported already working on plans
whereby the pure hasing activities OF
the quartern1aster generals depart
Reut and the paNNast"r generals de-
partnent viii be turned over to this
agency
one or the evidences OF close CO.
operation in food control IS the fact
that the French mission has left its ex-
perts in this country and that they
have been in conference with MI,
Hoover
Representa- Ives of the newlvoFsH 3
rived Italian mission Will meet with
those Of the French and British mis-
sions and United States government
officials TO determine Just how the
purchasing OF foods shall he conduct
Cd so as not to initiate prices
Hoover and Secretary Houston
conferred today with men prominent
in food production and distribution,
while the senate was discussing the
Gore bin.