The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-06-20
HOOVER Tells AMERICAN PEOPLE HOW THEY
ARE BEING ROBBED BY FOOD SPECTATORS
Flour Spectators Alone Have Been Taking Fifty Million
Month from the People-Expiains Need of Stringent
Laws to Control Food Situation Without Which Sue
cess of the War May Be Imperlled.

control bill today, Herbert G. Hoover,
food administrator, spent four hours
at the Capitol emphasizing to score
of Senators gathered informally tthe
vital Importance of the legislation to
success in the war.
Under sharp and argumentative
questioning by group headed by
Senators Gore, Reed and Vardaman,
opposing the legislation, Mr.. Hoover
outlined his plans for conserving the
nations food supply, increasing pro-
duction and cutting off the excess
profits Of spectators. He did not
conclude, and will return to the Cap
itol Friday for further examination in
an effort to clear up congressional
and public misconceptions and hasten
action.
The senate had only brief discus
sion of the bill and recessed until to-
morrow. Senator Chamberlain an
nounced it would be kept continuous
ly before the Senate until disposed of,
and that Senators would be pressed to
expedite debate and action.
Long Debate in House.
With but handful of members at
tending, House debate continued until
late tonight. Opposition there ap-
peared to be waning and leaders hop
ed to conclude general debate tomor-
row, planning then to consider amend
ments and pass the bill by Friday
or Saturday.
Food conditions which face the AL
lies and this country were frankly and
fully explained by Mr.. Hoover. With
out government control, to a great de-
gree in actual administration, he ex-
planned, will be voluntary and not en-
forced by a mobilization of the spirit
of self denial and self sacrifice" in
preventing waste Of foodstuffs.
No Rationing.
That the rationing or other enforced
regulation of the American dinner ta-
BILE is proposed, was denied by Mr..
Hoover, also. He said requisitioning
of factories or regulation of wages
are not contemplated, and that excis-
ion of war profits in distribution of
food, largely by voluntary coopera-
iton of business interests involved, is
the prime object of the bill.
Four basic measures of food control
planned, Mr.. Hoover said, are export
regulation, control of distribution, in
cluding speculation, mobilization of
Americas women and men in a cam
paign for economy and against waste,
and participation of the States in ad-
ministration work.
Prime Commodities.
Federal commissions to control
wheat, sugar and a few other "prime
commodities" by regulation of produc-
tion, storage and transportation and
sale are contemplated, he said, but
instead of injuring farmers as some
have claimed, these things will bene-
fit both producers and consumers
without curtailment of middlemen's
normal and fair profits.
Asserting that the Allies food sup
ply will oe 40 per cent deficient, then
with Americas food surplus assisting,
MIR. Hoover said the deficiency must
be made up by sacrifice abroad and
economy here. Saving of six cents
day per capita, in this country, he
declared, would save two billion dol
lars, while 20 per cent saving in
flour would give one hundred million
bushels more to the Allies.
Work of Spectators.
In this connection he told the Sen
ators that spectators in -four alone
have taken $50,000,00O month from
the American people during the last
five months.
Senators Gore, Reed and Vardeman
piled Mr.. Hoover with questions, in
such fashion that he told them with
some emphasis that he had not asked
Congress to do anything, although he
believed the proposed legislation vital
to the conduct of the war. The op-
posing Senators contended that the
bill would reach into infinite avenues
of American life, disturb business,
take property without compensation
and embark upon an enterprise of
varied dangers.
On House Side.
Opposition dropped perceptibly in
the house as the debate dragged along
today and tonight Representative
Haughen, of Iowa, the only member
of the agricultural committee to Ale