New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-19


he had been informed that there had
been an increase Of more than 90 per
cent in the price Of certain staple ar
ticies. , a. .
cause for this increase he SAID. But
FOR one thing. IN the countries where
there has been n tendency OF food Prices
70 increase. legislation along the lines
NJ this bill has tended 20 hold prices
down. Tho purpose Of this bill is 10
vest somewhere regulation of the food
prices
Foreign Agents at Work
Senator Reed asked if bread lines in
New York had not been instigated oy
II don't like to say" replied the
Oregon Senator. "but think thal
agents of some foreign countries nave
been at work IN an effort 70 limit 'he
hand OF this government
Senator Stone said the waste IN fooc
in hotels and elsewhere By lndIVlduals
should be stopped. He said "luicy
steaks" were but partly eaten ana the
rest thrown away, while women ana
children were half starving IN 'he
cities. ... .Lo.
"lnere IS enough AOON
way 10 feed these people ne decIaleu,
1T is a wicked waste, ana sohiepVG ~
ought TO be authorized 70 prevent ~,
sstIou, are Won going to" asked Sena-
Tor Gallinger. of New Hampshire. Are
,o, Going 10 have Mr.. Hoover go to
hotel and say they shall not serve
iuicy steak 70 less than enough people
/ understand "a large amount OF 1000
from hotels is given 20 charity.
Senator Gallinger said the PROPOSE
ton for minimum Price guarantee 70
farmers struck him as "eXtraordihary'
and he asked: "Why limit this TO the
farmers and not extend It to all ihdus-
senator Chamberlain said the induce
rnent was being held out 10 the pro-
ducers to grow all they could ana the
royernmeflt would make IT certaB that
they received a fair price Tor their el-
forts.
Senator Reed insisted that under the
provisions Of the bill the. governmeht
could take over control OF every farm
or mill and he believed every bank.
Senator Sheppard replied that TINS
could be done in emergency cases, add-
ing. "but | am not afraid to entrust
that power to the President or TO any
body he gives that power to-
In opening debate in favor OF the Dill
in the House Chairman Lever, antiei-
pating attacks on extraordinary powers
TO the President. contended That the
extraordinary situation warranted IT.
ave must either confer the so-cal!ed
autocratic powers upon the constltu-
tional head of our government or be
prepared 10 have them assumed by the
German Kaiser" he said. mo war was
ever won by a debating society. The
time is upon US for getting down to
brass tacks. Every mar, woman and
child must be prepared to make sacrl-
fces-great sacrifices no man is
going TO be permitted to stand behind
fine spun theories and technicailtles IN
his opposition TO this measure. TINS
il no pink tea affair. nor Is IL laoles
sewing club matter. Ii is war against
the most powerful autocracy the world
ever saw. Germany took control OF her
food situation within fve days after
the declaration OF war.
"Hungry armies do not win victories;
men who fight must be fed. Those who
send their loved ones into the ranks
likewise are TO be fed The supreme
duty as we'll as the supreme necessity
of the hour is 20 feed our lighting
forces, the fighting forces of the Al
lies, and absolutely provide necessarles
at living prices for our own people ana
as largely as we can for the clVlhan
populations of our allies.
"This bill" Mr.. Lever continued,
"aims TO facilitate and clear the chan
nels of distribution, to prevent hoard
ing, TO prevent the wilful destruction
OF necessaries in order to enhance the
price or restrict the supply, TO eilml-
nate injurious speculation, to regulate
exchanges and boards of trade IN order
10 prohibit undue fuctuaton OF
prices, unjust market manipulation or
unfair or misleading market quota
tons; TO reduce waste, including the
power to regulate or completely to pro-
hibit the use of cereals in the manu-
facture of alcoholic beverages and 20
stimulate production by assuring the
farmer reasonable profit, guaranteed
by the government, and free and open
market for his products unrestricted
~ manipulation and uncontrolled by
-ambling operations.
To Drive Out Food "Shylocks
ave intend in this bill 10 drive from
ne established agencies of distribution
he market manipulation. the gambler,
me man who buys as cheaply as he may
and sells a. dearly as he can-the Shy
lock of commerce. who would rob
the widow and the orphan or fitch the
pennies from the blind man upon the
street corner with as much compacency