The daily progressive-miner., 1917-08-13
(A~oso$ps Prcss)

! control bill establishes, during the war. broad government control over foods, feeds. fuel. fuel oils. natural gas. fertilizer and its ingredients, uten. sils and equipment required for the actual production of such products, designated "necessaries."
 In establishing government control. the bill authorizes the President to en- ter into any voluntary arrangements. create or use any agency or agencies to accept services Of any person with. out compensations. to cooperate with any agency or person, to utilize any department or agency of the govern ment and to coordinate their activi. ties.
 In pursuante of such authorization. President Wilson plans to appoint Herbert (. Heeyef food administrator. Control of Other necessities named may be accomplished through ethsf agencies. The house provision for an individual food administrator was en- acted only after the President had prevailed upon the Senate and House conferees to eliminate Senate am- endment, inserted by two overwhelm- ing votes of 63 to 1S and 50 to g. pro posing a Board of Food of three sub iect to Senate confirmation.
 Comprehensive powe. are given h the biii, passed as war measure to assure adeqdate supply and equitable distribution of the named necessaries to facilitate their movement; to pre. vent, locally and generally. scarcity. monopoly. hoarding. injurious specu- lation. manipulation or private con- trol affecting supply distribution and movement.
 Other provisions Of the bill Ax . minimum price for wheat beginning next year at not less than 32 per stand ard bushel; provide for coal and coke prices, fixing. communicating and government operation Of factories and mines producing necessaries; for gov. ernment purchase, sale and requisit. ion Of various necessaries. and for federal licensing Of agencies produc- ing and handling them.
 The bill appropriates for fund Of s15o. 900 900 to be used in its admins tration and s10.00o.oO0 for federal purchase and safe at cost of fertilizer.
 The prohibition provisions. a com. promise for bone dry" prohibition, proposed by the house. prohibit man. ufacture and importation of distilled liquors for beverages during the war. authorize the President to suspend manufacture of malt, fermented and vinous liquors or to limit their alco- holic content and Authorizes and di. rects" the President. in his discretiea to commander distilled bevsrages in bond or stock when necessary for re- distillation into alcohol for military or , other public defense purposes or to conserve foodstuffs.
 | Congressional leaders understand the President does not intend to com mandeer distilled spirits or to contro their consumption unless military ex agencies require. The socalled Smoo amendment, directing federal purchase of distilled beverages in bond at cos plus 10 percent. profit. vas eliminated
 Tn lieu of House provisions suthor lizing the food administration to h, minimum prices for all neeesssries the law provides that the food admin
 istration shall. fix minimum price fo
 wheat alone. Until May l, 1909. tn
 bill provides that the basic price shal
 not be less than g per bcshel. base
 upon No. l, spring northern ct all pr
 mary markets.
 Sweeping powers to control coa
 prices also are provided. Tho bill at
 thorizes the President through tn
 Federal Trade Commission or othe
 agency. to fix coal and coke prices. .
 the mines and among wholesalers an |
 retailers. to regulate method of sal'
 shipment and distribution among dea
 CTS and consumers. and to requisitio
 and operate mines or other coslin
 facilities.
 , A system of federal licensing of .
 agencies related to the productio'
 transportation and distributaon of A
 designated necessaries also is provt cd, and rigid provisions against hoAr
 ing. speculation and monopolizatio
 esta blished, under heavy peaaitiis
 Farmers are exempted from the hoar
 Ing provisions.
 The bill also authorizes the Prei z dent to reQuisition for military or pa