New-York tribune., 1917-05-04
To Fix Prices for Food,
Fuel, Clothing and
Other Necessaries
Also to Control
Their Distribution
Authority to Regulate Mar
kets, Stop Manipulation,
Prohibit Brewing

Prohibit Brewing
Washington, May 3.-Absolute au-
thority to regulate, in its discretion, the
production, distribution and prices OF
food and other necessaries during the
war was asked of Congress to-day by
the Administration.
In a sweeping bill introduced with
Administration approval by Chairman
Lever of the House Agriculture Com
mittee it is proposed to empower the
the Constitution. to take these meas
ures whenever in his opinion the ma
tional emergency shall require:
I To fix maximum and minimum
L prices for food, clothing.
fuel and other necessaries, and
the articles required for their pro-
duction.
= To prescribe regulations TO gov
- ern the production of these
commodities and, if necessary, TO
requisition the producing fscto-
ries, mines or other establishments.
= To compel holders of neces-
~ saries to release them in
amounts insuring equitable distri-
button.
n To regulate exchanges in such a
way as to eliminate market
manipulation.
2 To compel railroads to give
~ preference to the movement
Of necesssries. ~.
4 To levy such importation duties
~ as he finds necessary to pre-
vent excessive dumping" Of for
eign products.
ITO impose limitations or prohi-
bitions upon the use OF grain
in the manufacture of liquor.
Can Set Food Grades
In addition, the Secretary OF Agri-
culture would be empowered TO estab-
lish standard food grades, to license
and control the manufacture, storage
and distribution of foods, to prescribe
the percentage of -four to be milled
from wheat, and to regulate the mixing
of wheat -four with other -four in the
making of bread and other food.
Mr.. Lever declared tonight there
was nothing in the measure TO disturb
legitimate business activities because
"it is hoped that the mere conferring
of the more extreme new powers will
be sufficient without its becoming nee.
essary to exercise them
1t is known that officials of the execu-
tive branches of the government hold
the same view, believing that with such
effective weapons in their possession
they will encounter no difficulty in lin.
ing up on the side of the public inter-
est without legal action all recalcitrsnt
private agencies.
Third Measure To Be Framed
The bill is supplemental to the Ad-
ministration food measure introduced
in the House earlier in the week, pro.
viding for a survey of the country's
food resources and conferring certain
powers to prevent food speculation
This measure was ordered favorably re-
ported from the Agriculture Committee
to-day, after the committee had reduced
the appropriation carried from s25,0OO,'
900 to approximately S20,0O0,000, and
had eliminated a section authorizing
the Secretary of Agriculture TO order
the immediate sale of any food in such
condition that unless promptly disposed
of it would become unfit for use. The
section will be incorporated in = com
ing third measure, which is TO confeI
broad powers on the Council OF Ma
tional Defence.
Mr.. Lever expects to get both OF the
bills up for action in the House mex,
week. The first already is pending IN
the Senate and the supplemented meas
ure probably will be presented there 10
morrow.
The new bill" said Mr.. Lever, "deals
with all the necessaries of life. inclgd-
ing foods. feeds. shoes, clothing, fus.
and articles REQUIRED for their produe
ton. The measure is intended only 70
meet the present emergency. II is lin
tied to the period Of the war and q suf.
fcient time thereafter for readjust'
ment.
Purposes of the Bill
The purposes are 70 stimulate pre-
duction, t. reduce waste, TO clear the
channels Of distribution, to preven'
boarding. 70 assure fair prices, 20 elm
mate injurious speculation. to pro
hibit evil practices on exchanges ana
to protect the public against extortior
THE suggested legislation recog
niZes that the war will disturb the nor
NAL courses of trade. Accordingly. Il
provides machinery, FIRST. for stimulst
ing production and regulating distribu
tion so as 10 assure q fair profit q
those entitled 20 il; second, for pre-
venting the exploitation OF neeeSsarie'
II Al a a. "A