Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-10
DEATH knELL TOA|AC !.
FOR WAR PR0F|TEERs
AL Staple Food of American People
Under Government Control
After November I.
WILSON WILL ISSUE ORDER
Licenses Will BE Required for All
Dealers In Basic Articles, and
Watch on Operations Will Be Kept
by Food Administration.

WASHINGTON. October 9.-Virtually
all the staple food consumed by the
American people Will be put under gov.
crnment control on November l.
The food administration announced
tonight that within "A few days Presi-
dent Wilson will issue an executive
order requiring that manufacturers and
distributors Of some twenty funda.
mental foods operate under license re.
| strictions designed to prevent unrea.
sonable profits and TO stop speculation
and boarding.
Regulations will be prescribed for
meat packers. cold storeEe houses mil.
lers. Gamers, elevators. grain dealers
and wholesale dealers and retailers
doing business Of more than 500, 900
l'annually in the commodities to be
named.
Issuance Of the Presidents proclama.
ton has been delayed, the announce.
ment said. that the food administration
might complete conferences with rep-
| rescntatives of trades and producers
aud consumers. Already about 800
conferences have been held. at which
were planned regulations and construc-
tive methods Of control.
"It has been the desire of the food
administration" the announcement
continues. ito secure the operation
of all patriotic men in the various
boarding. unreasonable profits. waste
full practices, etc. in the great distribu-
tioE system Of the country.
The food administration has SOLICIT
ed about twenty basic commodities and
their products as forming the prime
basis OF life. and has limited its H.
censins control 10 the commodities and
also. insofar as practicable. eliminated
the smallest units Of business in these
staples.
1T is the purpose Of the food admin
istration 10 effect conservation in the
commercial use of these commodities.
and to keep them flowing toward tho
consumer la direct lines through the
channels OF trade in rs economical 4
manner as possible. The administration
does not wish TO disturb the normal
and necessary activities OF business,
and no business factor which Is per-
forming useful function will be ex-
pected TO surrender that function.
The proclamation will require all
OF those handling the commodities con-
ceTned TO apply for license before No,
vember !. upon forms which will Be
supplied upon application to the fosA
administra; sion.
applications will receive licenses
without cost. and the regulations gov
erning those dealing with the COM
modities licensed Will be iYsued in due
course.
After November ! no unlicensed psr-
, sons VIII be permitted 20 trade in the
commodities enumerated in the pro.
clamation Those who receive licenses
viii be required from time to time Ia
make reports to the food administra-
tion on their activities in prescribed
FORM. These reports will be care fully
safesuarded so that private Information
given to the government in confidence
VIII not be divulHed to Competitors Men
experienced In the production and NOR
chandtsinx OF the licensing commodi-
Ties VIII a'd in administering the law,
and legal department has been or
sanized to facilitate it's enforcement"