Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-25
100000 PROVIDED
FOR FOOD INQUIRY
BYU..S. AGENCIES
BorIand Amendment to the
Sundry Civil Appropriation
Bill Adopted by House.
CHAIRMAN FITZGERALD
OPPOSES PROPOSITION
Says While Government Is Wasting
Time in Investigation People in
Many Sections Suffer.

Many Sections Suffer.
AS urged by President Wilson, an
| appropriation of 100000 to enable the
federal trade commission to make an
| Investigation of the food shortage and
eXorbitant prices charged, was put into
the sundry civil appropriation bill last
night, when the amendment by Rep
! resentative Borland of Missouri was
carried, SO to 81 in the committee of the
whole.
Immediately after the vote rumor
was current in the lobbies to the effect
that several city democrats" would
| stick together on the final House record
| roll call vote in an effort to defeat the
| resolution. These democrats. it was
argued. would support the Fitzgerald
| embargo proposal. The New York and
Boston democrats were among those
| mentioned.
The vote was taken after a spirit
ed debate during which Representative
Fitzgerald of New York, chairman of
the appropriations committee, opposed
the amendment, asking why when the
people are dying for food we should
give them investigation which
would cost 100000 and would only tell
them after lapse of eight months
why they were hungry. He declared
| that the food situation had proved the
incapacity of Congress to deal with
1.-The most vital problem affecting the
| American people today"
Would Begin Work Immediately.
The investigation was ordered by
W hn baf
particular attention be given to charges
of combinations to control food prices.
The Department of Agriculture was
| asked to assist. Facts developed in an
| investigation started by the Depart
| ment of Justice will be turned over to
the trade commission.
The trade commission has outlined an
investigation to last six months and
go into every detail of food production
and distribution. If the appropriation
is approved by the Senate. the commits
sion will start Immediately on the in
quiry, taking up first the packing in
dustry- Most of the -country's packers
already have wired to the commission
that they will cooperate fully in any
Investigation the commission makes.
The Agriculture Department has pur-
sued food investigation for months.
but lack of inquisitorial powers has
Handicapped it The Department of
fined solely to law violations.
The trade commission has power to
take up all phases, legal and economic.
Amendment Precipitated Debate.
The appropriation was not included in
the sundry civil bill as framed by the
appropriation committee. and it's intro
duction as an amendment by Repre-
sentative Borland of Missouri precipi-
tated a debate on the general food sit
uation.
| Representative Bennett of New York
! told the House that there is less suf-
| fering in New York city this year than
| past fifteen years" He said that there
| had been what were called food riots,
but that they were largely the result
| of agitation.
| Representative Ferris of Oklahoma
| invited the people in crowded tene-
| ment districts to go west and earn
| living on vacant lands.
Questioned by Star reporter as to
| whether it was his plan, under his
| amendment to investigate corporations
only and let individuals and partner
ships who might be guilty of food
| speculation continue their practices.
| Mr.. Borland said:
| I'm framing the amendment we used
the strict wording indicated in order
| to stick closely to the clause in the
act creating the federal trade commits
| sion. in which it's powers are stipu-
| lated.
I'VE wished to avoid the possible
| raising of point Of order on this
score. But l am advised that. in an
| other clause, the commission is au-
thorized to investigate individuals and
| part erships and that they are ready
| to do so under this amendment. ! have
no doubt but that the investigation
| will cover all who may be guilty"
| In fighting the amendment on the
floor Representative Fitzgerald said, in
part:
Last October a member of parlia-
ment stated during a debate on the
that nothing had so angered the people
of that country during the last two
wears as the enormous profits made on
the supply of food unless it had been
the shameless excuses put up for them
by the government spokesman.
Congress Has Shown Incapacity."
! THAT statement not only can be re-
peated as to the situation in this coun-
try, but it can be added to by the state
ment that have shown the incapac-
ity of Congress to deal with the most
vital problem affecting the America n
i.people today.
The riots that have taken place." he
said. ARE not the riots of the thriftless
| and the worthless. 1t is the outrage
and indignant protest of the thrifty,
the Industrious and frugal who cannot
meet the demands for prices of food
that now exist"
Mr.. Fitzgerald referred to his two
embargo measures. saying:
! Il was met with the charge that to
stop expectation of foods necessary for
our own people would be taken as an
offense by some powerful. great nation
now engaged in deadly war. Mr.
Chairman, 1 have never got over my
indignation that the Congress of the
United States changed the Panama
canal tolls because we had displeased
| a great power. And that we could not
regulate our affairs for the American
people unless our action happened to
| coincide with what was for the best
interest of Great Britain and her peo-
pie.
i Favors Embargo of Munitions.