Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-08-18
Food Control Bill, Giving the
President Extraordinary
Powers. Now Is Law.
GETTING after PR0F|TEERS
Government Predicts Record Breaking
Corn crop-German and Russian
Ministries Re-Formed-Elhu
Root Returns With Conf
dence in the Russian
II. Republic.
By EDWARD w. PIckARD.

The senate last Wednesday adopted
the conference report on the food con-
troll bill, the measure was signed by
Speaker Clark and President wilson,
and is now the law of the land, law
comforting on the president tremen-
dous powers over the food and fuel
supplies of the country, and designed
to protect the people from extorton.
Sixty-six senators voted for the bill
and seven against it. Those who per-
sisted in their obstructionist tactics to
the end were France, Gronna, Hollis,
Hardwick, La Toilette, Penrose and
Reed. Sherman and Gore both were
paired against the bill.
The law contains drastic prohibit
ton provisions. Thirty days after the
date of it's approval it will be unlaw-
full to use foodstuffs in the manufac-
ture of distilled beverages or to i'm
port distilled spirits for beverage pur-
poses, and the president will be EN-
powered to commander for military
purposes distilled liquors now held in
bond and to regulate or restrict the
use of foods In the manufacture of
wine and beer.
The senate also adopted the con-
ference report On the food survey bill,
designed to stimulate production and
to give the country information on
food resources, and thus the admins
tration's food control program was at
last completed.
Coal Prices and Profits.
Coal prices are causing a great stir,
especially in the Middle West, and in
Illinois the state council of defense
advised Governor Lowden to seize the
mines because the operators would
not sell at what was considered a
reasonable profit. The governors and
defense councils of 10 Middle West
States were asked to meet in Chicago
to confer on relief measures.
President Wilson last week made a
personal visit to the federal trade
commission and the department of
Justice to urge the Fastening of ac-
ton to curb high prices, and made it
evident that he intends to do every
thing In his power to stop the exact
ing of exorbitant profits. The war
Industries board followed up this by
announcing that American producers
selling war necessities to America s
allies would be permitted to make
only reasonable profits, provided that
the allies must recfprOcate in selling
to the United States and to one an
other. The president, moreover, has
said that the prices to the public must
be made the same as to the govern
ment.
Record-Breaking Corn Crop.
Cheering news came out of the de-
partment of agriculture in the form
of the August crop report, which in
dicates a corn crop Of 3,19l ,OOO,OU
bushels, the largest in the history OF
the country. The prospects improved
during July to the extent of 66,OOO,OOO
bushels, and general rains over the
corn belt since the reception OF the
data on which the report is based en-
nance still further the expectations OF
the farmers. The oats yield also will
be a record breaker, but the report
on wheat is bit disappointing. The
government already has under way a
campaign for the raising next season
of a crop of more than billion BUSH
els of wheat and S3OOO,OOO bushels OF
rye. The food control law authorizes
the fixing of fair prices fer wheat and
the sale by the government to the