New-York tribune., 1917-07-11

Lodge Fears Business Depression
If Food Control Bill Is Hurried
Tells the Measure Dsregards Economic and National
Laws in Giving the President Power to Control
Absolutely the Business of the Country

great economic mistake. this induc-
ing or compelling the copper producers
of this country TO sell at very low
price 20 our own government. | think
it would be more profitable in the end
10 the government 10 take, so FAR as
possible, its natural course.
81 do not understand that We have
asked or that England has given any
reduction of prices 70 US because we
are her ally in this war. | think she IS
emiIently wise not 10 do so; | entirely
approve of her attitude. | think It
would be a mistake for her 10 do other.
wise. and | think il would be an equal
mistake for US 10 do otherwise.
II want to call attention of the eN-
perience of France. She had ministry
which took upon themselves the powers
that We are now asked 10 grant with
out considering them 20 the President.
Each minister in his own department ex-
erciSed autocratic powers. IL seemed
the only way 10 meet the danger that
then confronted the country.
"Conceit in weakest bodies strong
est works. and you get some loca! man
suddenly invested with power to con-
troll his neighbors business or take his
neighbor's property, and his head is
very apt to be turned. That is what
happened in France. Then the Cham
bers came together. | do not think
they were any better fitted for execu-
tive function than any other parliamen-
tary body.
II know Congress is not fit for ex-
ecutive functions, and they were not,
but they appointed some committees
and investigated the situation, and
when the situation was laid bare that
had been created by the exercise
of these autocratic powers without re-
gard 10 constitutions or economic law
by members of the ministry, with the
best intentions in the world, they found
en- enormous waste OF money; they
found powers exercised In such way
as TO do great harm. Then France
turned and called the private industries
of the country. The government, with
all It's vast powers, was making 10000
shells day. They called in the prl-
vate industries, and in a short time
they were making 100000 shells a day.
Warns Against Abuse of Power
81 want to confne our legislation and
our grant of powers as far as possible
10 matters Immediately connected with
the war and the operations of our army
and navy. | know they are abnormal
times, but that does not prevent an
abuse of power, and human beings do
not change their nature materially in
war times when they get power in their
hands. IL is a tremendous temptation.
want to go no further than is abso-
lutely necessary. think this bill goes
a great deal too far. | do not think it
is necessary for food control 10 give
Mr.. Hoover or anybody else the right
TO fix the price Of cotton.
"You are involving yourself in grave
questions when you allow Mr.. Hoover
to fix prices. If you are going 20 fix
prices on wheat and establish mini
NUNS because the farmer is in Just a.
much danger, we had better do some
price fixing ourselves here and in the
House of Representatives, where the
farmers are represented, and not have
II done by a man who is thinking
neither of the shareholder nor the busi-
ness man or the farmer, but simply
how he can buy most cheaply for the
, Allies"