Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-01
Proposed Measures Do Not
Provide for Regulation Of
Prices or Cutting Off Brew
ers' Grain Supply.
ASK $25,000,n0O TO
ADMINISTER PROGRAM
Legislation Designed to BringI
About Equitable Distribu-
J ton; Investigation Of High
! Prices Begun,

tsy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wirsl
Washington, April 30--The admin
istraton's food control legislation was
introduced today in both houses OF
congress.
In the house Chairman Lever Of the
agricultural committee offered a bill
to give the agricultural department
direct supervision of food production
and distribution. The program was
put before the senate in a resolution
by Senator Gore, chairman of the
senate committee.
The measures proposed do not cover
price fixing or controliof grain enter
ing into the manufacture of liquors.
Both these subjects viii be dealt with
later.
Twenty-Five million dollars is asked
for the agricultural DEPARTMENTS use
in administering me program. The
legislation calls for all immediate sur
vey of the counfy's food resources
and confers power upon the depart
ment to MISREPRESENTATION and price
manipulation. 1T would provide for
equitable distribution and would sus-
pend the lawlpphibiting the mixing
of flour. It wohld establish and en-
force standards'for agricultural prod
ucts and for fertilizers.
Governors at Conference.
Under the measures asked, the Sec
retary of agriculture could, If the
government thought it necessary,
license or operate any business OF
manufacture, storage or distribution
of food, fotd materials or seeds, He
could COMPEL concerns so licensed to
fran fron unjust or discriminatory
practices or charges and could force
them to txact fair prices only.
The federal trade commission, di-
rected By President Wilson to investi-
gate with the agriculture department
the causes of high food prices, started
its inquiry today with hearing at
which representatives of state food
comm missions old of food conditions
throughout the country.
Forty states were represented at the
conference, and four governors at
tended in person, Milliken Of Maine,
Frazier Of Moth Dakota, Beckman of
Rhode Island, ami Harris of Georgia
Many of the representatives blamed
high prices on mpdlemen and on poor
transportation mthods Some thought
there was no acttl food shortage and
deplored the pu hicity given to re-
ports of poor weat crop. Hoarding
by housewives ah others, they said,
had taken muchfood from the mar
kets and had adfd to general hys-
terra.
Car shortage argely to Blame.
Governor Ffahr declared there
was something rong with distribut-
ing systems whet last fall re-
ceived less than II bushel for pota-
toes and saw thin sold at retail thi.
spring at more ian IS.
A. E. Reynold a grain dealer rep
resent,hg 1ndia1, said a shortage of
railway cars WI largely responsible |
for nigh wheatorices
ut the houses sbesides the admins. |
trstion measurea bill was introduced |
~ Representatfe Sabath of Illinois |
ITO regulate thes,rices of the necessi- |
ties of life thrdgh federal commits !
sion.
The senate agriculture committee
referred to subcommittee Sena,or
Gronna's bill prohibit the use of
grains and frms in the manufacture
of alcohol durirg the war. No action
on this meas,he is looke2 for until
the committee has concluded work on
other phases, of the food problem. A
large part Of The governments reve-
nue. nSw comes from the tax on liq-
uors apd this will be considered in
a studyof the lpill.