Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-10
WILSON AFFIXES
HIS SIGNATURE
To CONTROL BILL

WASHINGTON, d. c., August TO-
The food control bill, which became a
law with the affixing of President Will
sons Signature today, establishes dur
ing the war, broad government control
over foods, feeds, fuel, fuel oils, nat
lural gas, fertilizer and its ingredients,
toools, utensile and equipment re-
CURED for the actual production of all
such products designated "necessa-
ries"
In establishing government control,
! the bill authorizes the president to en-
ter into any voluntary arrangements,
create or use any agency or agencies,
to accept services of any person with
out compensation, to cooperate with
any agency or person, to utilize any de-
partment or agency of the government
and to coordinate their activities.
In pursuance of such authorization,
President Wilson plans to appoint Her.
bert C. Hoover food administrator. Con-
troll of other necessaries named may
be accomplished through other agen~
cies. The house provision for an indi-
vidual food administrator was en-
acted only after the president had pre-
vailed upon the senate and house con-
ferees to eliminate a senate amend
ment, inserted by two overwhelming
votes of 63 to 19 and so to 23, propos-
ing board of food of three subject to
senate confirmation.
Comprehensive powers are given in
the bill, passed as a war measure. to
assure adequate supply and equitable
distribution of the named necessaries,
t. facilitate their movement; to pre-
vent, locally and generally, scarcity,
monopoly, boarding, injurious specula-
ton, manipulation or private control
affecting supply, distribution and
| movement.
Other provisions of the bill fix
reXt year at not less than 50 per stan
dard bushel; provide for coal and coke
price fixing. Communicating and gov
ernment operation of factories and
mines producing necessaries; for gov
ernment purchase, sale and requisition
CT various producing necessaries, and
for federal licensing of agencies pro>
ducing and handling them
The bill appropriates fund of
s150,000,0O0 to be used in its admin
istration and $10,oo00Oo for federal
purchase and sale at cost of fertilizer.
The prohibition provisions, COM
promise for bone dry" prohibition
proposed by the house, prohibit man
ufacture and importation Of distilled
liquors for beverages during the war,
authorize the president to suspend the
manufacture Of malt, fermented and
yinous liquors or to limit their alec
hclic content and authorizes and di-
rects" the president, in his discretion,
to commander distilled beverages in
bond or stock when necessary for re-
distillation into alcohol for military
or other public defense purposes, or to
conserve foodstuffs.
Congressional leaders understand the
president does not intend to comman-
deer distilled spirits or to curtail their
consumption, unless military exigen-
cies require. The so-called Smoot
amendment directing the federal pur
chase of distilled beverages in bond
at cost, plus 10 per cent. profit, was
eliminated
In lieu of house provisions authorize
ing the food administration to fix min
imum prices for all necessaries, the
law provides that the food adimnistra-
tion shall fix a minimum price for
wheat alone Until May 1, 1902 the
bill provides that the basic price shall
not be less than $500 per bushel bas-
ed upon No. / spring northern at all
primary markets.
Sweeping powers to control prices
also are provided. The bill authorizes
the president, through the Federal
Trade commission or other agency, to-
fix coal and coke prices, at the mines
and among wholesalers and retailers,
to regulate method of sale, shipment
md distribution among dealers and
consumers, and to requisition and OPP
crate mines orc ther coaling facilities
A system of federal licensing Of all
agencies related to the production.
transportation and distribution Of the
designated necessaries also is pro-
sided and rigid provisions against
Continued on Last Pagel