Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-08-14
Sweeping Powers Given Wilson
When Congress Passed Food Bill

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With the Exception Of the Rev
enue Measure This Is the Last 5
Important War Legislation Be-
fore Congress Fight Against 5
Act Occupied 100 days. 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
vailed upon the senate and house con-
ferees to eliminate senate amend
ment, inserted by two Overwhelming
votes Of 63 to 10 and 60 to %.
Comprehensive powers are given In
the bill, passed as war measure, to
assure adequate supply and equitable
distribution Of the named necessaries,
to facilitate their movement, to pre-
vent, locally and generally, scarcity,
monopoly, boarding, injurious specula-
ton, manipulation or private control
affecting supply, distribution and move
ment.
Smoot Amendment Edited.
Other provisions of the bill fix a
minimum price for wheat beginning
next year at not less than 81 per stand
ard bushel; provide for coal and coke
price fixing, communicating and gov
eminent operation Of factories and
mines producing necessaries; for gov
eminent purchase, sale and requisition
of various necessaries and for federal
licensing of agencies producing and
handling them.
The prohibition provisions, a compro-
mise for "bone dry" prohibition pro-
posed by the house, prohibit manufac-
ture and Importation Of distilled liquors
for beverages during the war, author
ize the president to suspend manufac-
ture Of malt, fermented and vinous
liquors or to limit their alcoholic con-
tent and authorizes and directs" the
president, in his discretion, to COM
mandecr distilled beverages in bond or
stock when necessary for rehabilitation
into alcohol for military or other public
defense purposes or to conserve food
stuffs.
Congressional leaders understand the
president does not intend to comman-
deer distilled spirits or to curtail their
unless military exigencies
require. The so called Smoot amend
ment, directing federal purchase Of dis
titled beverages In bond at cost plus
10 per cent profit, was eliminated.
Will Control Coal. J
Sweeping powers to control coal
prices also are provided. The bill au-f
tDorizes 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 methods OF SALE
shipment and distribution among deal
ers aud consumers, and to requisition
and operate mines or other coaling ia
cilities.
A system of federal licensing of all
agencies related to the production,
and distribution Of the
designated necessaries also is provid-
ed, and rigid provisions against hoard
ing, speculation and monopolization es-
tablished under heavy penalties. Farm
ers are exempted from the boarding
provisions.
The bill also authorizes the presi-
dent to requisition for military or pub
lie defense needs all necessaries named
and, to guarantee reasonable prices to
producer and consumer, to buy and sell
fuel, wheat, -four, meal, beans and po-
tatoes. The bill also authorizes the
president to requisition and operate
any factory, packing house, mine or oil
pipe line, at just compensation, Tor
military or public defense uses.
Regulation Of grain and other food
stuff markets to prevent injurious
or undue enhancement OF
prices, Is another power conferred upon
the food administration through the
president
Another clause, inserted by the SEN
ate after much criticism Of alleged sale
by members Of the advisory commits
sioners of their own products to the
government, prohibits federal agents
from soliciting or inducing contracts
with the government in which they are
interested.
Herbert Hoover and his aids are es-
tablished at their new quarters in the
Hotel Gordon, Washington, and Mr.
Hoover soon will make public the
procedure which he has decided upon.
Enough IS known Of Mr.. Hoover's pur-
pose to warrant the statement that he
is not going to be content with any
merely perfunctory enforcement of the
law.
It is palpable that II the law is car
ried out with the exercise Of even half
the authority conferred by congress the
Hoover food administration soon will
find itself battling agafns. the tremen-
dous opposition of the great special In
terests which SO long have fattened on
food distribution and manipulation.
Also it is obvious that If the public Is
to get relief the opposition Of these in
terests must be expected, and it would
be a waste of time to try to get along
with them Deacefully,