The Washington herald., 1917-02-23
FOOD ISSUE BATTLES
CONGRESS AS RIOTINC
CONTINUES IN CITIES
President Urges Appropria-
ton of 100000 to Re-
lieve Famine Conditions in
the Centers of Population
Throughout the Nation.

I ule SentefS OF reputation
Throughout the Nation.
The food crisis and sensational hunger
conditions in nation prosperous beyond
precedent brought little beyond bewiIder-
ment to Federal officials yesterday.
No course OF action was determined
Upon as prices continued to climb and
rioting in the big cities grew worse. The
of the day:
PRESIDENT Wilson pressed Congress for a
$4,000 appropriation to finance a high
cost-of-living probe by the Federal Trad
Commission,
The Department OF Justice started .
investigate charges Of conspiracy by spec
ulators to control prices.
| secret Service men were despatched TO
probe allegations that foreign spies had
instlgated food riots to embarrass the
J government
May Boycott Foods.
Nationwide boycott on high priced
foods may be called for by procIa nation
from the White House.
| The Interstate Commerce Commission
continued its drastic campaign TO end the
| car shortage, blamed for lack Of food
stuns on the Atlantic seaboard
Agitation in Congress for an embargo
on expectation OF foodstuffs to Europc,
Representative Meyer London. Social
/ ISL introduced a bill to expend s. OOO 600
10 reed the poor and needy through a
Federal food emergency commission.
senator Borsh indicated he would ask
Ior an appropriation OF Soooo,OcO for the
same purpose, IL il became necessary.
The railroad car shortage commission
made the direct charge that snec,IIsto-,
are manipulating food prices to increase
profits.
The car congestion in North Atlantic
ports was partially relieved.
| Despite the furry OF excitement and
tne Saivanic effect on the heads OF gov
eIhneht or the realization that thou
SANDS OF people are facing actual want
! there was no definite action in ssgbt Ias,
night. Only the dynamite camnaIpn ~
Inc interstate Commerce Comnission 10
move freight cars loomed up as an actuaI
step 10 relieve the people and the rau-
ROAD heads in Washington declared ,ba,
the car shortage could not be held re-
80 lot the shortage OF food and
Iuel IN tho great cities
Drastic Action Needed
Ihere was a growing feeling toriybt
mat drastic action by President v-sISo,
"ouiu oe lorced unless unforeseen relief
~ une cties Is forthcoming. What's tens
ne mleht take were not anna rent but
mere were suggestions OF nation rri5e
uoScoIt on high-priced foods. prompted
| ny an Official proclama ton. The demand
ior an embargo on the expectation of
ioodstufs TO Europe which has haen
apparent in Congress for months. again
showed signs OF strength II was stated
| however hat he
sent 10 any embargo proposal at this
! Tune. and that the administration feeIs
that 1000 conditions in this country arc
IN no way due 10 the exports to Europe.
Meantime, throughout the country
prices continue TO soar From AL the
great cities came reports Of enormous in
Creases in the prices demanded for yoVe-
I ables and other staple products. No gov
ernment agency would undertake to as
sign reason for the increases h1t
/ they were accepted as Indicating a scri-
Gus condition. From various sources csT,,a
various charges as 10 the cause Of the
climb. Eastern dealers declared that their
local supplies wee exhausted and that tn.
| car shortage prevented them from re-
plenishinE.
Actual Shortage. CIatu
! Western commission men declared that
an actual shortage OF food crops was tc
{ food
I spectators were boosting prices and try
/ ing 10 throw the blame on the railroads
! through the car shortage American RaiI-
| way Association officials declared yester-
day that food trains are moving freely
! to the great cities The Interstate Com
merce committee also received reports i'll
dicatins the gradual clearing away Of
| the freight congestion.
| The Department Of Justice. through its
]
Of the riotous conditions in the great
! cities. 1t was stated here that organiza-
tions affiliated with the Industrial Work
ers OF the World have been active In
/ pressing their, propapanda in present con-
ditions. The leaders are under observa-
! ton. and Department of Justice officials
say that they are apprehensive that seri-
Gus rioting and bomb outraces will ensue
unless drastic remedial steps are taken
at once. Starving women and children.
driven to desperation by lack Of food, ana
| Historically raging through the cities
seeking food, cannot be handled with
shotgun and blackjack methods, Il was
declared. Some means OF relief must be
found, administration leaders said, that
will promptly and erficaciously remove
the cause of the rioting.
Probe Is Ordered.
Secret Service men and special agents
OF the Department Of Justice have been
ordered to investigate and report at once
on rumors that foreign intrigue has been
| in some way responsible for the food
riots. Government agents were dispatched
to Philadelphia, New York. Jersey City
and Chicago to look into this phase OF
the matter r
mssss sss'!;o con@'sson 6ssssSa 2y ter EsaEg
l6S,ooo freight cars We ses
to receive traffic, or bad weather. on
February s. These cars were largely con-
gested at the North Atlantic sesports.
Boston, New York, Philadelphia. Balti-
more, Cincinnati, Buffalo. Cleveland. De-
troit and Chicago.
| ""Telegrams received today" said Com
missioner McChord. SHOW that cars are
being moved rapidly out OF the con-