Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-08-23
Food Control Bill, Giving the
President Extraordinary
Powers, Now Is Law.
GETTING after PUOFITEERS
Government Predicts Record Breaking
Corn crop-German and Russian
Ministries Re-Formed-EIihu
Root Returns With Conf
dence In the Russian
Republic.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

The senate last Wednesday adopted
the conference report on the food con-
troll bill, the measure was signed by
Speaker Clark and President Wilson,
and Is now the law of the land, law
comforting on the president tremen-
dous powers over the food and fuel
supplies Of the country, and designed
to protect the people from extortion.
Sixty-six senators voted for the bill
and seven against it. Those who per-
sisted in their obstructionist tactics to
the end were France, Gronna, Hollis,
Hardwick, La Toilette, Penrose and
Reed. Sherman and Gore both were
paired against the bill.
The law contains drastic prohibit
ton provisions. Thirty days after the
date of it's approval 1t will be unlaw-
full to use foodstuffs in the manufac-
ture of distilled beverages or to i'm
port distilled spirits for beverage pur-
poses, and the president will be en-
powered to commander for military
purposes distilled liquors now held in
bond and to regulate or restrict the
use of foods in the manufacture Of
wine and beer.
The senate also adopted the con-
ference report on the food survey bill,
designed to stimulate production and
to give the country information on
Good resources, and thus the admins
trataon's food control program was at
last completed.
Coal Prices and Profits.
Coal prices are causing a great stir,
especially In the Middle West, and in
| Illinois the state council of defense
advised Governor Lowden to seize the
mines because the operators would
not sell at what was considered a
reasonable profit. The governors and
defense councils of Is Middle West
States were asked to meet in Chicago
10 confer on relief measures.
President Wilson last week made q
personal visit to the federal trade
commission and the department of
Justice to urge the Fastening Of &C
tson to curb high prices, and made 1t
evident that he intends to do every.
t1aing In his power to stop the exact
ing of exorbitant profits. The wal
industries board followed up this by
announcing that American producers
selling war necessities to Americas
allies would be permitted to make
only reasonable profits, provided thai
the allies must reciprocate in selling
TO the United States and to one an
other. The president, moreover, has
said that the prices to the public mus
be made the same as to the govern
ment.
Record Breaking Corn Crop.
Cheering news came out Of the de
partment of agriculture in the form
Of the August crop report, which In
dicates corn crop of 3,191 ,000,O0'
bushels, the largest in the history o
the country. The prospects improved
during July to the extent of 66,OO0,0O'
bushels, and general rains over tn
corn belt since the reception of thu
data on which the report is based en-
hance still further the expectations o
the farmers. The oats yield also will
be a record breaker, but the repor
IN wheat is a bit disappointing. TIL
government already has under way
campaign for the raising next season
NJ n crop OF more than a billion bush
els of wheat and 100000 bushels o
rye. The food control law authorize
the fixing of fair prices for wheat an
che sale by the government to tn