Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-04
Administration Asks for
Absolute Authority in
Distribution.
WOULD FIX THE PRICES
Clothing, Fuel and Other
Necessities Also to Be
Regulated.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-Absolute
authority to regulate in it's discretion
the production. distribution and prices
of food and other necessities during
the war was asked OF congress today
! by the administration.
In "A bill introduced with adminis-
| tratlon approval by Chairman Lever
| of the house agriculture committee 1t
| Is proposed to empower the president
| under the war clause of the constitu-
tion to take these measures whenever
| in his opinion the national emergency
shall require:
To fix maximum and minimum
prices fer food, clothing, fuel and
| other necessities and the articles re-
quired for their production;
Would stop Speculation.
To prescribe regulations to govern
| the production OF these commodities
and II necessary to requistion the
| producing factories. mines or other
establishments;
70 compel holders of necessities to
reletse them in amounts insuring
equitable distribution;
To regulate exchanges I'm such
way as to eliminate market manipu-
lation;
To compel railroads to give pi refer
ence to the movement of necessities.
To levy such importation duties as
he finds necessary to prevent excess
sive dumping Of foreign products:
and
Limit Grain for liquor.
To impose limitations or prohibi-
tions upon the use of grain in tho
| manufacture OF liquor
In addition, the secretary of agri-
culture would be empowered to es-
| tablish standard food grades
To license and control the manu-
facture, storage and distribution OF
foods, to prescribe the percentage OF
flour to be milled from wheat and to
regulate the mixing of wheat flour
with other flour In the making OF
| bread and other food
Would Not Distrub Trnl,c.
In statement tonight Mr.. Lever
declared there was nothing in the
measure to disturb legitimate bus-
ness activities because IL is hoped that
the mere comforting of the more ex-
tremc new powers will be sufficient
without its becoming necessary to
exercise them. 1t Is known that Of
| ficials of the executive branches OF
the government hold the same view.
| believing that with such effective
weapons in their possession they Will
encounter no difficulty in lining up
without legal action all recalcitrant
private agencies.
The bill Is supplemental to the ad-
ministration food measure introduced
I'm the house early in the week pro-
/ VldnG for survey of the country's
| food resources and comforting certain
| powers TO prevent food speculation.
This measure was ordered favorably
reported from the agriculture com
mittee today, after the committee had
| reduced the appropriation carried
! from $25,000,000 TO approximately
| 100000 and had eliminated a Sec
| ton authorizing the secretary of agri-
| culture 10 order the immediate sale OF
any food in such condition that un-
| less promptly disposed of II will be-
| come unfit for use. The section will
be incorporated I'm coming third
measure. which is to confer broad
| powers on the council of national de-
! iense
To BE Up Next Week.
Mr. Lever expects to get both OF
the bills up for action in the house
/ next week The first already Is pend
| Ing in the senate and the supplement
tai measure probably will be present.
ed there tomorrow
The new bill" said Mr. Lever in
his statement, deals with all the nee
essares Of life. including foods feeds.
! shoes. clothing. fuel and articles re-
quired for their production Tho
measure is intended only to meet the
present emergency. 1t is limited for
the period OF the war and a sufficient
time thereafter for readiustment It
is based on the war clauses of the
constitution and is applicable thruout
the country irrespective of state lines
THE purposes are TO stimulate pro-
dnptinn ~ t.nlftra Nfaetn tlaur tho
channels OF distribution. TO prevent
boarding, to assume fair prices to eli
inmate injurious speculation, to pro-
hibit evil practices on exchanges and
to protect the public against extor-
ton"