The Detroit times., 1917-05-21
Wilson Appoints Him
Subject to Action
of Congress
TO HAVE PRICE
FIXING POWERS
Will Serve Country En-
tirely Without
Remuneration

| Hoover, Formerly nehd OF the COM
mission for relief in Belgium, "di-
rector OF food administration" with
sweeping powers TO control the pro
duction. distribution and consump-
ton OF food in the United States.
Mt Hoover's new office IS contin-
gent upon the enactment by con.
gress OF the drastic food control leg
islation introduced in both houses
at the lnstigation OF the agrlcul
tural department With the enact
ment OF that legislation, MIR Hoov-
er will have supreme power OF the
food Industry OF the country. includ-
ing the power 10 Ak prices. He will
be responsible only 10 the presi-
dent
President Wilson, in his procla
nation appointing Mr. Hoover. says
that II is not intended 10 use this
! power except as u may become
necessary 10 curb the operations Of
speculators and 10 prevent cor
ners" BY fixing a reasonable price
AZ which spectators must sell
II may also become necessary in
the case OF certain crops. the presI.
dent SAYS, 10 guarantee a minimum
| price 10 the producer.
Nr Hoover accepted the presi
dents appointment with the under
standing that he should serve with
out remuneration and that his as
| sistants except those engaged in
/ clerical and routine duties should
be employed upon the same basis
In accepting the appointment Mr
Z Hoover issued statement IN which
he outlined the I'VE cardinal prin-
cipais Of food administration a.
follows
That the food problem Is one
Of wise administration and not ex-
pressed, by the words dictator or
controller. but food administrator
2-That this administration can
be largely carried out thru the co.
ordination and regulation OF the OK.
listing legitimate distributive agen-
cies supplemented by certain emer-
eency bodies composed OF represen.
tatives OF tho producers, distrjbu.
tors and consumers.
3-The organization OF the com.
munity for voluntary conservation
Of foodstuGs
That an important positions.
go far as may be. shall be filled
with volunteers
THE independent responsibility
OF the food administration directly
under the president. with the co
operation OF the great and admira.
bic organization OF the department
Of agriculture. the department OF
commerce. the federal trade com.
mission and the railway executives.
The presidents proclamation fol.
lows. in part
10 rs very desirsbie In order 20 pre-
vent Understandings or alarms
| and 70 assure cooperation In a vital
matter that the country should un-
drrFtoud exactly the scope and pur-
poe ut tfc very great powers which
I have thought II necessary in the
,If. Uns-aftcss 90 ask the congress 10
u' r uty hands with regard 10 our
food supplies.
Thnsc powers are very great In
decd but they are no greater than IL
has proVcd necessary to lodge In the
other governments which are con
Quoting this momentous war. and
their ohjed is stimulation and con-
servation. hot arbitrary restraint or
Injurious interference with the nor
nal processes OF production.
They are intended 10 beneht and
assist the farmer and all those who
play legitimate part in the prep
ara ion, distribution, and marketing
| OF foodstuffs
It Is proposed 10 draw a sharp line
| ~ distinction between the normal ac-
tivities Of tho government represent
cd In the department. % agriculture
In reference 90 food production. con-
srvation snd marketing on the one
hand and tho emergency activities
| necessitated by tho war I'm reference
o. the regulation Of food distribution
and consumption on the other.
To ne Dictator.
All measures intended directly to
| extend the normal activities OF the
department ~ agriculture in refer
epce To the production. conservation
and the marketing 81 farm cropS'wiil
be administered. as IN normal times
/ thru that department. and the pow
ers asked for over distribution and
| consumption over exports imports
1
| commodities. storing. and the like
| which may require regulation during
| the war Will be placed In the hands
% commissioner Of food admins
/ tration appointed by the president
and directly responsible TO him.
The objects sought 60 be served by
| tho legislation asked for are: Full
| inquiry into the existing available
| stocks u foodstufrs and into the
costs and prncttres 81 the various
fsod producing and distribution
| trades tho prevention 81 all un-
warranted boarding or every kind
| and ~ the control Of the foodRtuffa
| BY persons who arc not IN any tegit-
| innate sense producers. dealers or
traders. the requiEitioning whom
necessary for tho public use ~ food
supplies and - the equipment ncces-
/ sarv for handling them properly. the
| licensing ~ wholesome and leGiti-
| mate mixtures and milling percent
/ agcs and ne prohibition ~ the I'M
| necerearv or wanton use ~ foods
| Auth0ritH is asked also % estah-
/ Uah nrfcea-huf not In order % limit
/ The profits ~ the farmers. but only
a. guarantee 90 them when necessar,
q minimum price which will insure
/ 20 atterrpf new rrcra and ~ secure
| ne consumer aaa Mt evfortfon hv
hr~akinr up corners and attempts 80
| speculation when they 0ccur by tx
| fnc rfEnrariiv p reasona biz price
A. which middlemen must sell
| I have asked Mr.. Hoover % under
| take this ali-fwportant task % FOOD
/ distribution. lie has expressed hts
: Willingness @ 30 80 on condition that