Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-24
WANTS
POWER TO HANDLE
FOOD SITUATION

war DuuScC Dill fdSSeS Sen.
ate-Acrimonious Debate in
House on War Tax Bill.
Washington. May 2o.-President Wilson
IN formal statement given out at the
White House places before the American
people the facts on which he bases his
request for immediate legislation. giving
him authority to appoint Herbert c.
Hoover a. food administrator" He said
frankly that It was absolutely necessary
that UNREASONABLE powers should be
placed In his hands.
THE objccls sought to be served by the
legislation asked for" says President
Wilson, ARE: Full inquiry into the OK.
listing available stocks OF foodstuffs ana
into the costs and practices Of the vari-
Gus food producing and distributing
trades; the prevention Of all unwarranted
boarding Of every kind and Of the control
OF foodstuffs by persons who are not In
any legitimate sense producers, dealers. or
traders; the requisitioning when neces-
sary for the public use Of food supplies
and Of the equipment necessary for hand
ling them properly: the licensing Of whole
some and legitimate mixtures and milling
percentages. and the prohibition Of he
unnecessary or wasteful use OF foods.
Authority 10 asked also to establish
prices. but not in order to limit the profits
OF the farmers. but only to guarantee
TO them when necessary q minimum price
which Will insure them q proht where they
are asked to attempt new crops and to
secure the consumer against extortion by
breaking up corners and attempts at
speculation. when they occur. By fixing
temporarily q reasonable price It which
middlemen must sell.
Il have asked Mr.. Herbert Hoover to
undertake this all-important task Of food
administration. He has expressed his
willingness to do 80 on condition that he
10 to receive no payment for his services
and that the whole Of the force under
him. exclusive Of clerical assistance. shall
be employed. 50 far a. possible. upon the
same volunteer basis. He has expressed
his confidence that this dffficult matter
OF food administration can be successfully
accomplished through the voluntary CO.
operation and direction Of legitimate dis
ltributers Of foodstuffs and with the help
OF the women Of the country"
Mr.. Hoover accepted Mr.. Wilson's invi-
tation entirely upon the assumption that
Congress would grant broad powers to
the President He has no desire to be
q dictator. he says. and his one desire was
to see the people solve their own prob
lens.
In the outline Of his plans a. food ad-
ministrator, Mr.. Hoover advocated,
among other things. the appointment Of
State food administrators who would CO.
operate with the national organisation.
He felt that there should be executive
bodies for the regulation Of certain criti-
cal commodities. His motto for the cam
paisn was. Eat Plenty. Wisely and With.
out Waste"
Cooperation With the allies on q broad
scale. he thought, was essential The
women Of the country could do more than
any others to aid in the home problems,
he said. and he advocated placing sugges-
tons before them from time to time q
to how they could cooperate In the
movement
1t is understood that the night for the
immediate adoption Of the food lesisla.
ton will be started a. soon a. CONGRESS
convenes on Monday.
Hoarding Of foodstuRs In private house.
holds 10 condemned by Secretary Hous.
ton as contributing to high food prices
There Is no need for people to gel
hysterical or panicky.'' the secretary
Gays. Doubtless many persons who have
laid In excessive amounts Of foodstu4l
may learn that they could have pur.
chased more favorably by following ordi.
nary practice. and that their stocks MAY
deteriorate in quality. People Of mean,
should realize that BY engaging in tn.
practice Of boarding they lay an add
tional burden on the less well-to-do PEG
pie. who are compelled to purchase from
day to day"
| WAR BUDGET PASSES SENATE.
The Senate Saturday cut the army and
navy urgency appropriation bill from s.,
:so.ooo!ooo to $3.3%Aoooooo and then pssset
II without dissenting vote. The $4s.o00
900 reduction was made in the appropria
ton for army horses. Senator Weeks
who offered an amendment cutting tina
item from $7s,ooo.ooo to $4,000 900. explained
that the war department had found 4
would not need so many horses. as 4
would not be necessary to send cavalry Il
France for time At least.
The passage OF the bill, carrying tn,
greatest amount ever voted in ono bill b,
Congress. was facilitated. II was believet
at the Capitol. by the conference at tn,
White House between President Wilson
and Senators Lodge. Knox and Gallinger
At that conference the President took tn,
three republican senator's into his full
confidence. explaining the necessity 70
the pending legislation and dvulging in
formation that had been withheld from
the Senate.
The appropriation bill as passed give
tho President power TO take over tho ship
building plants of the country. build mar
chant ships and war vessels. ESTABLISH
military posts. training camps, arsenals
in fact to do everything needed to put tn
country's naval and military forces upol
an efficient fighting basis.
The chief item in the bill is that Of $750.
900, 100 for taking over the shipbuilding IA
cilit!es Of the country, Of which $400, 900.
mo is made Immediately available. Powe
IL given to the President to purchase al
ships being built In the United States 70
foreign owners. including 1ss for the Gun
ard company. Authority to build subma
rineS and to rush work on battleships an
any other war craft Is given In the bill
HEATED DEBATE ON TAX BILL.
The House debate on the war taxatio
bill reached an acrimonious stage Satur
day when the words "demagogue" an
unqualified falsehood" were used in tn
discussion Of an amendment to strik
from the bill tho ave per cent tax o
electric light bills. Representative Goo
Of Iowa. republican, insinuated tina
there had been a deal between Chairma
kitchin Of the ways and means com
mittee and Representative Fordney. rank
ing republican Of the committee. In tn
} consider alton OF the sugar and Tobacco