The Washington times., 1917-05-01
HOUSTON ASKS FOR
SPEEDED FOOD LAWS
Declares Nations Waste Amounts
to 100000, 900 Annually.

An estimate that the annual food
waste in this country approXimates
S70O, 900 and the statement that
''if this waste is to be prevented 1t
must be done by the housewives OF
the United States" was made before
the House Committee of Agriculture
today by Secretary Houston.
The Secretary of Agriculture ap-
peared before the committee to urge
early action on the food conservation
bill introduced yesterday by Chair
man Lever.
Mr.. Houston explained the plans Of the
Department Of Agriculture for handling
the problems of the production, trans
portation and sale Of foodstuns. The
department, he said. is to work in CO.
operation with State boards. He also
suggested the taking Of farm labor
census and the advisability Of postpon-
ing the opening Of schools in the autumn
so that youths OF the country may be
used for harvest work.
That woman must play her part In
stopping food waste, and probably In
the production and harvesting Of foods.
was asserted by Secretary Houston.
Discussing th- labor shortage in the
East. Secretary Houston said:
"In the section west of the Missis-
sippi and south of the Ohio the farm
labor supply is not very far below
the normal. There are Of course In
these sections of the country some
areas where labor is scarce, and we
have received reports OF migrations.
But reports of serious labor shortage
come chiefly from the New England
States, parts of Pennsylvania, New
York, Delaware, and New Jersey. 1t
is of the utmost importance't to be able
to assure the farmers in these sections
that thert will be abundant labor for
the harvest.
Labor Must BE Modified
"The Department OF Agriculture has
a plan to send into each OF the States
where labor is short an agent to CO.
operate with State central boards in
preparing for the harvest. Something
must be done to mobilize labor. BY
finding out just what the situation is
in each State we can be OF real as
sistance in extending aid through
State commissioners of agriculture.
We can, perhaps, induce laborers to
move from one section to another as
the time for the harvest comes around.
"It has been estimated" continued
Mr. Houston, "that there are more
than 100000 boys in the cities and
rural districts who could be utilized
in the harvest. 1t might be well even
to postpone the opening of the high
schools in the fall in order to impress
the boys into the work of gathering
in the crops.
THE Departmental Agriculture
should be given funds and authority
so that farm demonstration work
could be greatly extended throughout
the period OF the war. The women
of the country can be employed to
some extent in harvesting the food
supply and greatly in its conserva-
tion. 1t has been estimated that we
waste annually $T00, 900, 900 worth %
food. II this waste is prevented 1t
must be done by the housewives OF
the country. The women control
absolutely So per cent of the food
consumption Of the United States"
Bill Gives Broad Powers.
Other Government experts will fol-
low Secretary Houston in advocating
the stimulation OF agriculture as a
measure of national security and de- |
fense. The resolution at present un-
der consideration will be followed by
a supplemental measure or measures |
to further protect the people from
food shortage and from excessive |
prices.
Broad powers are bestowed upon |
the Secretary of Agriculture under the 1
Lever bill, and he is given general |
authority TO regulate the distribution,
and transportation of food |
stuffs and to establish a system of
licenses for dealers in food IL the sit
lation demands. Licensees would be
required to obey regulations of the
Department Of Agriculture. including
hose establishing reasonable prices,
DR. would be subject to fine and i'm