The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-20
Places Carefully Drawn Pro-
pOsal Before Senate.
Complete Survey of Food Sup-
ply Would Be First Step.
CONTROL DISTRIBUTION, TOO
The Department of Agriculture
Would Supervise Operation.
Ii Advisable. Govt to Operate
Mills, Storage Houses.

! Washington, April 20.-Secretary
Houston today recommended to the
senate that the Council of National
Defense be empowered to fix minimum
and maximum food prices.
/ To meet the food situation Secretary
Houston told the senate the depart
ment of agriculture needs the follow
ing authority and power: ITO make
a complete survey of the food supply
of the nation with view to secure
| full information as to its location.
ownership and where it is needed and
complete knowledge as to the instru-
mentalities and agencies that own.
control. manufacture and distribute
food products.
| After investigation and in cooper
alton with the trade interests involv-
| ed. to establish minimum grades and
! classes of farm products, including
seeds and standards for receptacIes
for such products, together with au-
tority to effect a suitable degree of
supervision of their application thru
such inspection service as may be ne
J ceSSary.
| Power to Operate Plants.
ITO license and supervise the oper-
alton OF all plants, mills, cannerieS,
slaughter houses, breweries. distiller-
les, storage houses or other stablish-
mentS factories in which food or
feeds. agricultural implements and
machinery and material therefor, fer
! tilizers, insecticides, fungicides, Sc
runs, toxins, viruses, and any other
! articles required for agricultural pur-
poses are prepared, manufactured or
kept for sale or for distribution. This
power should include authority to
make~rules and regulations governing
the use and operation of such enter
prises, including the taking over and
operation of them whenever such
course may be necessary in the public
| interest.
ITO require the preference move
ment by the common carriers of the
United States of seeds, fertilizers, in
!secticides, fungicides and farm imple-
ments or machinery or the materials
required in their manufacture.
ITO enlarge the existing telegraphic
market news service of the depart
ment which now covers livestock and
meats and certain foods vegetables
and other perishables, in order to as
SiSt by securing comprehensive infor-
nation from all shipping areas in the
distribution of products according to
| the proportionate requirements OF the
consuming centerS. Enlargement or
! this service would also tend to prevent
| undue shortage in any consuming
center and provide against waste due
| to temporary oversupply of perish
ables in particular communities. The
service would further assist in secur-
ing direct routings and thereby re-
! lieve congestion to transportation
lines. it would also directly aid farm
ers by furnishing information which
would put them on an equality with
buyers and enable them to constgn
unsold products to points where there
1 is the greatest need for them.
! An Appropriation of $25,O00.0 900.
! An appropriation of $25, 900, eco is
asked to put the plan into effect.
Houston asked that appropriation and
authority be made Immediately avail
able.
! The plan lays great emphasis on
need of conserving the food supply
thru better handling, thru elimination
! of waste and thoro economy, especial
ly on the part of the well to do" 1t
is a result of cabinet conferences and
/ of the recent conference of depart
ment officials and representatives of
state boards of agriculture recently at
! st. Louis.
Coincidentally with the agriculture
departments announcement today the
federal trade commission announced
its plans shortly to institute its ma
tion-wide food price probe. Bills au-
thorizing this probe have passed house
and senate. The former body, how
ever. appropriated 100000 for the
work and the senate $3.50. 900. The
bill is now in conference, with prob
ability of a compromise soon
AS to organization, Houston said:
! State Agricultural Colleges to Aid.
''In the federal department, state
departments of agriculture and land
grant colleges. the nation already pos
sesses officially organized agencies
which, for many years have been ac-
| lively studying all agricultural prob
| lens. These agencies are all working
in closest cooperation.
THE nation also is fortunate in hav-
ing many important farmers organi-
cations, such as the Grange. Farmers
! union, American Society of Equity.
the Cleaners. Farmers National con-
gress, American National Live Stock
association, National Wool GrowerT
association and many others
Increase Flour IS Million Bbis.
"It is estimated that the flour sup
ply" said Secretary Houston, "on the
basis of a normal crop could be in
creased Is. 600, 900 barrels year thru
| the milling of wheat so as to make 81
per cent of the kernel into flour in
| stead of 73 per cent as at present.
The problem, however, has many sides
and various important issues are in
! volved Some of the European ma
dition to the food supply either by
4 quors or by reducing or prohibiting
has been roughly estimated that the
value of food materials entering into
the manufacture of alcoholic beyer-
ages in this country in one year on
/ the basis of prices lower than those
Il