The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-21
Department of Agriculture
to Take Charge Supply
and Regulate Prices.
MOVE IS GENERAL
THROUGH COUNTRY
Many States Taking Steps
to Increase and Con-
serve the Supply.
az ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, April 20.-Secretary
Houston today recommended to the
senate that the council of national
defense be empowered to fix maxi
mum and minimum food prices.
To meet the food situation, Secre-
tary Houston told the senate, the de-
partment of agriculture needs the
following authority and power:
'To make complete survey of the
food supply of the nation, with a
view to secure full information as to
its location, ownership, and where
it is needed, and complete knowledge
as to the instrumentalities andi agen-
cies that own, control, manufacture
and distribute food products.
"After investigation and in coop
Grafton with the trade interests in
volved, to establish market grades
and classes of farm products, includ-
ing seeds and standards for fecep-
tacles for such products, together
with authority, to effect a suitable
degree of supervision of their appli-
cation through such inspection serv-
lee as may be necessary.
ITO license and supervise the OPP
Grafton Of all plants, mills, packing
houses, canneries, slaughter houses,
breweries, distilleries, storage
houses, or other establishments of
factories in which food or feeds. agri-
cultural implements and machinery
and materials therefor, fertilizers, in-
secticides, fungicides, serums, toxins
viruses, and any other articles re-
quired for agricultural purposes are
prepared, manufactured or kept 70.
sale or distribution. This power
should include authority to make
rules and regulations governing tbs
use and oDeration of such enter
prises, including the taking Owe
and operation of them whenever suct
course may be necessary in the pub
lie interest.
ITO require the preference move
ment by the common carriers of tbs
United States of seed, fertilizers, in
secticides, fungicides, and farm i'm
. Elements or machinery or the mate
rails required in their manufac'
ture.
ITO enlarge the existing tele-
graphic market news service of the
department., which now covers llv'
stock and meats and certain foods
vegetables and other perishablcs, il
order to assist, by securing compre
hensive information from all ship
ping areas, in the distribution o.
PRODUCTS according to the proportion
ate requirements of the consuming
centers. Enlargement of this serv
ice would also tend to prevent undu,
shortage in any consuming center ant
provide against wastes due to tenn
porary oversupply of perishables par
1cular communities. The servici
would further assist in securing di
rect butings and thereby relieve, t
some extent at least, congestion o
transportation lines. 1t would ais
direct aid farmers by furnishing in
formation which would put them OF
IN equality with buyers and enabl
them to consign unsold products t
points where there is the creates
need for them.
In case of extreme emergency, tn
government should have power t
purchase, store and subsequently dis
pose OF food products to groups o
people or communities organized i
some form, and to fix maximum o
minimum prices. Perhaps the exer
cise Of this power should be lodge
N the council of national defense, t
De used only when directed by tn
President. 1t is probable the exist
ehce Of the power would make acEo
Unnecessary. The government shoul
nave full discretion in the matter.
night be wise to fix minimum pric
70 producers for only one importaT
commodity, just as it might be wis
70 Tx maximum price which col
sumers might be expected to pay fc
Ohiy one or several products.
It IS estimated that approximate
Y SZo,000,000 will be required
garry out the plans outlined herei
N order that prompt steps may I
AKen to put them into effect, it
urged that immediate action be takt
70 give the department the requisi
authority and fo roaLa available I'll