The sun., 1917-04-21
Secretary Of Agriculture
Outlines Radical Plan
to Senate.
HE WOULD FIX PRICES
Suggests Government Lii
rense and Supervise All
Production.
SEEKS COMPLETE SURVEY
Value Of Food Materials in A.
cohOlic Drinks Is S1t5,-
100000 a Year.
SEEKS COMPLETE SURVEY


AsnISgroN, April 2o.--Authotity for
the Government in the event of severe
food crisis TO purchase provisions and
distribute them to the people and to Ak
maximum and minimum prices was
asked OF Congress to-day by Secretary
David +. Houston in letter to the SEN
ate in which he suggested food lcg!sla-
tion of more drastic nature than that
in force in any OF the European coun-
tries with the possible exception OF Ger
many
The Secretary would have the Govern
ment's control OF the food situa ton as
nearly absolute as it H. possible 20 make
il lie asked that his Department be
given authority to license and supervise
the operation OF all plants. mills. pack
ing houses. canneries, slaughter houses.
breweries. distilleries and all other es-
tablishments in which foodstufrs. farm
implements and supplies and all other
articles used for agricultural purposes
are manufactured or handled. He sug
gested but did not definitely advocate
the reduction or prohibition OF the man
ufacture OF malt and distilled liquors.
..o, .,.s nm mn ,ro-., =, ,ooa
's'"s ''"' si''''''
grain IL useo IN tnese industries an
nually In the United States.
The authority requested would not
~
only include the power 10 oirect ana su-
narvise and make rexulations but would
,,a-,ri, tho Dana -meut III IL deened ad-
'isaoie' 10 'Ahe '>.' "''u w"
ever businesses and industries II w!shed
The SECRETARY did not know that the
1,,,, ro,,d a.s,r. a, opcs to OK.
80. w.. ahso,,,,a ,,owar granted II hut
e'N'Hv '''e ,,ta.,,, sho,,id ~.
ne thousn w, M ,h,, ., ,,o,,la t,e
granted ''iiI''.une ,na,n,. 50
aNaI!apIe III th'e VI e"te. 90. ono
lie asheu d" "Pp' 0P' ''''0, "
Ooo TO carr! o. 'ne ,'eN "u1.'' Va
Department ana trseu ,otsresS " ,.
mediate acton IN oroer 'nat the re.
partment might nave 'He P'"e' -
needed.
Secretary Houstons scheme.
r. .. -, food situation, Sec-e,a-y
,,s ,,, ,ho senate tho Dena-t
-, .sr1,,,,,ure moods tho following
',,''o.,., a,d nower.
..r,o ~ ,,,,L comn,e,. survey of the
.o,I s,,r,l,. ~ .he nation with "A view TO
- - rsh,, ard uhera I, ia Ned
and complete knowledge as to the In
strumental!ties and agencies that own.
control. manufacture and distribute food
products.
After Investigation ard In coopera-
ton with the trade interests involved 10
establish market grades and classes OF
farm products, including seeds, and
standards for reC'ptaclss Tor such prod
ucts, together with authority 10 erect a
suitable degree or SUPERVISION or thelr
application through such inspection SER
vice AS may hc necessary
TO license ana supervise the opera
,ion OF all plants, minis. packing houses
oanneric1. slaughter houses bre"er!es.
dist'HerieT, storage houses or other es-
tabIi ishinents or factories IN "".ch 1000
or feeds as'l'uIturai thpieHeI''S anu
ma N'h'.N anu n'A"I'"'S uie'e'"'' ier-
TIMERS ihSe''l'lh'e' ii'eIcineS' SCI i'hS'
Z TOXINS N!ruses ana any otner arucles re-
quI!td LOT aet'cu!'dI"l purpose are pre-
pared. mdh"'an!ured OF NtPt 10, s"'e or
distribution rms po"er snouIo ,hc.une
auth"l'F 10 MAKE fuies ano reshia,ons
governing 'he use anu opcra,o'i OF Such
anu oPsIa.''' v, .n "m, ~ ',,,,,n sn,n
'""' "
,s s.,
.,r. ,,,r ~, ,. ,,.,
''nu'. ."e nv, ,rnte",
.! Wv ., .a,.W1.s Wv ~"
s,',.,t go -, ,,,,ria,,,,,s ~ -. 'u -
-. ~ ,a,.r,ais r.,',,nnS ~, -
',';y .n',,y y, 80 '''N'''' '' '''e''
..,ra arIar,. tho ox,s,,,o ,o,or,,,t,
,,orr., r,w's s.rv,c. -, ,hn Da,os,',,n,,, ,,a,0
,,'hiah ,n,, coy.-s ,,,'. 60, "a ,o,s
a,'d nsr,aI, ,oods yocs,ohIss ana go
ror,s shoh,o. IN orJor 70 ,.s,., hv s.,,,.
49,, ,n,,,nr.bo bors,va irfn-r'o,Ia, -, ~
.t1,,tn, arsaa j., ,ha ais,r,hn,,n,, -,
rrnduc's ac,ord,rr ~ ,hs ,rnnor,,nr,,s =
raa,,tr.m.rts or tho consrn,,nn ,on,ros
IrIarcsmen, ~ mis- eeryIre would also
,-,'a - ,,roy.n, ,,,,dra shor,a,a ~ a,,.
,,.a.,,as Suo IN ,.rnor,r,, ayorsm,'',,.