Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-24
Senator Fernald Enters
Espionage Bill Debate

Washington, D. c.. April 22.-(Spec-
| ial.o-Maine's Senior Senator. Hon.
Bert M. Fernald, took a hand, Saturday
afternoon in the discussion of 5. z"
which is the now famed espionage
measure Of the administration. In his
remarks upon the bill the Maine Sena-
tor did not touch upon the sections re-
lating to censorship. but to chapter
seven, which was not in the original
SOY BILL, having been added by the
committee on judiciary, which had 1t
under consideration and reported the
bill back to the Senate.
Chapter seven Of the spy bill Is iden-
tical with S1S67, an embargo measure,
introduced last Tuesday by Senator
Fernald While the embargo feature
of both bills is general, the main object
is to enable governmental conserva-
ton of food products and to keep down
| the price of neceSSarieS Of life. Sen
ator Fernald's move in supporting the
new section of the spy bill is regarded
here as very strategic one, as in the
event the espionage bill fails, his orig
inal embargo measure will still be
alive, and as it is endorsed by the De-
| VI AOlliIlicI &C anu thC oNAAAA
istration, is in a position to be enacted
while should the embargo section Of
the bill under discussion go through
the Senator will have accomplished
his object and have done, as it is be-
lieved in both the department of ag-
! riculture and commerce, something
toward checking the advance in the
cost of living.
The Senator said
Mr.. President:
We are now in war. and have no
time for consideration of theories
And / believe it to be my duty, as
we'll as that Of every patriotic citi-
zen of this republic to render such
service to our country as will enable
it to carry on this war with least re-
sistence, with greatest safety to our
people. and with most positive assur-
ance of a speedy and successful con-
clusion.
The time for speculation rs to our
policy as a nation has passed. The
time for criticism of our army
and navy, our Congress or our
President has ceased; and now. pa
triotic and united people, we should.
individually and collectively, regard
less Of race, color. religious or polit-
ical preferences. under the banner Of
freedom, strain every nerve. bend
every effort, and with all the zeal and
energy we possess. help to maintain
the honor and dignity of our country
and preserve the inaltenable rights for
which dur fathers fought and for
which we. their sons, are ready to de-
fend even at the cost Of our lives.
In this great struggle each can do
his part, and must render service
along lines for which he is best fitted
My life work has been along business
| lineS,-a conserver of foods,-and
/ naturally my attention Is focused in
| this direction. AS ex- president of the
National Gamers Association, and up
to the time of entering this body a
member of the executive committee Of
| that association and as a member Of
the committee%on Scientific Research
I have been in touch with purveyors Of
| food products in all parts Of the coun-
| try. And as early as January. antici-
pating declaration Of war, l began
! to acquaint myself with conditions,
that speedy and reliable information
| might be transmitted to Congress. and
I believe the time has come when such
information should be submitted.
Methods Of Preserving Food.
There are three methods Of preserv-
ing food, in a large and general way,
and only three: one is by cold storage,
one by drying, and the other by the
process of canning, or Theoretically
sealing. Each performs the function
for which it was devised with great
benefit to the people. The canning
| process. however, is much the larger
| and any failure on the part Of Gamers
to produce medium size or normal
pack this present season would prove a
great hardship. and be most disastrous
to the country. In fact, the canning
industry is so extensive and has devel-
! oped to such proportions that the best
! judges. or those who are in position to
estimate. claim that 80 per cent in value
| Of food consumed in this country is
packed in tin cans, and on inquiry Of
three large wholesale grocers Of New
York, Chicago and Boston, the reply
was that more than 40 per cent of their
business was in canned food products.
From these statements you will gain
reliable information as to the magni-
| tude of the canning business. In fact
the output Of our canneries in 1914. ac-
! cording to the census report, was $685.