New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Anderson Refuses to Dele
gate General Powers
to the Executive
Seeks to Preserve
Legislative Rights
Representative Asserts That
Food Measure Goes Far
Beyond Needs
[Staf Correspondence

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.--Thc grow
ing opposition in Congress to delegat-
ing general powers to the executive
department was indicated again to-day
when Representative Sydney Ander-
son, Of Minnesota, Republican cham.
pion of the Lever food control
act. announced that he would no.
support the new food conservation bill
presented by Representative Lever and
indorsed by Herbert Hoover. The Min
nesota Representative, a member of the
Committee on Agriculture, set forth his
position IN letter to the food adj
ministrator
81 think | may fairly claim TO be
friend of food legislation and of the
food ADMINISTRATION" he said in the
letter. II desire to see food control
succeed not only because of it's i'm
perative and essential connection with
the successful prosecution Of the war,
but also for the sake of the food ad
mlnlstration. | cannot consent, how
ever. to the granting of the vague. in
definite. unqualified and unlimited
powers outlined in your letter or in
the bill to which l have referred and
dc justice to my own convictors as to
the character Of legislation which
ought to be passed at this time and my
obligation to my constituents and to
the country.
Says Bill Is Too Broad
Both propositions extend to the
regulation not only of the use and con-
sumption of foodstuffs and materials
alone. but to the regulation of the
production, the sale. the manufacture
and the distribution Of foodstuffs and
materials required for the production,
manufacture or preservation thereof
This language is broad enough to in
clude practically every article the mind
can conceive of and of every activity
Of the human race. 1t goes far beyond
the power necessary to etfectuate any
plan know or can conceive to be
reasonably required to accomplish the
necessary results.
"These powers also arc in conflict
with others heretofore granted to the
President and conferred upon other
agencies of the government. 1t may be
said that they are not in conflict be-
cause all of the powers have been con,
ferred upon the President and they are
therefore cumulative only.
81 do not think this position is ten
alb e, however, because Il power to regu-
late distribution granted to the Di-
rector General Of Railroads might be
very different power if granted to the
Food Administrator or the Fuel Ad-
ninistrator.
81 am willing to give to the Presi
dent, to be exercised through the Food
Administrator, any specific power
which it can be shown or antic ipated
will be reasonably necessary to be ex-
crc5ed to conserve the supply Of food
for ourselves and our allies, but it
does seem to me that we ought to
know enough about food administra-
ton now, and ought to have enough
regard for the proper exercise of the
legislative functions Of Congress to
provide the necessary authority in
specific terms.
ain making the suggestions which I
have outlined above, ] am actuated by
difficult, if not impossible, to pass any
legislation granting power in general
terms"
Other Measures Suggested
Witt, the letter Mr.. Anderson sent
Mr.. Hoover a rough draft Of the kind
Of measure he would support. He
would (a> authorize the President to
license public eating places; (b) pre-
scribe the percentage of flour 20 be
milled from wheat of various kinds,
classes or grades; (c) require mix
ture of other careal four with wheat
flour: (d) lcgal;ze wheasless and meat
less days promulgated by the food ad-
ministration; (e) limit or prohibit use
of any food in manufacture of any ar
ticle not intended for human consump-
ton;; () prescribe rations for public
eating places; Cd make rules and regu-
lations for carrying into effect the
specified powers.
Since Congress must answer to the
people Mr.. Anderson is insisting it be
told just what the food administration
expects to do.
"Congrcss has a right to have full
information of what it is proposed to
do. particularly in view of the recent
coal order" he said. IF the people of
this country are to be ratloned, it is for
Congress and lot the food admins
frQf IN