The Washington times., 1918-01-29

implicitly. only to fnd that over a
score of manufacturers of Imitation
goods sprang up on all sides. sup
piled the trade to his great damage
and loss, and we were powerless to
give him any protection in his pa
triotic action.
Surely II is better that the con-
seryation OF sugar should be made in
the luxury trades and that they
should have protection In making ii,
than that we should draw upon
household supplies.
Wants Distribution Powers.
"The recent experience with sugar
also serves to prove the necessity to
have some further poweers in distri-
button. During the entire recent
sugar shortage the gross supply
amountede to so per cent Of normal
consumption yet we mad sporadic
famines and privation all over the
country because no organized distri-
button could be effected.
The greedy got the sugar and
others went without"
AS TO conservation measures neces-
sary to apply to commodities needed
for the production and preservation
OF foodstuffs, 1 may cite the case
AMMONIA WHICH CElNlCdllg
sary to maintain our cold stor-
age warehouses, In which must re-
pose $500, ,000, 900 worth Of food from
time to time. The production OF am
monia. in 1917 was about 130,0OO,OO0
pounds; of this, the demands OF the
army and navy for explosive purposes
are estimated to us as being $780,
100000 pounds per annum, and the
amount necessary to maintain cold
storage warehouses is 100000
pounds per annum.
10000 900 Pound Shortage.
"Ln other words, there Is an abso-
Lutte shortage OF 10000. 900 pounds per
annum at the present moment, which
may later on be partially reduced by
increased production.
"Yet ammonia Is being used to a
very considerable extent in the main
tenance OF skating rings, in cold stor-
age OF furs, alcoholic drinks, house
hold ammonia, etc. ] think the War
Department has recognized that the
maintenance of cold storage ware
houses is vital to the food sup
ply of our people, and that they
may therefore, themselves. be obliged
to reduce the amount OF explosives
manufactured and thereby possibly
jeopardize our military possibilities
until production can be built up.
Tin Can Problem
Another typical case OF this kind
lies in the question Of tin cans. The
amount of pig tin produced in the
world today 1t too little for the total
demands. We are able to obtain
only a proportion of the requirements
for manufacturing tin plate.
THE increased demands for tin
containers for our own and allied
armies render IL absolutely impos-
sible to maintain the supply to the
whole Of the tin container users. II
would seem to effect no great hard
ship on the American people IL the
use OF tin plate and ten foil in toilet
articles, and for containers in such
other articles which can be estab-
lished in either glass or paper car
tons, were limited.
I'VE are, however, powerless today
to effect these measures except so
far as they can be done voluntarily.
/ feel certain that unless some ef-
fective control OF the matter is taken
that we will be unable to preser
the very large amount OF fruit, veg
etable and meat which must neces-
sarily go into tin containers.
Predicts New Problems.
81 will not weary you with more
than these typical cases which lie
outside OF the authorities which you
propose should be conferred upon.
the President. Not only do more
exist at the present moment, but as
the war goes on. new ones will rise
from day to day.
I'VE have carried on an extensive
campaign for voluntary conservation.
This effort has brought beneficial
results in many directions through
the fine sense OF service and self-de-
nial in our people. The great ma
jority OF trades cooperate with us
in the most patriotic manner, but the
minority who will not follow not only
prejudice the patriotic but discourage
and undermine their efforts.
The demands. as they have deveI- |
oped during the last sixty days, are, |