New-York tribune., 1918-01-30

purposes arc estimated to US as being
l50,000,000 pounds per annum, and tho
amount necessary to maintain cold
storage warehouses Is 10000, 900 pounds
per annum. In other words. there is
an absolute shortage of 60,000,000
pounds per annum at the present mo-
ment, which may later be partially re-
duced by increased production. Yet
ammonia is being used to a very con-
siderable extent in the maintenance OF
alcoholic drinks, household ammo
MIA, etc,
War Department May Reduce Supply
81 think the War Department has
recognized that the maintenance Of the
food supply Of our people and that
they may therefore themselves he
obliged to reduce the amount Of cx-
plosives manufactured and thereby pos
siblE jeopardize our military possibili-
ties until production can be built up.
Another typical case of this kind
lies in the question of tin cans. The
amount of pig tin produced in the world
to-day is too little for the total de
mands. We sre able to obtain only q
proportion of the requirements for
demands for tin containers for our own
and the Allied armies render it abso-
lutcly impossible to maintain the sup
ply to the whole of the tin containcr
users. 1t would seem to effect no great
hardship on the American people if the
use of tin plate and tin foil in toilet
articles. and for containers for such
other articles (which can be established
IN either glass or paper cartons. were
limited. We are, however. powcrlcss
to-day to effect these measures except
so lar as they can be done voluntarily.
feel certain that unless some effective
control of the matter is taken we will
yet be unable to preserve the very large
amount OF fruit, vegetables and meat
which must necessarily 60 into tin con-
tanners.
1--WE have carried on an extensive
campaign for voluntary conservation.
This effort has brought beneficial re-
suits in many directions through the
nne sense of service and selfdenal in
our people. The great majority 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 developed during the last sixty
days, arc, believe, greater than can
be borne on purely voluntary basis.
III am perfectly willing to go on and
make every effort to succeed with VOL
untary methods, but | think it only
right to point out that if these fail the
grave responsibilities cannot be left
upon my shoulders if Congress should
consider that nothing further is neces-
sary by way of legislation"
Legislation Should Be Specific
In a second letter to the Food Ad-
ministrator tonight Representative An
derson emphasizes his former conten-
ton that the proposed additional food
control legislation should be confined
to the granting Of specific powers rath-
err than sweeping authority permitting
wide latitude in it's interpretation.
"My idea is that powers should be
specific rather than general, and should
bear a reasonable and apparent rela-
tlon to what you intend to do" Mr. An
dersOn said.
Mr.. Anderson believes serious cor
f'icts between departments will result
otherwise. He called attention to Mr.
Hoovers statement of the ammonia
situation. The new Lever bill would
give Mr.. Hoover absolute control over
distribution of ammonia, according 70
Mr.. Anderson. The War and Navy de-
partments now have power to comman-
deer any portion of the output they
need
Mr.. Anderson is willing to give Mr.
Hoover power to control the uses Of
ammonia for domestic purposes, but he
is opposed to giving him control over
the supply. This, he believes. would
cause friction with the army and navy.
The task of -pecding up production
would be proper one for munitions
department and apportionment among
the different government agencies one
for general war planning body.
Non-essential use of f0odstutfs should
be stopped, Mr. Anderson agrees
IL am In entire accord with YOU on
this proposition" he explained to Mr..
Hoover. "But it seems TO me equally
clear that the point Of attack should
be defined clearly and the policy
adopted Thoroughly understood and ex-
pressed in the law. No business can
thrive under uncertainty, and the con-
slant threat of interference with in
dustry or production under some vague
or lll-detlned power of regulation or
control can only sercv to discourage
production, paralyze industry and re-
move incentive to individual industry.
SIN view of the indubtably proper
suggestion in the final paragraph Of
your letter that Congress itself must
bear the responsibility which goes with
the granting or refusal to grant the
necessary powers to the food admins
tratlOn. it seems clpa,. tho+ Cop,rocc