Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-03
HOOVER AND REED
N VERBAL BAT TILE
Food Administrator and Mis-
souri, Senator Clash in Sen
ate Committee Hearing.
PRICE FIXING THE THEME

Food Administrator Hoover and Senator
Reed had their long expected clash In
public today at the hearing before the
Senate committee investigating the sugar
and coal shortages. Senator Reed, one OF
administrators sharply, and Hoover re-
piled with equal spirit. The verbal duel
ranged from sugar to wheat.
Senator Reed charged Mr. Hoover with
''usurpation Of authority" in handling the
wheat situation that would be crime
In normal times Hoover warmly denied
1t. and said the situation had been han
died with the approval of President Viii
son.
Yes. of course" retorted Reed, "the
Presidents coattails are long, his
shoulders broad and his position I'M
questioned, but I'm questioning you on
the authority you employed to fix
wheat prices"
To Make Point Affecting Sugar.
Senator Reed began questioning on
wheat, he said. to bring out a point
affecting sugar. Mr.. Hoover said the
food administration had asked grain
dealers not to pay more for wheat than
the price fixed by Congress. Senator
Reed tried to bring out that the price
question was SO put up to the dealers
as to really make the transaction price
fixing. but Mr.. Hoover maintained he
deAaied that the food administration
had done anything not authorized in
the food law.
Il take 1t that with the country al
war the people wanted results" said
Mr.. Hoover. TT is not fair to go into
wheat conditions unless all phases are
discussed and that would take week
one thing is certain, the farmers now
are getting more for their wheat and
flour is selling for less
Mr.. Hoover would not acduiesce in
Senator Reeds statement that some
force was necessary to get and main
tain so-called voluntary agreements on
sugar prices. He said the food admin
istration depended largely on the pa
triotism Of ref1ners. but that some au-
thorfty was needed
Sugar Purchase by U. 8. Urged.
Government purchase Of sugar In or
der to be able to control prices was
urged by Herbert c. Hoover, food adj
ministrator, during the hearing on the
fractures committee yesterday after
noon. He also told the committee that
control over public eating places should
be provided by law, since many of
conservation program Of the food adj
ministration. Housewives generally,
he said. were conforming to the COM
ministration.
Chairnnan Reed az the comrittee Win
has been the chief critic ~ the food
administration IN thu Sensfe ala mt
uuAsfion M. Hoover senafor nare
conductinr tha eraminatin ,nosf ~ * :
day I.afe in the session, bowevar
senator Reed ana Mr. Hoover anrs rsi
IN ! rather heated di.c,,safo, yhen fhe
wifneas asked 10 bavA adnnfftad "a the
committee recorda fhe statemenf an the
sugar situation which M Hnovar
aoueht 10 submit hefore the boiids "
ana which later was made r,,hifc a.
the WHITE fIonae -
: The adrniniatrafor ern,a,nAa his Al.
strasstn. have .fhe. food OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
view IN IA sffSser nresanfsa esr1v
In the inyestieation by aayinr that fes-
firnony before the commftfAe that there
was plenty of sugar in the country VIA :
not proved by the facts as he knew
them and tended to OFFSET the admins
tratfon'e canpaign for conservation.
He said he regarded It as vital that
his statement should counteract the
testimony as quickly as possible and
thougilt his own statement on the sft-
alton would he more convincing than
that OF George M. Rolpf, head OF the
admfnIstration's sugar division.
Fixing Of Cuban Sugar Prices.