Evening star., 1918-01-29
FOOD SAVING PLANS
MAY BREAK DOWN
Selfish Minority Interfering
With Success of Program,
Hoover Warns.
FOR EXTENDING LAWS

Unless Congress strengthens his hands
by further legislation, Herbert Hoover,
United States food administrator, fears
that the entire program of food con-
servation is in danger of failure.
Selfshness and greed of the mi
nority who have failed to respond to
appeals to their patriotism are dis
couraging and undermining the efforts
of the loyal and patriotic majority, he
says.
Il am perfectly willing to go on and
make every effort to succeed with VOL
untary Methods said Mr.. Hoover in
letter to Representative sydney Ander-
son of the House committee on agrlcul-
ture. Il hope l will succeed, but THINK
it only right to point out that II l snali
fail, the grave responsibilities cahnot
be left upon my shoulders, if Congress
should consider that nothing TURNER Is
necessary by way of legislation
For Extending Lever Act Provisions
Mr.. Hoover wants the provisions of
the Lever act extended to include con-
troll of the distribution, manufacture
and preservation of foodEtuffs. HIS
ideals of legislation necessary to effect
the food-Saving essential to the proper
VI lilt allies dtS given III Y
ply to proposals contained in draft
of a bill recently submitted by Mr.. An
derson to the food administrator The
extension of the measures of the Lever
act. Mr.. Hoover says. should include:
Control of distribution in order that
all classes and localities may fare alike
and that unnecessary consumption
should be prevented.
Control of use of foodstuffs in food
manufactures with view to limiting
the less essential manufactures.
Control of commodities critically
necessary for the production and pres
ervation of foodstuffs in order to pre-
vent great losses and military sacri-
fees.
For Licensing Eating Places.
In addition to the increase in
wheatless and meatless days and re-
ducing the per cent of wheat in flour.
food administration, Mr.. Anderson's bill
proposed licensing of public eating
places and the limiting of food served
in them. In this connection Mr.. Hoover
said:
while it is virtually necessary to
regulate the consumption of food in
public eating places. they consume, on
various estimates. from l. to 20 per
cent of the total foodstuffs, and If they
were reduced out of all reason they
would not solve the problem.
at appears to me that we should
attack the non-essential uses of food
stuffs, and that we should attack the
points of unnecessary consumption of
place. the burden where 1t belongs
on the luxurious and greedy. and not
upon the poor. This implies some fur
ther measures of control in distribution
and in non-essential use"
Mr. Hoover cited q number Of typical
lodi nj o. n
that a saving to meet the shortage of
10 per cent could be easily effected by
a reduction in the manufacture of
candy and sweet drinks, with manufac-
turers substituting other things to
maintain their volume of business.
1--WE have carried on an extensive
campaign for voluntary conservation
he says. This effort has brought bene-
fetal results in many directions.
through the fine sense of service and
self-denial 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 de-
mands, as they have developed during
the last siytq days. are, 1 believe.
greater than can be borne on a purely
voluntary basis. I am perfectly will
ing to go on and make every effort to
succeed with voluntary methods. and.
in fact, the situation is one of such
gravity that we are now sending out
further and further requests for more
self-denia1. for more voluntary action
among the trades in support of con-
servation. l hope that it will succeed,
but ! think it only right to point out
that if it shall fail the grave RESPONSE
bilities cannot be left upon my shoul-
ders, If Congress should consider that
nothing further is necessary by way
of legislation