Evening journal., 1919-11-22
PALMER Is GIVEN
CONTROL OF FOOD
President Transfers Powers
Held BY Hoover TO At
torney-Ceneral
MOVE TO AVERT
SUGAR FAMINE

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Undcr q
proclamation issued by President VIII
son the Department Of Justice has tax
en- over the duties Of the defunct Food
Administration for the purpose Of reg
ulating prices and distribution Of the
necessaries Of life. The President, in
taking this action, ayailed himself or
The authority given him by the over
man act 10 coordinate the wartime
powers Of the government as he sees
ut.
As a result il IS expected that the
campaign being waged against the high
cost OF living by Attorney-General
Palmer now will proceed along more
definite lines. Howard Z. Figg. special
assistant 90 the AtlOrney-General, has
been placed in direct charge Of the
work OF administering the powers thus
transferred and he entered Immediately
upon his duties. Following a confer
snce with the AttOrney-GeneTal, Mr.
Figg LETT for New York, where he will
confer with representatives Of various
interests that will be affected, includ-
ing foodstuff industries and manufac-
turers Of wearing apparel.
It is expected that the first definite
action TO be taken by the department
will relate 20 the regulation of prices
for sugar. These will relate 10 the crop
that will be placed on sale next year.
Representatives Of the beet-sugar in
iustry have been In Washington for
several days comforting with Mr.. Figg.
In taking over the task Of fixing these
prices. the Department Of Justice also
will assume the duties Of the Sugar
Equalization Board, which Will cease
to function after January 1.
Il IS the understanding among Of
flcials that in reviving the powers eXer-
cised by the Food Administration dur
ing the war. the Department Of Justice
will maintain the license system under
which dealers charging excessive prices
will stand the risk Of losing their right
TO do business. Under the amend
ments TO the Lever act. adopted at the
last session of Congress. the Depart
ment Of Justice will enjoy the added
advantage Of having on the statute
books a drastic penalty for pronteers
and hOarders Of necessaries.
For the present the AttOney-General
will not put into operation all Of The
machinery permitted under the eXecu-
live order signed by the President. but
should conditions arise 10 make it
necessary the full pressure Of all the
broad power vested in him Will be eN-
orted TO meet them.
Mr.. Palmer's stan will begin immedi-
alely TO build up a sugar distributing
system which will allocate all sugar
stocks in The country. Il will provide
Hn equitable system Of distributing sup
riies and will defeat any concentration
or boarding, oflcisls said.
Plans tentatively decided upon. pro
vide for increasing the price Of all
sugar. excepting the Louisiana crop. for
which a price Of AZ cents already has
been fixed, TO - cents pound, whole
sale.
Through this increase new sources
Of supply are expected to be opened.
With assurances that a fair margin Of
Uront. said TO be about Si5i a hundred
pounds, would be allowed, sugar retln-
ers are ready TO enter the Cuban mar
kets and purchase all available stocks
9 was stated Thus. officials believe.
tAe increased price will avert a short
age which threatens to become a famine
during the next GO days.
While the margin between the
and retail price OF sugar has
not vet been determined, officials are
known 60 have tentatively considered .
ii cents a pound. This, !
however, is subject 10 change, depend
ing upon a variety Of conditions.