The sun., 1919-07-30
HOUSE ORDERS
ARMY TO SELL
SURPLUS FOOD
$124,000,000 in Meats and
Canned Goods to Hit
Living Cost.
SPEED is DIRECTED
Parcel Post to Be Utilized
to Distribute Stores Now
Not Needed.
HIGH PRICES ATTACKED
Resolution Calls on Wilson to
Divulge Deals With Pack
ers and Gamers.
HIGH PRICES ATTACKED
Special Despatch to The Sun.

w AbhlNulONp ~cs INV Aa'N
definite Congressional action to try
to bring down the high cost of living
was taken tonight.
BY vote of 266 to 4 the House
ordered Secretary of War Baker to
place on sale forthwith" in the
markets of this country exclusively
the War Departments huge surplus
Of food, totalling about $124,O0O,OOO
worth of canned meats and vege-
tables. The action was taken by a
House resolution, reported out after
an investigation by the Special Com
mittee on War Department Expendi-
lures, and now goes direct to Secre-
tary Baker, as 1t does not require
Senate approval.
Just before the final vote was taken
the House adopted an amendment of
Representative Kelley (Pa.), Inde-
pendent, providing that the Govern
ment's parcel post system shall be
used in the distribution of the food.
Mr.. Kelley recently proposed that
prices Of the food be posted In all post
offices, and that orders for delivery
by parcel post from the warehouses
where the supplies are now stored
be taken by postmasters or postal
employees. The Kelley amendment
was adopted by vote Of 152 to 100.
The resolution, which 1t Is asserted
will bring down food prices because
of. Its increase to the available food
supply of the country, was adopted
after bitter seven hour partisan de-
bate. Republicans attacked War De.
partment officials for their delay in
marketing the food at a time when
It could have reduced prices, while
Democrats replied the supplies could
not be sold throughout the country
until Congress had made a large ap-
preparation for an extensive distribu.
ton system.
They sought to amend the resolu.
tion by providing that the matter be
referred to the Appropriations Com.
mittee, but this was voted down, 15C
! to ia. Those voting against the
final passage of the bill were all
Democrats-Garber (Tex.), Garrett
| (Tenn.), Humphreys (Miss.) and
, Dominick IS. c.. Other Democrats
who talked against the resolution
voted for 1t.
High Prices Attacked.
In addition to the passage Of the
resolution. assaults on the high cost OF
living were made along other lines. in
dicating that the continuance Of war
| prices and increases over war figures
in some instances are questions tina,
are forcing upon themselves the atten-
tion Of Congress.
Representative Wood Gnd.) intro
duced a resolution calling on the Pres.
ident to submit to the House all facts
concerning the agreement Of the Food
Administration with the packers OF
any other Government agency to pro-
tect from law Gamers, packers and
other dealers in food supplies. Mr.
Wood referred to the agreement OF
the War Department with the Ma.
tional Gamers Association to keeI
about 200. .oO0. 900 cans of vegetables of
the market until late this fall.
The fight over the passage Of the
resolution ordering the sale by the
| following charges, which were mad
by Representative Reavis (Neb
chairman OF the special subcommitte.
investigating quartermaster supplies
and which were vigorously denied b,
the Democrats:
That 1t was the policy OF Secretary
Of War Baker to withhold the fooG
from the market to protect canners
packers and other food dealers.
That the War Department entered
into a definite agreement with Frank
Gerber. president of the National
Gamers Association, to keep all
army canned vegetables OF the mar
ket until after canning season this
fall.
That the War Department. after
consulting only the big packers,
promised TO use It's efforts to dispose
OF the food abroad and that Herbert
Hoover as administrator OF foreign
relief was asked to buy the food in
this country and ship II to France,
despite the fact that the A. e. f. had
a large surplus there.
That the War Department quibbled
over Just how much surplus It had
until late in May. all the time know
ing that at the time OF the armistice
supplies were on hand for 5000, 900
\ men for eight months.
/ That large quantities of the food at
Baltimore and Norfolk. Va, includ-
ing 1900, 900 pounds Of ham and con-
siderable bacon have spoiled as the
result OF the delay and that the rest
OF the food will begin to deteriorate
| (y.ss aaA 80 TsSs.eL