The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-25
Congress Inquirers Blame
Baker for Holding Up
$12O,5OO,OO0 Worth.
EXPLOITATION OPPOSED
Meats and Canned Goods
Rapidly DeteriOrate, Re-
port Says Also.
SMALL DEALERS OBJECT
Packers Said to Have Influ-
enced Secretary Not to
Market Supplies.
EXPLOITATION OPPOSED
SMALL DEALERS OBJECT
spec,ci De,pu,ch to The Sun.

WASHINGTON. July 24.-Actton to
force the large surplus stocks Of army
food supplies into the markets OF the
country soon was taken to-day by the
special House committee investigat-
ing the War Department after a three
weeks inquiry into the departments
delay in marketing the food.
Stating that the action was taken
in the hope Of forcing down the pres
ent high cost Of all food products the
committee reported a resolution re-
questing the Secretary of War to de-
wise plans for the early disposition
of all surplus food products on the
domestic market under system
which will grant to the American peo-
pie an opportunity to secure the same
for food purposes"
The food involved consists OF ZOO
OOo, 900 cans Of vegetables valued at
$23,O00,00O, and $97,500,o00 worth OF
meats consisting of bacon. roast beef,
corned beef. hash, fresh frozen meats
and poultry.
The resolution framed by the sub
committee investigating quartermas-
ter's supplies, of which Representa-
tive Reavis tNeb.) is chairman, and
later approved by a majority OF the
full Committee, will be taken up In
the House Monday under a special
rule and pushed through. Chairman
Graham Qll) said.to-day. Democrats
on the committee refused to agree to
reporting the resolution to the House.
The War Department Is now Offering
the food to cities at so per cent Of the
cost price, but the committee report
says this will not result in any large
sale, because the Department requires
that the food be paid for in ten days
Local dealers have threatened injunc-
tions to prevent the purchase Of the food.
1t is stated.
only SI2,OOO,OOO Worth sold.
The committee points out that only
3l2,oO0,OOO worth OF the food has been
disposed OF and asserts that millions OF
pounds OF nam anu DdCOh hoNc SPOhSA
with great loss TO the Government.
The committee the report states,
looks with disfavor on the policy OF ex-
porting them to foreign nations for sale
and consumption
The resolution reaas
BE it resolved by the House Of Rep
resentutipes, That the Secretary OF War
be and Is hereby requested TO place on
sale without delay the surplus food
products In the hands or under the con-
troll of the War Department now stored
in the United States. under such plan as
will safeguard the interests OF the Gov
ernment and insure an opportunity to
the people of the United States to pur-
chase the same"
The report follows
'VThe present high prices of food prod
ucts and the need OF the Government for
money suggest to your subcommittee
the necessity for the preliminary report
relating to the War Departments nom
activities in the sale OF very large guam
titles OF food supplies now held in stor-
age in the United States.
AT the time of the signing of the
armistice the army was composed ap-
proximately OF $4,000 men, 100000
or whom were in France and about L.
zoo, 900 In continental America. An in
crease Of this force to 100000 had
been agreed upon by the War Depart
ment and food for this enlarged army
for eight months In advance was being
contracted for and accumulated at the
time active hostilities suddenly ceased.
DemobiIiEation starts Quickly.
THE demobilization OF the army be-
gan Immediately upon the signing OF the
Rrmistice and 100000 soldiers we're dis
charged by January IL, 1919. This de-
mobilization continued at the approx
mate rate OF 10000 per week, so that
or May "a. 1919. 2,252,000 OF the SOL
diers had been discharged and were
definitely out OF the service.
Tn view OF the tremendous quanti-
ties OF food the Government had on
hand January II, 1919, and the de-
mobilization Of the armed forces. II at
once became apparent that the War De-
partment possessed an immense guam
tity OF food beyond the needs of the
army,
"Actuated by this condition Gen. Psy-
ton c. March. Chief Of STAFF, on Novem-
Der so. 1918 (nineteen days after the
armistice), issued an order authorizing
the declaration of a surplus on all per-
ishsble food products.
, 1.-THE next step was the declaration
OF surplus by the Quarterma ster- ZEN
eral. and the last step was the sale OF
the surplus supplies by the Director of
Sales. Notwithstanding the authorization
by the Chief OF staff on November 30, no
action was taken with reference to de-
claring a surplus u ] the month of
May, 1919, or six pnths after the
declaration was auth zed. Meantime
the food was deteriorsting and becom-
ing OF less value TO the Government and
the high cost OF living for the Ameri-
can people continued,
This inexcusable delay resulted in
the spelling OF millions Of pounds OF
ham and bacon, TO the great loss of the
M ConttH1ed on FUth Pa0e. j..