Evening journal., 1919-08-01
H.C.L. CHARGED TO WAR DEPARTMENT.

r.. EPUBLICAN Congressman c. Frank Reayis, OF Ne
N braska chairman OF the House subcommittee in
vestsatng the activities OF the quartermaster department
OF the army has report based on the hearings
he to date regarding the supply and disposition OF food
etuns.
The report bares The fact that large supplies OF food
much Of which was pershable have been withheld from
the market requests The Secretary OF War TO take
action al once 10 place the market the food amounting
in value TO si2o0ooOo0 which It oontended has been
held from consumption for The protection Of those who
sold these products TO The government and In order TO
prevent decline in food prices
The report SETS forth that when the armistce was
signed the army consisted OF 100000 men, who food
was being accumulated for an army Of 100000; that
demoblzation began once and by January H. 100000
men had been discharged and by May p, 22oSoO had
been released from the army; that on November 30 1918
General March, chief staff ordered the declaration OF
surplus OF all perishable foods with view to their
sale TO The consumers but that action was taken TO
carry out this order until May, 1919
The report shows that these food stores were deprec
stng In value that e nexcusable delay resulted an the
spelling OF millions OF pounds OF ham and bacon to the
great OF the government and the people, who were IN
need Of the food products"
II shows that this was due TO well defined policy
OF the Secretary Of War sell these products only abroad
or to have them consumed through substiutlons in the
army ration
This policy" says the report "nnds expression not
only In the testimony gwen 10 bie tOhhihttro ~ VIZ
ocers OF the Department but In documentary eyi-
deuce AZ we'll AS an instance OF such intention TO prevent
the American people purchasing these products the
quartermaser-generas department through General r.
e Wood quartermastergenersl, entered into an agree
ment with the Gamers association that some eOoOOOOO
cans of canned vegetables would be kept off the domestic
market during the season; this agreement was subse-
ouenty extended by an order OF the quaremasergen-
oral adding these canned vegetables to The soldiers ration
in the expressed hope that they would be entirely con-
smed and that none would be left for sale This order
would have resulted 10 loss TO the government OF MIL
lions OF dollars 90 be derived from the sale OF this sur
ps as well as dcprivng the American people Of large
quantity Of food 'rhe purpose shown by the tes-
mony was TO protect the Gamers who had sold the pro-
duce from competition with the governmental surplus
In order 10 relieve the situation which shows the sur
Plus OF food 10 be constantly growing larger because OF
the continued demobnizaon Of the army the committee
recommends "that these food supplies be sold without
DELAY on the domestic market TO the American people
who al great sacrifice bought and paid for em and the
committee looks with dsfavor the policy Of exporting
them from America TO foreign nations for sale and con-
sumption.
The committee further recommends that plans DO de-
ysed by the Secretary Of War; through the War Depart
men for the early disposition OF all surplus food products
on the domestic market under system which viii grant
to the American people the opportunity to secure the same
for food purposes"