Evening journal., 1919-08-28
FATHERS LEFT OUT
IN PROfITEER BILL
All Agricultural Class Ex-
empied in Measure Re-
ported Favorably
DEP PARTMENT WILL
FIX FAIR PRICES

WASHINGTON. Aug 2S.-The Senate
Committee on Agriculture has reported
favorably the Palmer Administration
food control bill, designed 10 make pos
slble the prevention Of pr0ilteering
The measure has passed the House
and Is reported TO the Senate with only
one important amendment m natiOn'
wide application.
This one amendment is Of great sig
aincance. Il is appended 10 the pro-
giso excluding agricultural producers
from the provisions and penalties OF
the act. This new proviso states that
a rate or charge. i0 be unreasonable
must exceed that llXcf by "a fair price
committee: and the Department of
Justice is authorized TO provide for the
appointment Of fair price committees
Introduction Of fair price commit
tees into the legislative scheme Is an
important change. enabling the Depart
ment Of Justice 10 sci mp machinery i'm
ON localities for determining the rea-
sonableness Of charges and prices
Their organization and methods are left
90 the discretion Of the department.
TWO amendments applying only ia
the District Of Columbia arc recon-
monded. 10 prevent eXtortiOnate rental
charges In Washington.
The hill Is an amendment 10 the food
control act Of August i0, 1917, which
was concerned not only with food. hut
for feeds for animals. wearing apparel
containers for food and feeds, fuel oil,
fertilizer farm utensils As now amend
ed this act viii be designed TO pre-
vent, locally or generally, scarcity
monopolzation. boarding. Injurious
speculation. manipulation and private
controls affecting such supply, dis
iribuiion and movement. and TO estaht
lish and maintain government control
NJ such necessaries during the war.
The President is authorized TO make
regulations and orders 10 execute The
act
Section Of the Act Of 1917 is amend
cd 10 prohibit destroying necessaries
20 enhance their price; 10 prohibit
waste I'm production. manufacture or
distribution; 10 prohibit boarding. mo-
uopoly. discrimination. unfair practices,
unjust charges 10 makes 10 unlawful
for ANYBODY "'a1 To limit facilities for
TRANSFORMATION. producing, harvesting.
UlduNIdflNIlUEs Supply ii~f NtNi iiir' ~
lealinr in nccessaries: d. To restrict
The supply Of any necessarics; 'cl To
restrict distribution OF any neeessaries
I'D To prevent. limit or lessen the man
ufaclure or production Of any neces-
sarieS in order 30 enhance the price
thereof: le) To exact excessive prices
for any necessaries or 90 aid or abet the
doing Of any act made unlawful by
this section
Penalties not exceeding 5000 fine or
two years Imprisonment. or both. are
provided Then follows proviso ex-
cluding primary producers from the
bllrs operation, thus:
This section shall not apply TO any
farmer. gardener, horiicultWist- vine
yardist. planter ranchman. dsiryman
siockman or other agricu1urist. with
respect 10 The farm products produced
or raised upon land owned. leased or
cultivated by him; and provided fur
ther that nothing In This act shall he
construed 90 forbid or make unlawful
collective bargaining by any co-opera-
tive association or other association oi
producers Of farm products with re-
specl 10 the products produced or