The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-09
|BLAMES MARCH FOR
| FOOD SALE HOLDUP
G. w. Hare Tells House Com
mittee Why Canned Goods
Were Not Sold.
HOOVER REFUSED TO BUY
Says France Offered $780,
100000 for $780, 100000
WORT 4 Supplies.
Special Despdtch TO The. srS.


WASHINGTON, July s.-Biame for de-
lay In disposins Of excess food stocks
originally purchased for the wa- time
army was placed ut the door Of Gen.
! March. Chief Of Stan. to-day by C. Will
ing Hare, Director OF Sales of the War
Department, in testimony before the
subcommittee OF the House War Ex-
penditures Committee investigating
Quartermaster's supplies
Mr.. Hare said II had been impossible
to arrange for the disposal Of surplus
stocks for the reason that no decision
had been made by the Chief OF Stan ~
to the humber of men to be retained in
! the service. This. he said. would deter
mine the amount of surplus stocks.
Mr.. Hare's testimony was interrupted
| by a statement of Representative Reavis
(Neb.). chairman of the subcommittee,
that tho action OF the War Department
in withholding surplus food stocks from
tho market had served Ms "a most i'm
portant factor IN maintaining the high
cost Of living since the signing of the
armistice.
Testimony OF Mr. Hare with questions
| asked by the committee, developed sew
erai interesting points in connection with
the disposal of surplus food stocks by
ned:
That Herbert Hoover had declined
to purchase excess meat stocks from
the army In expanding the 100000
600 assigned him by Congress for
European relief and had purchased
meats in this country belonging 20
the italian Government In preference,
although paying a higher price than
that for which the army surplus was
offered.
That when Franse was approached
on tho subject of purchasing the
] $500. 000.0 900 worth OF military sup
piles of all kinds belonging to this
Government and now In France, that
Government had offered only $780,
100000 for the stock and this offer
was rejected.
That to protect the canning market
and to prevent the dumping Of $780,
| 100000 worth Of canned fruits and
| vegetables put up for Government ac-
| count the War Department had
agreed to add canned peas. corn and
| squash to the peacetime ration Of tho
army. although ordinarily these COM
modities are not part Of the com
pulsory ration, but may be purchased
by company messes At current rates
| from the money ration allowance.
That while the condition OF most
of the excess food stocks now Is good.
| mucn or inc 1000 Will spoil III not
quickly disposed Of.
| Discussing the purchase by Mr.. Hoover
| Of meats from the Italian Governme mt
account in this country. Mr.. Hare said I:
"Mr Hoover bought at a higher price
than that at which we offered the same
| commodities, about 10000. 900 pounds of
meat for European relief. the Italian
owned meats being OF better quality
than that prepared for tho American
soldier"
The Chief OF stsn. Mr.. Hare said.
would not agree to declaring q surplus
| OF food stocks until May l because IT
tho uncertainty of conditions abroad.
despite the fact that much of the food
was deteriorating. Part Of the bacon.
he said. had been sold recently at SO
per cent. OF Its original value because
OF this deterioration.
SURPLUS Now ON Hand.
The surplus food stocks on hand now
Mr.. Hare valued at about 500. 900.
which In addition to the meat stocks,
previously mado public. include the fol-
lowing items: