New-York tribune., 1919-05-23
Huge Surplus Held Back
While Profiteers Take
Toll From People; Asks
Congress TO Take Action
Assails $I a Year Men
Most of Them We're Cor
poration Officials and
Forgot Public, He Says
Netc York Tribune
Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON. May 22.-The gov
ernment was called upon by Represen-
tative Fitzgerald, Democrat, forme r
Mayor Of Boston, in the House this
afternoon TO take its hands off the
American food supply SO the cost OF
living may come down.
lie pointed to great surpluses of
wheat and meat products and said the
people OF the United States were un-
able to understand why the prices Of
;hese commodities should rise instead
ot going lower.
He questioned the philanthropic
methods Of some of the men serving
on various government agencies deal
ing with tood for dollar year
Their names were taken from the
salary rolls Of their corporations when
they came to work for the government.
but they are with the corporations
rather than the people" he exclaimed.
He insisted the so26 wheat price
should be made a maximum as we'll as
minimum price, in order that con%
sumcrs as we'll as farmers may receive
3 square deal
Speech Evokcs Approval
Mr. Fitzgerald's speech which fol
lowed the introduction OF a resolution
requiring the government 10 release
al food supplies ROW held III storage
and not needed for the suppor. of
American troops. was rec emily IN
tsrrupted BY applause from tic hccr.
Il think ever. oae Will agree that
the question Of the cost of living is the
mos. important subject now before the
American people" he said. yesterday
tna House decreed that woman should
have the rlght to vote. | think, as I'M
portant AS that sub ect IS 10 the women
Of America. that If an opinion could be
had from them thsy would like an eA-
preston on the part of the Congress
OF the United States as 10 how the
cost OF living could be reduced.
There arc hundreds OF millions Of
pound Of canned meats and vegetables
to be specific. 100000 cans of beef
and more than 80 0OO 900 pounds Of ba-
oon-in the surplus food stocks of the
army, somo OF which was about to be
put upon the market three or four
weeks arc and was then withdrawn be-
cause Il would occasion a glut of food
products. The people arc told at the
same time that the constantly increas-
lng price OF beef Is due to the fact that
there is deficiency Of food products.
| believe they would agree that the
paramount duty of the present Con-
gress IS to find out rs carly az possible
Just What the too4 situation in the
United States is, and whethe the gov
ernmeAt Is IN 4 corner on food products
which IS largely advancing the price of
those things absolutely necessary to
the existence Of every American fam
lily"
Mr.. fitzgera' ID pointed out that Off
ciai estimates place this Years wheat
crop at l,100. 10000 bushels. and pre-
clcted tAa,, IN spite of these figures,
tie P1.cs OF -four. instead of falling
rom war prices, viii increase about 81
barrel
Taking the figures on the estimated
crop ana the carry-over from 1917 and
the estimated consumption. he said,
me United States should have 100000
200 bushels fer home consumption and
seed and an exportable surplus Of
b5o,ooo,oo bushels, which. he said i
enough 70 supply all the wheat buying
countries in the world for a year.
Tie had been surprised TO learn that
ME there was a minimum price on
Wneat there was no maximum price
and that wheat was selling in the open
market for $3.50 bushei
u say 20 the members of the House -
ne went on. much as we may svn-
pathIze with the farmers when they
are getting s2.26 bushel for wheat
J, ls as much az the American peorle
ard the people Of the world ought
70 stand and maximum price should
De made Of 1925 az we'll as a minimum
price giving the farmer square deal
ana giving square deal t. everv
NorKine man and every working mans
'amlly and every citizen of tho United
States.
II seerns 70 ne that the time has
come when ve should say to tho ad =
mln'stratlon that the war is over, and
ina, there are brains enough among
me every day people OF the United
states 10 manage the wheat situation