The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-02-03
Situation Inevitable Unless Laws
Enacted Continuing Gov
ernment Control.
ARMY AND NAVY
HAVEPREPARED
Such 4 Condition Would Be a
Roseate Heaven for the
Food Spectator
Washington Bureau
Pensacola Journf.

by GEORGE n MANNtNG.}
Washington. D. c., Feb p
There viii be a serious shortage
OF foodstufts in the United States
during the coming summer, with
extremely high prices prevailing,
officials of the Food Administra-
tion and Agriculture Department
predict, unless legislation IS enac
ted TO continue the government's
control of the purchase and expor-
tation of food.
Experts of the-e federal organiza-
tons view with alarm the situation
which VIII arise { peace should he de-
clared and catch The UniteI states
without laws To control production.
purchase and sale OF foodstuffs at
home and their shipment abroad.
T,e food administration viii lose
its power to control foods at home and
Jhe war t.tde board its authority TO
rcgHlate shipments abroad with the
corniaE of peace. because when peace
is Proclaimed both organ cations au-
tomat.caii5 ~ out of business.
Army and Navy Prepare.
Tho rioHSncss of the situation is
recognized by The officials of tho
arruv and navy departments. who
keep closely in touch with such mat
ters. and in preparing their estimates
for the next fiscal year they have al
lowed cons derable increases in the
needed for food for the army
and navy. over amounts paid last year
When the food administration
ceases to function and all its restric-
tions are remo*ed, prices will go sky
high. il va. asserted before the
house military committee last Monday
by Colonel Adam. Of the quartermas-
ter corps. The war department antici-
pateo that the enormous world de-
mand for food next summer VIII Gre
ate a food shortage here, with con
SEQ aent high prices, and the depart
ment in preparing it's estimates has
allowed an increase of 10 per cent for
food prices over last year. Colonel
ADAMS said.
With Europe CRYING for food and
7e~erd Of the nations well placed Fl
nanciaIly TO purchase It. a disastrous
era OF speculation and profiteering is
anticipated this summer in the United
states. the only country in the world
with an over supply. unless congress
IS aroused TO the threatening situtlon
and passes laws 70 prevent t.
Tremendous Demand Here.
There VIII be a tremendous demand
on the United states for food even
under tile best Of regulation. II is ex-
Dected that the allies viii be permit
ted 70 continue their co.. Operative
purchase of foodstuffs for the next
six months upon the plan in opera
on during the war. This in itself
viii be a great drain on the country's
Food supply
In addition To this the United states
authorities viii export 100000 900
worth Of food 70 the stricken countries
f Europe under the authority asked
of congress by the president
Ia addition 70 this the war comes
TO an end without the enactment OF
legislation 70 continue the government
restraint on speculation and profiteer-
ng in foods AZ home and their unre-
stricted shipment abroad. and the
European governments are allowed
o b:d against one another for Anieri-
ca's foodstGffs 10 feed their own star
wing people Il will be m absolute i'm
possibility 10 meet the demand and
prices viii 90 skyvard
Poor viii Go Hungry.
The result is easy TO foresee. The
poor people Of this country will go
hungry. The greatest suffering will
all where it usually does at such
innes-upon the poor people in the
zig cities like New York, Philadelphia
Who have TO buy in small quantities
rom the corner store at very high
prices. The people in the country
Will not feel the pinch seriously be-
,aCse they either produce their own
-oods or obtain them at low prices,
md the people in the small towns are