New-York tribune., 1919-07-25
House Committee Charges
Millions of Pounds of
liam and Bacon Spoiled
While Sale Was DELAYED
Quick Disposal Sought
War Department To Be
Asked to Give People
Chance to Buy Supplies
Ne,c York Tribune

New York Tribune
Washin 0ton Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 24.-Formallv
hndlng that the War Departments
policy of dealing with surplus army
foods is intended to protect the pro-
duclng interests and that millions Of
pounds of ham and bacon have spoiled
as result of this policy, the quarter
masters supplies b-committce to-
day reported to the general committee
investigating the War Department a
resolution for presentation to the
house requesting the War Department
without delay' to put the foods on
Sale 10 'he American people, who at
great sacrifice bought and paid for
them"
The general committee by a strict
party vote, approved the sub-commit,
tees action, and voted to ask for
special rule for the consolidation Of
the proposed resolution by the House.
1t IS expected that it will be taken
up Monday. The text of the recon-
mended resolution is as follows:
Resolved, BY the House Of Rep
resentatlves, that the Secretary Of
war be and is hereby requested to
place on sale without delay the sur
under the control of the War De-
partment now stored in the United
States, under such plans as viii!
safeguard the interests of the gov
ernment and insure an opportunity
to the people of the United States
to purchase the same"
The Democratic members of the
committee plan to review the cvidencs
and may later submit what would in
effect lie q minority report.
Huge Waste Charged
The sub committees report was, in
part, as follows:
'In view Of the tremendous guam
titles Of food the government had on
hand November II. 1918, and the de-
mobilization of the armed forces, it at
once became apparent that the War
Department possessed an immense
quantity of food beyond the needs of
the army.
"Actuated by this condition, General
feyton {. March, chief Of staff, on No
vember 80, 1913, issued an order
authorizing the declaration of sur
plus on all perishable food products.
The next step WAS the declaration
Of surplus by tie quartermaster gem
cral, and rhe last step was the sale Of
the surplus supplies by the director of
sales. Notwithstanding the authorize
tlon Of surplus by the chief of star
on November 80 no action was taken
with reference to declaring q surplus
until six months later In the mean
time the food was deteriorating End
becoming Of less value to the govern
ment, and the high cost Of living for
the american people continued.
This inexcusable delay resulted in
the spelling of millions OF pounds of
ham and bacon, to the great loss of the
government and the people who were
in need of the meat food products.
The inactivities Of the government in
the disposition OF these food supplies
was. and is, the result Of well-defincd
policy of the Secretary of War to
withhold them from the domestic
market and to protect the interests
from which these products had been
purchased, with the ultimate intention
OF disposing of them abroad, so far as
circumstances would permit
Documentary Evidence
"This policy finds expression not
only IN the testimony given to the sub
committee by the officers of the War
Department, but in documentary evi
dence as we'll. AS an instance Of such
intention to prevent the American
people from purchasing these products
the Quartermaster Generals Depart
ment, through General II. E. Wood.
Quartermastcr General, entered into
an agreement with the Gamers Asso
citation that some 1000 900 cans of
canned vegetables would be kept off
the domestic market during this sea-
son. This agreement was subsequently
extended by an order of the Quarter
master General adding these canned
vegetables to the soldiers ration in
the expressed hope that they would be
entirely consumed.
"Thc purpose as shown by the tcsti
mony was to protect the canncrs who
had sold the products from compcti-
tlon with the government surplus. On
July 3, 1919, the surplus of food stored
in the United States over and above
the needs Of the army was as follows:
: Ioihed peer .'.....,... $24. 900
l5tcVH ...... 23 600 GOO
liu'N COrneA beer. 10000. 600
t'dSl bvtl 20,500, 900
Fresh frozen meats ana poultry 20 O00. 600
Canned vegetables. ......... "a 900 O00
lotal S120 SOC 600
Surplus Constantly Growing
This surplus is constantly grow
ing larger because of the continued