Evening journal., 1919-07-25
SURPLUS FOOD
DETERIORATING
Immediate Sale OF Army
Stock Recommended
In Congress
WOULD BENEFIT
NATIONS PEOPLE.

WASHINGTON. July 25.-Immedlate
sale OF the si2O,OO0,OOO surplus stock
Of foodsiufis held by the War Depart
ment under a plan which will Ensure
opportunity for the people Of the
United States to buy" was recon-
mended yesterday by the 10 Republl-
can members OF the House War In
vestisatlng Committee. The nve Dem
ocratlo committeeman withheld de-
cisioD pending a review Of evidence
taken by a subcommittee.
The inactivity OF the government
In the disposition Of those food sup
piles was, and is, the result Of we'll
defined 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" said the subcommittee
report drafted by Representatives
Reavis, Nebraska. and MacGregor, New
York, Republicans.
Chairman Graham, OF the full COM
mittee, was instructed 10 ask for a
special rule on a resolution calling
upon the War Department 10 sell the
goods. Efforts will be made TO bring
the resolution before the House next
Monday, Graham announced.
The report criticised what IS de-
clared the departments 'non-activ.-
ties IN the sale Of very low qualities
Of food supplies now held in storage"
and asserted that six months elapsed
before any surplus stock was declared.
while "in the meantime the food was
deteriorating and becoming OF less
value and the high cost Of living
continued"
The report also expressed "the sub
committees disfavor Of a policy OF
export" and recommended that "plans
be devised by the Secretary OF War
through the War Department for the
early disposition Of all surplus food
production on the domestic market"
The report estimated that on July 8
last, the value Of surplus food stored
in the United States over and above
the needs Of the Army was as follows
Corn beef, S2i,OOO.OOO; bacon, S23-
100000; hash corn beef, slO,OOOOOO;
roast beef, s2O.50O,0OO: fresh frozen
meats and poultry. s200O0,OOO; canned
vegetables. S23,00O.O0O
"Inexcusable delay" the report de-
clared, resulted in the spelling Of mill
lions. Of pounds Of hams and bacon. !
it being asserted that "notwithstand- |
ing the authorization OF surplus by
the chief Of stan on November 30. 1913,
no action was taken with reference 20
a surplus until May, 1919,
six months after the declaration was
authorized"
Sales Of Army foodstuns in the
United States aggregate si2.OoO,OO0
said the report, adding that "a very
large quantity OF that sold 10 muni-
cipaIities. which would have ten days
20 make payment 10 the government
and bear the transportation cost from
the nearest Army warehouse.
"This plan adopted by the govern
ment." declared the report 'will not
result i'm the sale OF these products to
any great extent. for the reason that
the municipalities under their charter /
have no legal authority 20 purchese /
food products for sale Many munic- /
ipalities which have indicated a de- /
sire 10 punches this food for the bene- 1
nt OF their citizens. have been met
with the threat OF injunction on the
part Of the local dealers, which threat
has been sufficient 10 prevent a pur-
chase OF the goods