The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-02
THE PEOPLES FOOD.

Passage by the House of the resolutions requesting the
Secretary of War to place sale without delay the
surplus food products in the hands of the War Depart
ment under plan which will insure an opportunity to
the people to purchase them directly from the govern
ment should result in material benefit the public AS
Stunning that the War Department accedes to the request
Of the Houseand it is difficult conceive why it should
refusethere will be available for sale to the public some
worth of food purchased for the army but
not required by it
The amendment to the resolution, providing that such
plan shall include utilizing the parcel post service points
out what appears to be very effective method of dis
trbung this food directly to the consumer thereby
ablng individuals to purchase to the extent of their
means and securing advantage of the governments fiat
prices without paying toll to mddemen 1t will be en-
tirey feasible for the War Department to publish price
list to be distributed to the $4,000 postmasers through
out the country and they easily accept orders from
citizens and forward them to the War Department to be
filed and consigned direct to the purchaser.
As pointed out in the debate, the Postoffce De-
partmen during the past three years has been recognized
many times the direct connecting link between the
H"'iohoi government anu The people, Inc PRESIDENT
proclamatons have been distributed to the postoff
and posted there for general information; army and
recruiting movements have enlisted the assistance
of postmasters campaigns for selling liberty bonds and
war savings stamps have depended largely upon the help
of the posmaster and the Labor Department and the
Department of Agriculture have utilized the postal sys
tenn in their work.
ready set up in working order That it would not be
seriously overtaxed by using for dsposng of the sur
plus army food is proved by the fact that during the last
fiscal year the parcel post handled total of 900
packages of all sizes and descriptions.
1t would be unfortunate if the public should become
mbued with the idea that the sale of this army food will
result in general reduction in the cost of living That
it will have that tendency there is doubt but when it
considered that the total amount of such food to be
distributed is less than So worth per capita it will be
realized that this cannot have very decided effect upon
he nations food bill for the year.
However, the fact that it is small item in comparison
With the total spent for food in the course of year
Toes not alter the claim which the public has upon it,
This food purchased with the peoples money for the
Use of the soldiers, and since the rehabilitation has rem
Tered it unnecessary it the plain duty of the govern
nent to permit the people to buy it at cost price, and
hus to that extent relieve them of the high living cost
% which they are subjected The plan proposed by the
War Department originally of selling it in large quaint
les to municipalities for distribution to their people has
lot proved great success because many cities have not
he funds with which to make the purchases Sale direct
the consumer the most feasible pan and the parcel
'os to supply the method for carrying that plan
INTO effect Official red tape should not be permitted to
Interfere with prompt and ready compliance with the re-
uest of the House of Representatives Washington
'ost