Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-06
CONGRESSMAN GOOD CHARGES
WILSON WITH FAILING TO
EXERCISE POWERS.
GAN STOP PRoFIrEERiNo
UNDER PRESENT LAWS
President Given Authority Greater
Than That Possessed BY Any Ruler
in tho World--Mr. Good Says Con-
srsss Has Done Al Il Can to Com
bat Profitssring.

Cedar Rapids, Aug. 6.--"The pres
ident has the power to act. He Is CIV
en- explicit authority to prosecute the
profiteers and bring down the exceed
ingly high living costs. but SO far
there has not been one conviction"
Congressman Good declared last night.
In August. 1917, two years ago, Mr..
Good said President Wilson was given
authority greater than any ruler has
! ever had, authority which the car in
his palmiest days did not possess
and yet he has done practically nothing
to reduce the cost OF living.
He has probably been away for so
long that he is evidently not aware
, Of what actions congress has taken or
on the other hand the agreement which
the war department made with the
Gamers and packers" the congressman
continued.
In explanation of his reference to
the agreement" Of the war depart
ment, Mr.. Good produced resolution
that was introduced In the house Of re-
representatives. by Mr.. Wood, Of Indiana,
few days ago.. This resolution re-
viewed the general authority given the
president and also asks the president
to stat what additional power he re-
quires in order to begin action toward
the reduction of the increasing high
cost of living.
Congress has done all in its power,
declared Mr.. Good. Congress Is the
legislative branch Of the government.
It is its duty to pass laws. The presi-
dent is the administrator, He has been
given legislation and authority to act
freely. When he attempts to shift the
problem to congress he is playing once
more IN small politics"
Wilson Aided Gamers.
In the resolution Representative
Wood charged the president thru the
food administrator and the secretary
of war, with having made an arrange
ment with the Gamers Of vegetables,
whereby the supply of canned goods
purchased by the war department shall
be held and not disposed Of to the pub
lie OF the United States until this
years pack of canned vegetables could
be canned. This was in direct contra
diction to the act which MADE It I'M
lawful for any person. partnership or
corporation from doing exactly what
the administration saw fit to Do thru
the department Of war and the food
administrator. He also charged that
the president, thru the food admini-
strator entered into an agreement with
the packers Of meat products In the
United States. whereby the supply Of
meats and fats in the hands of the war
department should be disposed Of only
so as to provide a steady flow and not
to affect injuriously the market price
on such commodities. He then charged
that the government. by this action.
was guilty OF violating the law and
thus acted to unnecessarily increase,
the price of the necessities Of life., /
The resolution. which was introduced
on July 20. recalls the fact that in
August. 1917. "the president was au-
thorized to make such regulations an:
to issue such orders as were necessary
to effectively assure an adequate and
equitable distribution and to facilitate
the movement of goods, feeds, fuel. In
GLIDING the tools. utensils, machinery,
implements and equipment required for
the actual. production Of the same: to
prevent, local or generally, scarcity
monopolization. boarding or injurious
speculatioas. manipulations and private
controls affecting such supply. distri-
button and movement and to estab-
lish and maintain government control
OF such necessaries during the war;"
It adds further that the president Is
authorized from time to time to pur-
chase. to store. to provide storage IA
cilities for and to sell for cash at
reasonable prices. wheat, flour, meal,
beans and potatoes"
According to Mr.. Good this list takes
in what Is generally known to be the.
necessities" in the food line. with the
exception Of fats. The president was
given this authority two years ago.
But this was not all the power that
was given to the president in the same
act. Mr.. Good went on to explain. Fur.
ther, 1t was made unlawful for any
person to hoard any necessities. as
defined in this act, to make any unjust
or unreasonable rate Of charge in
handling in or with any Of the nee
essities, to conspire. combine, agree or
arrange with any person to restrict the
distribution or to exact excessive
prices for any Of the necessities"
Power etilI in Force.
The resolution goes on to point out
that all this authority conferred upon
the president is to continue. until the
president shah by proclamation de-.
clare that the war between the United
States and Germany has been termin-
ated.@ q
IN addition to the power above men
toned that was granted him, provi-
sion was made that he was author
lied to sell upon such terms as the
head Of any executive department shall
deem expedient, to any person. part
nership. association or corporation or
other department Of the government
any war surplus supplies. material and
equipment and any product thereof"
The resolution ended requesting the
president to report to the house Of
rcpres.,i1 Ia tt::;vss the facts concerning
the agreements referred to, the guam
tity and quality Of canned goods and
meats on hand BY the government
agencies. and advise them what au-
thority, II any. inaddition TO the au-
thority'' already conferred upon him,
he required to REDUCE the rapidly in
.creasing high cost Of living"
/. When the president on the receipt OF
the information Of the railroad strike
for reduction In the high cost Of liv-
Ing, turned to congress with the prob
lem. he had nothing In mind but po-
litical diplomacy. according to Mr..
Good. He had his commissions and