Evening star., 1939-09-08
Food Supply Ample
For All u. ). Needs,
Roosevelt Asserts
Excitement Uniustified,
He Soys, Pointing to
Commodity Surplus

President Roosevelt assured the
Nation today that this country has
surplus of food commodities and
that no conceivable shortage exists
which should cause the buying pub
lie any uneasiness.
Asked to comment on rising price
trends since the outbreak of hostili-
ties in Europe. the President de-
clared there is no reason to become
excited about shortage that does
not exist
President Roosevelt stated with
regard to prices there is such a SUR
plus of normal commodities that
prices Of foodstuffs, which have been
low. may go up little He predicted
however, there will not be a repeti-
ton of what happened before this
country entered the last war.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wallace. who also has treasured
consumers that the sharp upswing
in food prices is no cause for alarm
was scheduled to address the Ma
tion'S radio listeners at 8 o'clock to-
night on the subject of food
"protiteering" The address will be
heard over the Columbia Broad
casting System network.
Attorney General Murphy today
reiterated the opinion he expressed
at the White House several days age
that existing laws relating to prof
iteering are inadequate to do a
real job He said he had about
completed study of these laws
but was not ready to comment or
whether this would be a subject fol-
consideration at a special session
of Congress that is expected to be
called on neutrality.
Secretary Wallace announced earl.
ier that the 1910 crop-control pro
grams would provide for little ex.
pansion despite possible increased
| demands for American farm prod
ucts as result of the war.
Statisticians agreed, in comment.
ing on the recent furry of buying
in such commodities as sugar ant
| flour, that consumers, jobbers ane
retailers were trying to beat pric,
increase and simultaneously causing
one.
Profiteering Suspected.
Secretary Wallace, who met with
President Roosevelt yesterday to dis
cuss food prices, said today the Ma
ton is potentially better able quickl,
to meet changes in demand for ag
ricultural commodities than it ha
ever been.
He admitted there were some in.
stances of suspected profiteering
but said middlemen were ready tt
'co-operate' against it.
Reports of profiteering received a
the White House were being turned
over to the Justice Department an,
Secretary wallace.
The price rise in sugar has causet
most concern among consumers
DR.. Joshua Bernhardt, chief of th'
sugar section of the Agriculture De
partment, pointed out, however. tina
there was an actual surplus of thi
commodity.
He stated that it was possible tina
a synthetic" shortage was beinl
created and that the department
could not say whether recent pric
advances were justified.
May Raise Sugar Quotas.
He added, however, the depart
ment was looking into the situation
with the possible view of raising
quotas if professors and refiner
persisted in holding supplies of tn
market. Such action could be ex
pected to serve as check on ad
vancing prices.
There Is no justification for con
sumner boarding of sugar for fea
that the supplies are not ample t
meet all needs" DR.. Bernhard
stated. THE sugar quota for con
sumption in the United States dur
(see FOOD, Page A-z3