Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1917 — Bill to Regulate Food Control Launched By Administration. [ARTICLE]

Bill to Regulate Food Control Launched By Administration.

The administration’s food control campaign was introduced Monday in both houses of congress. In the house Chairman Lever, of the agricultural! committee, offered a bill to give the agricultural department direct supervision of food production and distribution. The program was put before the senate in a resolution by Senator Gore, chairman of the senate committee. The measures proposed do not cover price fixing or control of grain entering into the manufacture of liquors. Both these subjects will be dealt with in measures to be drawn later. The legislation- calls for an immediate survey of -the country’s food resources and confers power on the department tp prevent speculation and price manipulation. It would provide for equitable distribution and would suspend the laws prohibiting the mixing of flour. It would establish uniform standards for -agricultural products and fertilizers. Under the measuers asked the secretary of agriculture could, -if the government -thought it necessary, license or operate any business of manufacture, storage or distribution of food, food materials or seeds. He could- compel concerns so licensed to loose hoarded stocks of food, to refrain from unjust or discriminatory practices or charges and could force them to exact fair prices only.