Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1917 — GOVERNMENT WOULD REGULATE FOOD PRICES [ARTICLE]

GOVERNMENT WOULD REGULATE FOOD PRICES

House Bill Would Fix Food Prices— Extreme Power to Act Is Sought By Wilston. Washington, May 3.—Absolute authority to regulate in its discretion tlhe production, distribution and prices of food and other necessities during the war was asked of congress today by the administration. In a sweeping bill introduced with administration approval by ChiairmanLever; of the house agricti'tural committee, it is proposed to empower the president under the war clause of the constitution to take these measures whenever, in his opinion, the national emergency shall require: To fix maximum and minimum prices for food, clothing, fuel and other necessities land the articles required for their ipardiuction; > To prescribe regulations to igoyern the production of these commodities and if necessary to requisition the producing factories, mines or other establishments;

To compel holders of necessities to release them in amounts insuring equitable distribution; To regulate exchanges in such a way as to eliminate market manipulation; - To compel railroads to give .preference to the movement of necessities; To levy much importation, duties as he finds necessary to prevent excessive “dumping” of foreign products, and To impose limitations or prohibitions upon the use of grain in the manufacture of liquor. In addition, the secretary of agriculture would »be empowered to establish standard food grades, to license and control the manufacture, storage and distribution of foods, to prescribe the perceuJiage of flour to be .milled from wheat and to regulate the mixfrig of wheat flour with other flour in the mlakirtgof bread: and other food.