Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 229, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1917 — GOVERNMENT FOOD CONTROL [ARTICLE]

GOVERNMENT FOOD CONTROL

PRESIDENT SETS IN MOTION MACHINERY OF HOOVER’S DEPARTMENT. The machinery of the food administration was set ih motion today to complete preparations for government control, November 1, of twenty of America’s principal foodstuffs.' Authority to assume supervision over the leading articles of diet is vested in Herbert C. Hoover, federal food administrator, by a proclamation of president Wilson. Under the terms of the order, licenses will be required for the manufacture, storage, importation and distribution of flour, bread, meats, potatoes, sugar, milk, butter and dairy products, canned foods, rice, staple vegetables and other stipulated commodities. Farmers and small dealers specifically are exempted. Decision to extend government control to the foodstuffs named was founded on a determination to prevent unusual profits and eliminate hoarding and speculation. After quoting the food control act, under which the action is taken, the President’s proclamation, issued last night, says: “It is essential, in order to carry into effect the purposes of said act, to license the importation, manufacture, storage and distribution of necessaries to the extent hereinafter specified. * “All persons, firms, corporations and associations engaged in the business either of (1) operating cold storage warehouses (a cold storage wareiouse, for the purpose of this procamation being defined as any place artificially or mechanically cooled to or below a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit m which food products are placed and held for thirty days or more); (2) operating elevators, warehouses or other places for storage of corn, oats, barley, beans, rice, cotton seed, cottonseed meal, cottonseed cake, or peanut meal, or (3) importing, manufacturing (including milling, mixing or packing); or distributing (including buying or selling) any of the following commodities :

“Wheat, wheat flour, rye or rye flour. . “Barley or barley flour. “Oats, oatmeal or rolled oats. “Corn, corn grits, corn meal, hominy, corn flour, starch from corn, corn oil, corn syrup or glucose. “Rye or rye flour. “Dried beans, pea seed or dried peas. “Cottonseed, cottonseed oil, cottonseed cake or cottonseed meal. “Peanut oil or peanut meal. “Soy bean oil, soy bean meal, palm oil or copra oil. “Oleomargarine, lard, or lard substitutes, oleo oils or cooking fats. “Milk, butter or cheese. “Condensed, powdered or evaporated milk. ... —“Fresh, cannedor cured beef, pork or mutton. “Poultry or eggs. “Fresh fruits or vegetables. “Fresh or frozen fish. "Canneff peas, driedbehns, tomatoes, corn, salmon or sardines. “Dried prunes, apples, peaches or raisins. “Sugar, sirups or molasses. “Excepting, however, the following: Operators of aH elevators or warehouses handling wheat or rye, and manufacturers of the derivative products of wheat or rye who have already been licensed. “Importers, manufacturers and refiners of sugar and manufacturers of sirups and molasses, who have (already been licensed. “Retailers whose gross sales of food commodities do not exceed SIOO,OOO per annum. “Common carriers. “Farmers, gardeners, co-operative associations of farmers or gardeners, including live stock farmers, and other persons with respect to the products of any farm, garden or othj er land owner, leased or cultivated by them. .

“Fishermen whose business does not extend beyond primary consignment. _ “Those dealing in any of the above commodities on any exchange, hoard of trade or similar institution as defined by Section 13 of the act of August 10, 1917, to the extent of their dealings on such exchange or board of trade. “Millers of corn, oats, barley, wheat, rye or rice operating only plants of a daily capacity of less than seventy-five barrels. “Canners of peas, dried beans, corn, tomatoes, salmon or sardines whose gross production does not ex-

ceed 5,000 cases per annum. “Persons slaughtering, packing and distributing fresh, canned or cured beef, pork or mutton, whose gross sales of such commodities do not exceed SIOO,OOO per annum. “Operators of poultry or egg packing plants whose gross sales do not exceed $50,000 per annum. “Manufacturers of maple sirup, maple sugar and maple compound. “Ginners, buyers, agents, dealers or other'handlers of cottonseed who handle yearly, between September 1 and August 31, less than 150 tons of. cottonseed. <- “Are hereby required to secure on or before November 1, 1917, ® license, which license will be issuec under such rules and regulations governing the conduct O|f the business as may bo prescribed.

“Applications for the license must be made to the United States food administration, Washington, D. C., law department, license division, on forms prepared by it in advance for that purpose, which may be secured on request. “Any person, firm or corporation or association, other than those hereinbefore excepted, who shall engage in or carry on any business hereinbefore specified, after November 1, 1917, without first securing such licenses, will be liable to the penalty prescribed by said act of Congress.” Penalties prescribed for violation of the act are a flne of $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than two yean. >