Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1917 — PRESIDENT ACTS TO PROVIDE FOOD AI LOWER PRICES [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENT ACTS TO PROVIDE FOOD AI LOWER PRICES

Wilson and Congress Aroused by Riots in East CARS BEING RUSHED WEST f . . Believed Situation Will Improve When Congestion on Eastern Roads Is B roken—Food Embargo Asked in House. , Washington,. Feb. —President Wilson is determined that there shall be ample food for the people at reasonable prices. This likewise is the determination of congress. # The seriousness of the situation is appreciated both at .the White House and the Capitol. Lack of food and the high cost of .food already are responsible for riots at several- points. The Administration and congress propose to take measures to prevent this situation from becoming’ dangerous. Congress is talking to feed the poor. No such appropriation will be made, it is said, because it is regarded as unnecessary and unwise to pauperise.,, Pressure for More Cars. The president is pressing the interstate commerce commission to see that ample car facilities shaft! be provided for the transportation of necessaries of life. The commission in turn is pressing the railroads, which are as active as possible under the circumstances. • The president also wants $ loo.tMMi.to pay tlie expenses of the investigation being made bv the federal trade commission. Representative Borland of Missouri is lining up members in support of an amendment to the sundry civil bill authorizing such an appropriation. Many congressmen, however, say iio investigation is necessary; that what is wanted is relief, ami that without delay. - In response to the demand for act tn, the interstate commerce comrfllssion caused many empty freight cars to be rushed West at expresstrain speed for use in utoving needed provisions to points at which there is serious scarcity. They said the acute stage of the shortage had passed. Europe’s Need One Cause,

Back of the situation is first the need of Europe, which is partly responsible tor the high cost of food, and second‘the intimidation blockade,, which has caused congestion of freight and tied up a large number of cars. It is apparent that the blockade must be lifted. This is a feature of the international situation which is forcing the president to appear before congress. Representative Bailey of Pennsylvania, a pronounced "pacifist.” offered a resolution in fator of an embargo on foodstuffs. The president is opposed to an embargo. Plotters to Be Indicted. It is the purpose of the department of justice to indict any person or persons Conspiring to.promote rioting. Indictments likewise will be sought against food monopolists. Before 'congress , hdjourris the appropriation desired by the president to pay the expenses of the investigation by the federal' trade comnpssion will be granted. Probably that will be the extent of congressional action. The president ami several government departments, however, will continue “their efforts to help the people get food at reasonable cost. Empty Cars Rushed West. Many empties rolled West at passenger train speed from congested railroad yards of the East, according to interstate commerce commission advices from its fle|d force of investigators. Fair weather gave the roads the first real opportunity in more than a week to exert their maximum energies to relieve the car shortage that has threatened a condition approaching famine in some sections of the country. , ' Officials of both the railroads and the commission expressed the conviction that the acute stage of the shortage had passed and that steady improvemdnt in the situation would conlinue. At no time; it was said, had conditions reached the acuteness of the tieup a year ago.