A PROGRAM 287 



and live stock, and particularly those paid by .the War Depart- 

 ment, if purchases are made direct in the open market instead 

 of by the usual contract method. 



If not incompatible with wise policy, the War Department 

 should determine and state where training camps are to be 

 located, so that local production can be expanded to care in 

 some degree for the increased consumption as a measure of gen- 

 eral economy, and to effect a further relief of transportation 

 facilities. 



Appropriate steps should be taken through suitable federal 

 authorities such as the Council of National Defense, the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, and the 

 Federal Trade Commission, to facilitate the supplying of agri- 

 cultural implements and machinery, particularly for seeding and 

 harvesting, by bringing about reasonable deliveries of the neces- 

 sary materials, in preference to filling orders for such products 

 as are not required in the existing emergency. 



Steps should be taken at once to secure the preference move- 

 ment of freight shipments of farm machinery, seeds, fertilizers, 

 and spraying materials. 



PRICE FIXING, IF NECESSARY 



The very low food reserves of the world, due to last year's 

 short crops, the increased demands due to the consumption and 

 waste of war and the disappointing condition of the winter 

 grain crop give ample assurance of profitable prices to producers 

 this year. Therefore, the fixing of maximum or minimum 

 prices need not be undertaken at this time, but the fact that such 

 a course may become necessary in the future advises the crea- 

 tion of agencies which will enable the government to act wisely 

 when the necessity may arise. To this end, it would be well 

 for the Congress of the United States to authorize the Council 

 of National Defense, if deemed necessary, to purchase, store, 

 and subsequently distribute food products, or to fix prices in 

 any national emergency caused by a temporary or local over- 

 production or by a sudden ending of the war or by restraints of 

 trade, manipulations or uneconomic speculation, in order that 



