Show FIXING OF FOOD PRICES the Secre secretary iary of agriculture in in response to a telegram regarding the fixing of prices of food products today april 24 mo ma manetho ade detho the following reply your telegram received no agency now has power to fix prices of food products have suggested that congress confer power on the government to fix minimum and maximum prices if the emergency requires them the object of a minimum price to producers would be to stimulate production of certain staple products by assuring farmere banners that these products would not be disposed of below a certain level which would give them ja a reasonable return and would not cause cause them to suffer loss in any event this would have to ba 43 done under proper regulation the shortage of important crops in this nation the greatly da depleted resources abroad and tho the I 1 waste and destruction in europe should cause 9 a continua continuance lic e of remunerative prices but as aa an all additional assurance to farmers the power indicated ought to be vested in the government it is not suggested that max maximum icum i prices fixed to producers but that power to fix such prices governing the distribution of products be given to the government m ent to be used if necessary to clan control erdl uneconomic speculation and manipulation in the handling of food products it is of the first importance that no step be omitted greatly to increase the especially of the f arc remt it j aple food products of odthe the unit led ed states in every direction |