William J. Harris to Woodrow Wilson

The Commission will be very glad to cooperate to the fullest with Mr. Hoover's department in regard to the investigation of the costs of the various food industries, such as flour milling, baking, etc., as suggested in Mr. Hoover's letter of August 31 to you and in turn referred to the Commission by you. The investigatory machine organized by the Commission for finding of costs of other "war essentials" can very easily be utilized.

For your information it pleases me to say that the Commission has already undertaken to start such a cost investigation, anticipating such a request, in view of your executive order of July 25 in which you formally directed the Federal Trade Commission to ascertain the costs of production of certain raw materials and manufactured products necessary to the successful conduct of the war.

As the cost investigation which you desire us to make into flour milling, baking, and other food industries is strictly "war work," it will be necessary, of course, to pay for it out of the National Security and Defense Fund.

Sincerely yours,
Wm. J. Harris
Chairman.