Herbert Hoover to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Herbert Hoover to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964
Identifier
WWP19117
Date
1917 July 18
Description
Herbert Hoover writes to Woodrow Wilson about is concerns for the proposed substitute to the Lever Bill.
Source
Hoover-Wilson Correspondence, Hoover Institution, Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford, California
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964--Correspondence
Language
English
Text
Dear Mr. President
You are probably aware that a new substitute food bill has been introduced to the Senate this morning by Senator Hollis and some of his friends. I hear from many quarters that this impression is today being systematically given to the press.
The bill contains many vicious provisions and does not return to the text of the Lever Bill, which should be made the Administration measure. It contains a provisilon for putting the Food Administration under commission form and it seriously alters the provisions of the bill in many directions already attempted by the Gore substitute.
To my mind it is very important that the Senators who are desirous of getting legislation satisfactory to yourself, and workable from an Administration point of view, should be informed as quickly as possible that the bill does not conform with the desires of the Administration and that great damage is being done by these reports which have been spread that it does so fulfil the requirements.
I am having a memorandum prepared showing the deficiences of this measure, practically all of which arise by departure from the original Lever Bill. Among others, I may mention that practically the flour millers the refiners, importers, exporters, commission men, and many other food distributors are immune from the action of the bill. The bill also contains a provisilon which guarantees the price of wheat at $1.75 per bushel without establishing any adequate basis or having given adequate consideration as to whether this is a right or justifiable price or not.
I remain,
[Hoover]
Your obedient servant,
You are probably aware that a new substitute food bill has been introduced to the Senate this morning by Senator Hollis and some of his friends. I hear from many quarters that this impression is today being systematically given to the press.
The bill contains many vicious provisions and does not return to the text of the Lever Bill, which should be made the Administration measure. It contains a provisilon for putting the Food Administration under commission form and it seriously alters the provisions of the bill in many directions already attempted by the Gore substitute.
To my mind it is very important that the Senators who are desirous of getting legislation satisfactory to yourself, and workable from an Administration point of view, should be informed as quickly as possible that the bill does not conform with the desires of the Administration and that great damage is being done by these reports which have been spread that it does so fulfil the requirements.
I am having a memorandum prepared showing the deficiences of this measure, practically all of which arise by departure from the original Lever Bill. Among others, I may mention that practically the flour millers the refiners, importers, exporters, commission men, and many other food distributors are immune from the action of the bill. The bill also contains a provisilon which guarantees the price of wheat at $1.75 per bushel without establishing any adequate basis or having given adequate consideration as to whether this is a right or justifiable price or not.
I remain,
[Hoover]
Your obedient servant,
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Citation
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964, “Herbert Hoover to Woodrow Wilson,” 1917 July 18, WWP19117, Hoover Institute at Stanford University Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.