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NE FOOD PRICES.1 8TRATION ASKS ABSO. POWER TO CONTROL FOOD SUPPLIES. Ifftjnld Regulate Production and Dbv Orfbrntion of Foot! Supply During Fix Maximum anil PHcea? Applies to All Washington, May S.?Absolute au tksifSs to regulate In its discretion the production, distribution and prices of and other nscessltles during the was asked of congress today by administration. Isl *> sleeping bill introduced with administration approval by Chair Mo Lever of the house agriculture Oommlttee it Is proposed to empower tho president to take these measures whenever In his opinion the national icy shall require: To fht maximum and minimum for food, clothing, fuel and other necessities, and the articles re quired for their production. To prescribe regulations to govern tns production of these commodities and if necessary to requisition tb producing factories, mines or other establishments. To eompel holders of necessities to raisebs them in amounts Insuring equitable distribution. To regulate exchange in such a way , no to eliminate market manipulation. I To compel railroads to give prefer li onos to the movement of necessities. ? To levy such Import duties as he Undo necessary to prevent excessive "dump of foreign products; and To Impose limitations or prohibi? tions upon the use of grain in the manufacture of "quor. In addition the secretary of agri? culture would be empowered to estab? lish standard fovd grades, to license and control the manufacture, storage and distribution of foods; to pre? scribe the percentage of flour to be milled *rom wheat and to regulate the mixing of wheat flour with other Sour in th? making of bread and other > Mr. Lev?r declared there was noth? ing in the measure to disturb legiti? mate business activities because "It Is hoped that the mere conferring of the more sxtrome new powers will be sufficient without its becoming neces? sary to exercise them." It M known that officials hold the came view. The bill Is supplemental to the ad? ministration food measure Intro? duced In ths house earlier In the week providing lor a survey of the coun? try's food resources and conferring ecrtaln powers to prsvent food specu? lation This measure was ordered favorably reported from the agricul? tural committee today after the com? mittee had reduced the appropria? tion carried from $2 5.ooo,ooo to ap? proximately $19,000,000 and had eliminated u section authorizing the secretary ot agriculture to authorise ths Immediate sale of any food in auch condition that unless promptly disposed of it will become unfit for use. Ths section will bo Incorporated In a coming third measure which is to eonfor broadl powers on the council of national defense. Mr. Levei expects to get both of ths bills up for action In the house next week. "The new bill," said Mr. Lever, "deals with nil the necessaries of life, Including foods, feeds, shoes, cloth? ing, fuel and articles required for their production. The measure is in tended only .o meet the present emer? gency. It Is limited to the period of the war and n sufficient time there? after for readjustment. It is based on the war clauses of the constitution and is applicable throughout the coun? try. Irrespective of State linea "The purposes are to stimulate pro? duction and to reduce waste, to cleai the channel/) of distribution, to pre? vent boarding, to assure fair prices, to eliminate Injurious speculation, to prohibit evil practices on exchanges and Is proteet the public against ex? tortion. "Power is granted to compel hold? ers to disgorge and put on the mar ket necessaries held by them In ex cess of amounts reasonably needed to supply their legitimateindividual or buinsss requirement for a reasona? ble time. The president may regulate exchanges Includlrg tho prices, quota? tions and like so as to avoid their employment as instrumentalities to effect unjust market manipulations. Injurious speculation and undue en? hancement of prices. "The president Is empowered to fix minimum prices, assuring fair and Just returns to producers or owners whenever In an emergency ho fines' such sctton essentisl in order to en? courage greater production. In such ease the government will guarantee producers of necessaries within the United States, who act in reliance upon ths gusrantee, that they will re celve not less than the minimum price prescribed for their product. "The bill stso contains an anti? dumping clause. This vests powsr in tho president to And what rates of BISGONTEiT IN RUSSIA. SOLDIERS AND WORKMEN DE? MAND RESIGNATION OF MI I. UK OFF. Situation Seems to Rc Serious as Dis? content, i? Sakl to be Due to Foreign Minister's Pledge to Allies to Car? ry Out all Engagements as to Con? tinuing War. Petrograd, May 4.?Detachments of soldiers gathered today before the headquarters of the provisional gov? ernment demanding the resignation of Foreign Ministor Milukoff. The resig? nation was demanded by thousands of soldiers and workmen who marched the streets yesterday and last night. Discontent has been smouldering for some time on account of the belief that M. Milukoff is not fully in sym? pathy with the viewpoint of the work r en and soldier*. The present out? break is the direct result of the for? eign office's announcement to the al? lies that Russia will not slacken her efforts in the common struggle against the central powers and would strictly observe her engagements with the allies. The soldiers and workmen de? clared they should have been consult? ed before the communication war? sent. At the meeting of the council of soldiers and workmen's delegates the formation of a coalition cabinet was favored. There were also dem? onstrations in favor of the govern? ment. COUNTY ROARD MEETING. Committee Appointed to Make Ar? rangements to Rorrow Money Coun? ty Will Need. The regular monthly meeting of the county board of commissioners was held on Tuesday with all of the members present. There were a num? ber of matters actef on, but nothing of general interest received attention save the appointment of Messrs. J. J. Brltton, H. J. McLaurln and Clerk C. M. Hurst on a committee to make an estimate of the amount of money the county will need until taxes come In next fall and to make arrangements for borrowing this money. Representatives of the Good Rotids Machinery Company were present to show the advantages of a tractor which they had on the market and to try to induce the board to purchase one for Sumter count>. No action was taken. Dr. Burgess, the county physician, explained the excessive bills for med? icine were due to the fact that pa? tients at the alms bouse were allow? ed to refill prescriptions without his authorizing them to do so. He was directed to stop thlti practlco. A letter was received from Capt. R. T. Brown of Company L*. N. G. S. C. requesting the county to make the usual appropriation for the company. This request was refused by th? board on the ground that the company was In the federal service and would not be here to render aid in ease of emergency. A home guard may have to be formed and, if so, the fund would be needed for such a body. A letter from the State Board of Charities and Corrections relating to conditions at the county alms house was received and read. Mr. White stated that ho had made some of the Improvements suggested, such as screening the privies, and making re? pairs to houses. A bid of T. B. Ken? nedy for repairs on the jail was re? fused and new bids were called for. An application from H. P. Itauton for a Confederate pension was re? ferred to the county pension board, Messrs. Brltton and McLaurln with the clerk were appointed on a com? mittee to borrow money which the county may need before taxes come in. Mr. White reported that the tele . phone line to the county alms house had been connected with other homes by the Sumter Telephone Compan> and. as this lino belonged to the county, Mr. White was directed to have the telephone company pay for such service as was received on this line. HOMES FOR CHILDREN. Berlin, May 4.?It is officially an? nounced that a million city children will bo placed on farms this summer. Farmers will pay fifty pfennings a piece daily. *-?^S?S??-?? duty on the Importations of necessa? ries, for which minimum prices have been proscribed, aro required to pre? vent flooding of the American mar? ket with such excessive importations as to defeat tho practical operation of th? minimum price plan. When he determines these rates, by force of the Statut.? its. If they go Into imme? diate, effect. "Wneeevei the president shnll find that an emergency exists requiring such aetlon he is also empowered to fix maximum prices of neeessities. If essential, in order to prevent extor tion. If a maximum price for any particular necessaries ho established It Is made unlawful therefore to Hanl In the article ut a higher price." BRITISH MAKE PROGRESS. BATTLE OF ARRAS CONTINUES WITH UNABATED FURY DUR? ING NIGHT. German Attacks Succeeded at Points on Arras-Cambrai Road, but British Advance at St. Qucntin. Throughout the night and today guns continued to boom without in terrrflssion on the Arras battle Held. Frequent bursts of machine gun and rifle Are told of attacks and counter? attacks along the various parts of the front of British offensive. The British today hold the village of Fresnoy and nearby positions which were captur? ed yesterday. The Germans delivered severe counter attacks here and also near Cherisy and on the Arras-Cambrai road from both of which the British were compelled to fall back. The British made additional progress northwest of St. Quentin during the night and also northeast of Harcourt. Germany announced the British yes? terday only succeeded in taking Fresnoy and small portions of the foremost of the German trenches near Bullecourt. It said the Germans cap? tured a " thousand prisoners. The French announced additional pro? gress in Champagne also on the Ver? dun front. Reactionaries it\ Germany are alarmed by the apparent domin? ance of the Socialists with their pro? gram of peace with annexations and indemnities. They presented an in? terpolation to Chancellor Bethmann Ilcliweg demanding him to clarify his position. BRITISH FORCES SUCCEED. Are Ahead of Attacking Schedule and Looses Have Been Lighter Than Expected. Washington, May 4.?British forces on the western front are a fortnight ahead of their attacking schedule. Their losses are much smaller than oxpected, according to a cablegram from the foreign office to Minister Balfour. The losses are said to be only half as large proportionately as In the Somme offensive last year. Members of the commission attribut? ed this to the incomparable artillery ! and the fact that men are not allow? ed to outrun the guns. GOES TO CHARLESTON. Rev. Harold Thomas, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, Accepts Call to St. Luke's. Florence, May 3.?The Rev. Harold Thomas, "who for nearly 16 years has been rector of St. John's Episcopal church, has resigned his charge here to accept a call to St. Luke's, Char? leston. The resignation was present? ed at a meeting of the vestry last night, to take eeffct July 1. In a let? ter to the vestry Mr. Thomas makes it plain that ho has determined to ac? cept the call, and the vestry feels that It would be in vain to^urge him to remain. Mr. Thomas has been one of the hardest working ministers who has ever been in this section of the country. He was always at some work, and he never spared himself nor heeded the earnest solicitations of his family and friends to lessen his service to his fellow men and to the community. His missionary and philanthropic spirit never knew any dividing line of sectarianism or creed or even race and condition. He was everywhero that people needed com? fort and consolation and the minis? tration of the gospel. BRITISH LABOR LEADERS AR? RIVE. Represent Lat>or Party in United State to Adviso With American l4ilM>r Union. New York, May 4.?Right Hon. Chas. W. Howerman, J. H. Thomas, members of the British parliament; H, W. Garrod, labor representative in the munitions bureau, appointed by the British government as official ad? visers to American labor in tho con? duct of the war, have arrlvod. They camo at the invitation of the Amer? ican Federation of Labor. PHJiOW CASES FOR FRANCE. 10() Going Tomorrow From Women of South Carolina. Columbia, May I,?Miss Jane Evans, of Florence, wired Mrs. Riehard I. Manning last night that the National Red Cross wants 100 pillow cases from the National league for Wo? men's Service by Saturday, to send with the hospital corps at France. Mrs. Manning advises that she made a call to the different units and th*1 response was prompt, and that she will send the 400 pillow cases Satur? day. MORE MEN JOIN ARMY. Washington. May lb?Regular army recruiting again showed good results yesterday with a total of 2,(165 men accepted, making 4 5,540 brought><into the service since April 1. TO REDUCE PRICES OF WHEAT UNITED STATES AND CANADA WORKING TOGETHER. Dominion Minister of Finance Tells of Need for Joint Action by Govern? ments. Ottawa, May S.?Announcement was matlc in parliament today by Sir Thomas White, the minister of finance, that plans are under way for joint action by Canada and the United States to reduce the price of wheat. Sir Thomas said the price of flour, wheat or any other necessity could not be regulated by the Canadian government alone. To be successful the regulation of food prices must be the simultaneous action of t'ae United States and Canada, he declared. He stated that Sir George Foster, the Canadian minister of trade and commerce, now in Washington, is dis cussing with the American authori? ties the fixing of maximum prices for wheat on the whole of the North American continent. Sir Thomas will leave for Washington at the end ol this^week to relieve Sir George Fos? ter, who is representing Canada In the conference between the represen? tatives of the United States, France and England. HABEAS CORPUS DISMISSED. Hearing Before Associate Justice Fr?? ser Yesterday Results in Victory for City. A legal proceed'ng of much inter? est to the city of Sumter, as it con? cerns very vitally the trial of cases In the recorder's court, brought by A. S. Merrimon, attorney for eight of the alleged blind tigere who are now in the guard house awaiting trial on the charges of selling whiskey, before As? sociate Justice T. B. Fraser was heard yesterday in Columbia by Justice Fra? ser and resulted in his giving a ruling In favor of the city and dismissing the habeas corpus proceedings which had been taken out. Mr. Merrimon. as stated, brought the habeas corpus proceedings on behalf of a number of his clients who had been arrested on the charge of selling whiskey and were in the guard house awaiting trial under a provision of the city charter which states that a prisoner shall not be kept in the guard house longer than twenty-four hours without trial. Chief J. R. Sumter, as the prosecutor in the cases against the al? leged blind tigers, stated in his an? swer to the writ of habeas corpus that It was a physical impossibility to try all of the cases within the twenty fodr hours. He was represented by Mr. J. H. Clifton, who has been pros? ecuting the cases against the defend? ants on behalf of the city. Recorder Harby was also present at the hear? ing, as a very interested spectator. The eight defendants represented by Mr. Merrimon demanded to be tried by juries and have each case, where there were more than one case against them, tried separately. This was not done In the first twenty-four hours, after the alleged tigers had been ar? rested and lodged in jail, and th( habeas corpus proceedings were then brought for the release of the prison? ers. Justice Fraser In his ruling held that it was a physical impossibility to try all of the cases within the twenty four hours and that the defendants should lie given trial as speedily as possible. He held that the provis? ion of the city charter applied to cases where arrests had been made by the police without any wnrrant issued which had to be tried within twenty four hours, but in the case in ques? tion where warrants had been issued and the defendants arrested on these warrants that the provision as to twenty-four hours did not hold. The ruling is a very important one to the city, as if It were held that trial had to be given all prisoners within twenty-four hours, it is prob? able that a number of them would have to be released without trial or bail, as in case of the arrest of a number of prisoners, if they wanted jury trials, it would be impossible to try them all within the specified time limit. DOCTORS TO FRANCE. United States Will Send Six Hospital Units. Baltimore, May 3.?The United States governing ? af'er a conference has decided to send tho Johns Hop? kins base hospital unit. In addition to five Similar units, immediately to Prance and England for service near the firing lines. Dentists are also to be included in the proportion of one dentist to each L'O surgeons. PECAN 11A SUCCEEDS MUTXER. Rio Janeiro, May 4, ? Nilo Pceanha. under secretary of State, has been ap l pointed foreign minister to succeed Dr. Muller, who resigned, saying he W nted no friction present. CONFEREES ON ARMY BILL AGREE UPON $100 FOR MEN. House and Senate Ooniniitcenien Deem Service Without Pay Hardly Democratic?Get Allowances Also. Washington, May 3.?The conferees on the army appropriation bill today inserted in that measure a provision authorizing the secretary of war to pay to men designated by him for training as officers in the army $100 a month during the period of their training. They will receive this sum in addition to the allowances for transportation, subsistence, uniforms, etc. They must agree, however, to accept appointment in the officers' re? serve corps, if a commission is offered them, in such grade as may be ten? dered by the secretary of war. FIRST'S RANKS FILLING. Nearly all Companies Recruited to Maximum Peace Strength. Columbia, May 3.?Nearly all of the companies of the First regiment have been recruited up to maximum peace strength, stated Col. P. K. McCully this afternoon. There are still a few vacancies which the colonel expects to be filled by Friday or Sat? urday if the present rate of recruit? ing keeps up. The regiment is in need of a few teamsters for the supply com? pany and would be glad to get two blacksmiths on the rolls of the unit. Lieut. L. M. Massey is in charge of the recruiting at the fair grounds headquarters. All of the detachments on duty throughout the State are au? thorized to accept recruits. Col. McCully stated today that the chances for becoming commissioned officers were, in his opinion, just as good in the National Guard as in the training camp at Fort Oglethorpe. The rush of men to the training camps means that only a small per? centage can be chosen, said Col. Mc? Cully, who pointed out that any young man who entered the National Guard and applied himself seriously and stu? diously to its duties stood a very good chance of promotion. Men who recruit at detachments of the regiment on service in the State are furnished transportation to Co? lumbia. If they are rejected here on account, of physical examination they are given transportation home. No official report of the exchange of shots between soldiers and persons on a bridge near Abbeville had been received this afternoon. MATERIALS FOR BUILDING SILOS - I Proper Time Now to Begin Making Preparations for Constructing Silos. Clemson College, May 2.?"If you have not already begun, now is the time to start getting together the ma? terials for your silo. For the best results the silo should be completed one month before time for filling. "Experiments have been carried out where dairy cattle produced one third more milk at one-third less cost when silage replaced the hulls in the ration. Considering this fact, can you afford to be without a silo? "Silage makes excellent feed for hoth dairy and beef cattle. A corn crop planted after oats have been cut will mature sufficiently to make good silage. "A silo is one of the first and very important steps in the solution of the feeding problem in this State and any one having as many as ten head of cattle cannot afford to be without a silo. "Both stave and concrete silos have given excellent results in this State and either may be erected with farm labor. We are prepared to furnish bills of material for either of these silos. "Last year several men put off building their silos until such a late date that the corn was too dry for first class silage before the silo was completed. "We will be glad to furnish you additional information regarding si? los and silage. COUNT TARNOW SAILS. Advises Austrians in United States to Honor Land Where They Live. New York, May 4.?Count Tarnow ski von Tarnow, who came to suc? ceed Dr. Dumba as Austrian ambas? sador, but who never was received, has sailed for Holland with mem? bers of the embassy, Austrian con? suls and others. Count Tarnow before sailing Is? sued greetings to his countrymen here and advised them "to honor, the land Whose hospitality they enjoy and in which they earn a livelihood." MISSING BOAT LANDED. Fourteen Men of Hockinghnm's Crew Rescued Admiralty Reports. London, May 4.?The admiralty ban reported one of the missing Hockingham boats with fourteen men rescued. RAILWAY EXPERTS LENT AMERICA WILL HELP FRANCE AND RUSSIA. Skilled Employes ami Surplus of Ma tcrlal Will Ik? Dispatclied to Europe ?_ Washington, May 3.?Immediate as? sistance to Russia and France In strengthening their railroad systems is planned by the American govern? ment. The first step will be the dis? patch of a commission of four rail? road experts, Including John F. Stev? ens, a consulting engineer, who was chief engineer of the Panama canal commission before Gen. Goethals. The plans for aiding France in solv? ing her railroad problems, which have been drawn up in detail by the coun? cil of national defense, will be made public within a few days. President Wilson had planned to make Mr. Stevens a member of the political and economic commission headed by Elihu Root, which is to leave for Russia soon, but at the re? quest of the council Mr. Stevens was released for service on the special railroad mission. Other members will be John C. Greiner of Baltimore and Henry Miller, former president of the - Wabash railroad and an official of the Turlington road The plans of the defense council call for sending the entire American surplus of rolling stock and expert employes abroad. American railroad schedules will be altered so as to run only necessary passenger trains to free equipment for the movement of freight and leave as large a surplus as possible. ALLIES CONTROL THE AIR. Major Rees Tells Why Germans Have Lost Reconnaissance Power. Washington, May 2.?How the British and French are maintaining practical control of the air over the western battlefront Was graphically described here by Major I?. W. B. Rees, of the British flying corps, who himself once routed single-hande a squadron of ten German raiders and Is one of the few Englishmen to re? ceive both the Victoria cross and the Military cross. While the Allied operations are con? ducted almost entirely beyond tho German lines, the major said, the Herman machines now cross over the Allied lines only rarely in raiding parties. The British fly on three lev? els, he explained, with three kinds of machines. The lowest are the artil? lery directors, who circle abe^rV^!!11*1'^ figure eights about Jj.fJoO feet above the enemy trenches and flash back dl directlons to the British gunners by wireless. Above them, at 10,000 feet, are the heavy fighters with two men to a machine s.nd able to keep the air for hours at a speed of 110 miles per hour. At a height of 15,000 feet are the single-man light fighters ca? pable of 130 miles an hour and of as? cending the first 10.000 feet in ten minutes. The Germans, Major Rees said, have given up all attempts to guide their artillery by airplane and seek only to smash up the / Hied reconnaissances over their lines. Their machines are largely of one class, therefore, fast, heavy fighters, generally biplanes which are continually seeming to swoop down upon the British artil? lery observers ard send them to the ground before the British fighting pa? trols can reach them. Recently, how? ever, he said, the Germans had de? veloped another light fighting ma? chine, which by climbing to 20,000 feet, seeks to overtop the British light fighters and clear them out. British losses have been running re? cently as high as 30 to 40 machines a day because of the extraordinary chances taken over the enemy's lines, according to the major. As a result they go out in squadrons of six, di? vided into three pairs and prepared to swoop down in unison on any German machines that may come up. Major Rees gave it as his opinion that the British hnd defeated the Ger? mans in every way in the air and de? prived them of invaluable reconnais? sance power. The Zeppelin, he said, is now practically useless as a mili? tary weapon. Germany's whole artillery observa? tion. Major P.ees declared, is conduct? ed by means of captive balloons. SEN D HOSPITAL TO FRANCE. Army Rase Station to Re Supplied at Once by United States. Washington, May 4.?Definite plans have been completed for sending United States army base hospitals to the fighting front in France. Details will be withheld. GERMAN CENSORSHIP RELAXED. Mall Communication From Germany to Holland Resumed. Copenhagen. May 4.?Full newspa? per and postal service from Germany has been resumed. The newspapers Indicate that previous reports of the failure of the May Day strike were virtually correct.