The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-22
THE PRICE OF BEEF
NO REASON WHY EASTERN PEOPLE
SHOULD PAY TWICE IT'S VALUE.
Secretary Morton Insists His Export
Figures Have Not Been Padded and
Explains Discrepancy.

WASHINGTON, April 2t.-Secretary Nor
ton was to-day shown the charge in the
Washington dispatch to the New York Trib-
une OF Friday, that he had inflated the
statistics of pork exported to Germany, as
his figures do not correspond to the official
figures of the Bureau of Statistics of the
Treasury Department, and show snuch
greater aggregate than is given by that
bureau. Secretary Morton said, in reply, that
the figures of the Department of Agricul-
ture are just as much official figures as
those of the Bureau of Statistics and that
concerning the exports of pork to countries
requiring certificates of inspection, the in
spectors of the Bureau of Animal Industry
have no opportunity to obtain the exact
figures which is not shared By any other
department of the government. Every pack
age Of pork which goes to Germany or
France must be stamped by an inspector
of the Bureau of Animal Industry, who
takes its exact weight, and every shipment
of pork to those countries must be accom-
panied by a certificate issued by III
spector, showing that the meats have been
properly inspected and giving the stamp
number of every package. The inspector re-
ports all the certificates issued with the
packages, the weights, the destination and
consignees.
.'how the figures Of the Bureau of Statis-
tics are made up, but as some of the in
spected pork is shipped to Germany by
way of Holland Belgium and other coun-
tries, it is possible that the discrepancy
arises from this pork being credited to
these countries instead of to the country
of ultimate destina tion. The Department of
Agriculture not only has complete list of
all the shipments, showing the shippers in
this country and the consignees, and COW
ering the entire amount of pork referred
to in the statistics given out but it now
appears that the exports for March have
been larger than for any previous month
The total exports of microscopically in
spected pork covered by the certificates is
sued during the month of March is 1928, 142
pounds Of which 5,5z7 GA pounds was a asa
tined for Germany, compared with 5,22S,-
February. and 4622.2s4 during. January.
erence to letter written by Gen. W. B.
Franklin, commissioner-gene to the Paris
Whiteiaw Reid, stated that the small num-
Der of pork raisers in France should not re-
quire the whole nation to pay larger prices
for so important an article OF food as pork
merely for their benefit.
In regard to the beef question, DR.. Salmon
an undoubted diminution OF the class of
cattle from which the beef supply is drawn.
Taking the figures of the statistical division,
rect, and excluding dairy cows, there were
in 1892 81 ,651, 239 head of cattle in the United
States, $40 to each 1000 of population. In
1895 there are only 34364,216 of such cattle,
or 493 to each 1000 of population. This
shows a great diminution In the beef cattle
in the country and also that the increased
prices of such cattle in the stockyards is
legitimate. Under such circumstances, how
ever, the market should be strong and the
cattle be readily disposed of at advanced
figures instead of being weak and depressed,
as it is constantly reported to be.
The price of beef in the Eastern cities has
gone higher than is justified by the price OF
live cattle and the reported break in the
market for cattle on account of alleged de-
creased consumption has come in advance
of any lowering on beef. In each case
the effect has shown itself in adj
vance of the cause. A letter has just been
received at the department from promi-
nent and perfectly reliable man in central
Illinois, who states that the beef sold in his
town is shipped there sometimes from Kan
sas City and sometimes from Chicago. The
retail price of first quality meat, as good as
ever found in any city, is for loin and por-
terhouse steaks and roasts 10 cents, and
for round and rib roast of the best quality.
1915 cents. las such meat can be shipped
from Chicago to New York for less than
"a cent per pound, it is difficult for the de-
partment to see why the consumer in the
Eastern cities should now be forced to pay
double these prices.