Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-12
MEAT FAMINE IN GERMANY.
May Permit Imports, but
Will Not Abolish Duty.

BERLIN. December 12.-The reichstag
yesterday discussed an Interpolation of the
government on the meat scarcity In Ger
many introduced by the radicals and social
lists. The chancellor was asked whether the
government was willing to improve the situ-
alton by opening the frontiers to the impor-
tation of cattle and by the abolition or re-
duction In the duties on animal foods.
Herr Wiener radical. cited the wholesale
price OF meat in Germany as being 22n
cents pound. while i'm Belgium II was IA
cents. in Spain 1874 cents. in France IL
cents, in England 1879 cents. in the United
States ID cents and in Russia ga cents He
added that the various petitions and COM
plants OF the commercial chambers and
town councils were the best argument that
the whole population felt the meat scarcity.
The speaker further asserted that the
meat consumption, which was more than
forty pounds per head in Germany in 1894.
was only little more than thirty-six
pounds per head in 1885,. and the consump-
ton OF horse and dog flesh had increased
considerably.
Herr Wiener also said that he had been
informed that the German naval authori-
ties had asked the government for permis-
sion to order foreign canned meat in case
of mobilization IL the supply of German
canned meat was insufficient.
Count Won observation-disclosures. minister
of the interior. replying in the name of the
chancellor. declared that the latter was
considering the possibility OF permitting the
Importation of cattle without restrictions
from Austria and Switzerland. with certain
precautions. and of cattle or preserved meat
from Russia. Denmark, Sweden and Nor
way. 1t was impossible. however, for the
government to reduce or abolish the duties
on cattle or meat and it was also inadvis-
able to import French or Italian live stock
because of the foot and mouth disease. Ne
gotiations were pending with Denmark.
Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands to ia
cilitate the Importation of fresh pork and
also for reduction of the tariff.
A system of foreign meat inspection was
proposed in order to assure the importation
of XII. cd meat in good condition. 1t was
on the inland transport Of fresh meat would
improve the situation. but the government
declined to make any reduction of the duties
on cattle or meat, or to abolish any of the
tariffs determined by commercial treaties
with various states. The minister however.
expressed the hope that the home produc-
ton, which already supplied 95 per cent OF
the population. would expand under the
protective tariff.
The minister of agriculture. Count Won
Arnim- Crewen. pointed out that similar
conditions existed abroad. The increase in
the price of pork was caused by the scarcity
/, of pigs in foreign countries. In the course
of the last few weeks the price had fallen
20 per cent. The prices of the agricultural
food supplies In Germany had not risen any
more than the prices of industrial products.
Neighboring countries suffered equally from
similar conditions.
In conclusion the minister of agriculture
said that the national live stock, valued at
81, 900. O00,OO0 could not be exposed to infec-
ton by the unrestricted opening of the
frontiers.