Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-23
CANNOT COMPEL
REPORTS ON FOOD
Bureau of Markets Must Ac-
cept Information Given
Voluntarily.
COLD STORAGE SITUATION

Many persons, including members OF
Congress, who have expressed the opin-
ion that through the bureau of markets
of the Department of Agriculture lies
the way to relief OF the present food
shortage, are doomed to disappoint-
ment when they read the act that Gre
ated that bureau.
As the bureau now exists it has no
authority to compel any persons 10
make reports on market conditions or
food supplies. 1t can only gather, cor
relate and distribute any information
that interested parties are willing to
give.
As a matter of fact, however. the
bureau of markets has been widening
its Investigations. as far as possible to
give the consumers as much lnforrna-
ton as it might regarding food sup
plies, but it would take an act of Con-
greSS to extend its powers so that II
could compel such testimony and in
formation as would be necessary in or
der to enforce any system OF rellef Tor
the consumers.
During the season of perishable fruits
1t was active in gathering and dissent
mating information regarding the truck
and fruit crops. 1t is now in its second
years work of gathering and sending
out information about apples in cold
storage. Since about September l it
has been giving out what information
it could get about the quantity of eggs,
butter and American cheese in cold
storage. Since December l it has added
certain specified meats to this list of
commodities it watched for tho public.
No Reports on Common Storage
1t has no reports on the amount of
foodstuffs in common storage, such as
chinery to get such information. When
it is remembered that potatoes are
mostly in common storage, the short
comings of such an arrangement as re-
CARDS keeping the people informed are
apparent.
In this connection. however it is in
tereSting to note that the increasing
costs of foodstuffs are about the same
IN all sections of the country, and that
therefore students of the situation say
they cannot see how any car shortage
or lack of transportation facilities are
responsible for any jumps in prices.
Some light Is thrown on the high
prices by the fact that the reports on
cold storage holdings indicate that
there is less food on hand in these
storage places than normally. This is
CLEANED from the monthly reports of
the bureau of markets.
Attention is also pointed to the fact
that there was a shortage i'll the po-
Instead of LOCO. 100000 bushels of
wheat produced last year, the yield for
the present season has been cas-, 200, 200.
Instead of 1,500, 000.0 bushels of oats
last year, this seasons crop was 1000
100000, or a reduction of one-third.
Foodstufs in Storage.
Statistical reports from the bureau of
markets covering the storage holdings
of, meat, eggs cheese, butter and ap-
pies February 1 are as follows:
Frozen beef-The total stocks of
frozen beef reported by 100 firms
amounted to 1S9.13s,253 pounds, while
the total stocks reported by 225 firms
on January l; 1917. amounted to 49,
firms show stocks of 1s5 .o62, 1856 pounds
on February /, 1917, as compared with
1872. 266,076 pounds on February /, 1916.
an increase of 24.S per cent. The re-
ports of 155 firms show that the stocks
increased 1.S per cent in January, 1917,
while the reports of III firms show
stocks decreased 81 per cent in jan
uary, 1916.
Cured beef-The total stocks of cured
beef reported by 24S firms amounted to
34.4S9.6S0 pounds. while the total stocks
reported by 241 firms January 1,
1917. amounted to 40.271,373 pounds.
The reports of 1873 firms show stocks
of 32.594.297 pounds on February l.
1917. as compared with 20.s51.77s pounds
on February 1, 1916. an increase of 56.3
per cent The reports of 202 firms
show that the stocks decreased &c per
cent in January, 1917. while the re-
ports of 166 firms show stocks in
creased 10.7 per cent in January, 1916.
Frozen pork-The total stocks of
frozen pork reported by 201 firms
amounted to 65,926.244 pounds. while
the total stocks reported by 1856 firms
s46.445 pounds. The reports of 157 firms
show stocks of 55.753.062 pounds on
February ], 1917 as compared with
.4,650,426 pounds on February I. 1916,
a decrease of 25.3 per cent. The re-
ports of 161 firms show that the stocks
increased 10.2 per cent in January, 1917,
while the reports of 129 firms show
stocks increased $40 per cent in Jan
uary. 1916.
Dry salt pork-The total stock of dry
salt pork reported by 302 firms amount
ed to 217.290,642 pounds, while the to-
tai stocks reported by 800 firms on
January !. 1917. amounted to 199 a., $50
pounds. The reports of 240 firms show
stocks OF 11,753,4jS pounds on Feb
ruary ], 1919. as compared with 1884,
0a5.O96 pounds on February l, 1916, an
increase of 81 per cent. The reports
of 255 firms show that the stocks in
creased 81 per cent in January, 1917
while the reports of 2O7 firms show
stocks increased 1872 per cent in Janu-
airy. 1916.
sweet-pickled pork-The total stocks
of sweet-pickled pork reported by 1854
firms amounted to 323.075,4S4 pounds,
while the total stocks reported by ass
firms show stocks of a12.449,S17 pounds on
2S4.Ss1,323 pounds. The reports of 294
firms show stocks of 312,449,S17 on
February I, 1917, as compared with
23S.e39.2 65 pounds on February /, 1916
an increase Of As per cent. The reports
of 325 firms show that the stocks in
creased 40 per cent in January 1917
while the reports OF $50 firms show
stocks increased 2s.7 per cent in Janu-
airy, 1916.
I-ard-The total stocks OF lard re-
ported by $40 firms amount to 81. SOL
So pounds, while the total stocks re
ported by $40 firms on January /. 1917.
amounted to S3.162.60S pounds The
reports of go firms show stocks of So =
39G.61l pounds on February I. 1917, as
compared with 92.341 .931 pounds on
February l, 1916. a decrease of o. per
cent. The reports Of 239 firms show
that the stocks increased 81 per cent
in January. 1917. while the reports of
233 firms show stocks increased 80 per
cent In January. 1916
Frozen lamb and mutton-The total
stocks of frozen lamb and mutton re-
ported by ia firms amounted to $780,
457 pounds. while the total stocks