The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-07
Is Not Part of Administra-
tons Plan He Tells
Livestock Conference
BIG PROBLEM rs TO
RAISE PRODUCTION
Nothing Can Stop Rise in
Prices If Shortage Con-
tinues," He Says
(Rv Associated presa.1

Washington, Sept. Price fixing
for meat and dairy products has no
place in the government food control
plans, Herbert Hoover, the food
administrator yesterday told the Ma
tional Livestock conference. Not
institute price fixing in these indus
tries, he declared but the food
administration has been given no
such power.
AS long as there is q heavy de-
mand for meat with a decreased
production, Mr.. Hoover said, meat
prices will continue to soar. The
hope of the food administration is
that 1t can stabilize quotations and
thus eliminate speculation.
Il cannot believe there is panacea
for a situation of this kind" said
Mr.. Hoover. Our problem is to in
crease production.
The. best we may expect is slow
development towards the ends we
seek. Drastic control of packing
plants with government operation an
alternative will not work. We can
administer food control only through
the cooperation of all interests con-
cerned.
Cannot Fix Prices.
There is no power in the food
bill to fix prices and we never have
asked that power. Everywhere in
Europe, price fixing-that is the
naming of maximum prices has fail
ed. We had the fixing of wheat
prices thrust upon us as 1t is our
duty to purchase 30 per cent of the
crop for export and we had the
wheat committee name a price as a
guarantee to producers and to stop
speculation.
The meat situation is such that a
high price to producers is guaranteed
for many years. II war were to end
suddenly, or If the submarines were
to be overcome, however, great
stores Of wheat would be released in
Argentina, Australia and India and
the bottom would have dropped out
of the market in this country. These
three nations will have on hand soon,
enough wheat to feed the world, but
ships cannot be had to transport
it.
Beef and pork present different
situations. We export a small
amount OF beef, relatively, but now
we are over exporting pork and it
may become necessary to take
measures to keep a proper relation
between the price of corn and hogs.
We want your advice as to how this
may be done.
There is nothing that can be done
to stop the rise in meat prices IL
the shortage continues. but If we
stabilize prices the rise will move at
a continuous level. Producers must
have a price that will stimulate
production and must get that price,
though there can be no government
guarantee and / see no way to bring
about a voluntary agreement as to
the prices that should be paid.
Il doubt IL legislation to guarantee
producers a minimum price is wise
and in meat believe 1t is impossi-
BILE to accomplish this"
General discussion developed
opinions that prices might be
stabilized to some extent through
Capitalization of the allies purchas-
ing, the food administration, acting
as the allied food purchasing agent.
Walter L. Fisher, former secretary
of the interior, said that the allied
purchasing necessarily would affect
American food markets and that its
control would in a large measure
give the food administration control
of meat prices.