New-York tribune., 1919-07-10
s1oo,0oo,0oo Surplus To
Be Kept Off Market I'm
til the 1918 Crop Was
Disposed Of, Witness Says,
Loss of Acreage Feared
Government Thought Farm
ers Would Not Plant if
Vegetable Prices Dropped
NeW York Tribune
WnShinnt0n Rnrenu


WASHINGTON, July 9.--While the
General Staff was waiting from Novem-
ber until May, with the army rapidly
demoblizing, tc determine the surplus
of foodstuffs, some of the meats deter
iorated, Colonel A. M. Davis, chief of the
supply section of the quartermaster's
department, told the House Investigate
ing committee to-day.
Colonel Davis also confirmed pre-
vious testimony to the effect that there
was an understanding between the War
Department and the !conners of vege
tables that the $100,000,000 surplus OF
canned goods was to be held off the mar
ket until the 1918 pack was disposed of.
He earnestly defended this policy as in
the interests of stability of business
and ultimate lowered cost of living, as,
he said, had such an agreement not
been made the farmers would not have
planted truck" this season, with loss
to themselves and scarcity and high
prices to consumers.
Export Sales Preferred
Another policy that Colonel Davis
admitted was followed in large meas
ure was to sell goods for export, when
ever possible in preference to accept
~
selling A. E. F. goods abroad on the
ground that since in one form or an
other the United States must supply
Europe it is economical to sell what
ever happens to be there already, in
stead of bringing it back to the United
States and sending other goods to Eu-
rope, ~.
"There was no good reason that you
know of, was there" asked Chairman
nf h-oA Ar,,,,, on on n
quartermaster's department, "why all
this meat was held from November un-
til May?" s-o - -,
"None except that the Tarmistice was
not peace, and the General Staff had
to be prepared for exigences."
"But did not demobilization begin
Immediately after the armistice, and
has it not continued at a rapid rate ?"
ayes; that is So" conceded Colonel
Davis.
Admits Meat Deteriorated
'Do you know that in the mean time
some of the meat was detcriorating ?"
eyes, to certain extent"
do you not think that it was pos
sble to plan ahead and dispose of the
surplus before it began to spoil?"
1T looks now." admitted the colonel,
las if those things might have been
anticipated. Hindsight is better than
foresight. General Kniskern, stationed
at Chicago had entire authority to de-
clare a surplus of meats, and | must
say that he is a very capable officer.
None but he had any such authority.
He undoubtedly used his best judg
ment."
Colonel Davis said he was in no way
responsible for the disposition of A.
Z. F. stores. but he knew that large
! LA, L. Il
from them to the Hoover Relief Com
mission. He knew nothing about re-
ported sale Of 100000 pairs of the
A. Z. f. shoes abroad, but 265,OOO pairs
of "reclaimed" army shoes had been
sold in Belgium.
Injustice to Public Hinted
Representative McGregor of Buffalo,
endeavored to make Colonel Davis con-
cede that the policy in respect to
canned vegetables was to give the cam
ners power to make the public pay
more for canned goods than it would
pay f the S100000,000 surplus had
been put on the market.
our object was to prevent prices
from falling, was it not?" asked Nc
Gregor.
"Yes-and to prevent a general de-
moralization of the business and a
falling off in this years planting of
vegetables. The arguments of the
packers seemed sound to me. Their
judgment is mine. l stand squarely
on the conclusion"
Further inquiry brought out the
fact that while c. w. Hare, director of
sales, yesterday had stated the sur
plus Of canned goods to be 100000 900
the surplus SO far formally declared is
only s10,o00,000, the balance still await
ing declaration that will put it on
the market. The Gamers were not
anxious to buy back the goods, Colonel
Davis said.
The present meat surplus is as fol-
lows: Bacon, 75,000,oG0 pounds; ham
$4,000 pounds; canned roast beef
3S,000,000 pounds; corned beef, 36,OO0,-
600 pounds; corned beef hash, 10000.
600 pounds; total cost price, abou,
s5o,o00,o00. These figures refer only tc
surpluses on this side of the Atlantic
The meats are now ogered to munici-
palities at so per cent of cost and the
canned vegetables at cost. SO far
only two cities, Baltimore and Wash
ington, have purchased any.