The Washington times., 1919-01-15

price on hogs for the month Of jan
uary 1t was with the understanding
that there would be Government and
foreign orders sufficient to make II
possible for packers to pay the 17h-.
cent minimum price. and still do busi-
ness. Continuation OF high live
prices. asked as a means OF satisfy
ing the producers, was to be made
possible by Government and allied
support in the export market, 30 as
to make operations possible.
"The foreign orders promised for
January have not developed, and
meats packed. on this expectation
have piled up at Boston. New York.
instructions, until the congestion
reached the point where the Railroad
ADMINISTRATION declared an embargo
ports.
THE situation, became critical and
the packers committee went to Wash
ington to confer with the authorities
At the Wednesday conference, with
about fifty packers present, Mr.. Sny:
der for the Food Administration, ex.
planned that his office had recently
received word from the British food
ministry in the United States to the
for which Great Britain was respon-
sible, and which were scheduled for
January shipping, had been suspend
ed.
Small Volume OF Orders.
"As a result there are definite
orders on hand for January covering
but 100000 pounds of pork products,
against which the packers are offer.
ing 500 900 pounds. In addition to
the definite orders on hand, the Food
Administration believes that the for
eign buyers will actually take during
January enough more to bring the
total up to 473.5OO, 900 pounds.
I'm commenting on the present sit
nation, Mr.. Snyder said he firmly be
lieved that the potential demand for
our pork products in Europe was
greatly in excess Of the domestic sup
ply.
He stated that many Of the foreign
nations, especially the smaller nations,
are in bad shape financially. This
does not include Great Britain, France
which has a credit balance in this
country-and Italy, which has a credit
balance in that country.
Hollands finances are satisfactory
but she has not yet satisfied the allies
as to her intention to observe the
regulations governing re-sales to
enemy firms. Even now, in advance
OF the peace congress, the matter OF
an exchange OF commodities with Ger
many is under discussion, potash prob.
ably being the material with which
she will obtain food during the COM
ing winter.
Food Administration officials made
no secretof their disturbance at the
action Of the British authorities. They
have drafted letter to the British
food ministry in the u. 8. A., which
will be cabled to London, and may
ask Mr.. Hoover to re-enforce their
action, by cabling him the sense OF
this meeting.
Suggest Packers Combine.
''They have suggested that packers
take joint action under the Webb bill.
In manner similar to that recently
taken by the textile industry. The
wool and cotton men,, acting together
have sent a man to Europe to act for
them collectively.
ITO complicate matters, the War
Trade Board on Wednesday put on
the free list four Scandinavian neu
trails. This may tend to demoralize
the market, and an effort will be
made to have licenses so worded as
to protect the market and the allot-
ment packers who have been Cooper
ating with the Government
Food Administration officials ad-
mitted that the packers as a whole
had made less than the o per cent.
permitted them under the Govern
ment regulation of their profits: that
there was available sufficient ship
ping space to handle the full amount
Of meat, and that while there was
probably ample freezer space avail
able, there would be even more as
soon as beef commenced to move more
rapidly.
'It has been suggested that II IL
to the financial advantage OF Great
Britain to allow matters to lag a
trifie. As stocks pile up in this
country the tendency will be toward
a price break in order to avoid loss.
1t Is a question OF honor, however,
and II is believed that the British will
come through. and maks good on
their orders. II is believed that the
next ten days will see q change for
the better In tho situation. and that
everything will be all right before
the drat Of neSt unontb AYoaAv