Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-05
PEOPLE DENY THEMSELVES
: BECAUSE OF HIGH PRICES
Head Of Department Of Agriculture
Completes Invest CATION Of condi-
tions in Beet Traae-lesal Super
vision of'Methods Of Distribution
Held to Be Needed.


wholesale price OF beef have declined
Is per cent since March :, according
10 the department OF agriculture,
while retail prices have stood still in
some cities, been advanced as much as
% per cent on some cuts in other
citiAa and have declined not more
than 10 per cent IN most communi-
ties in which any reduction mas &C
CURED.
That the packers and the retailers
are profiting unwarrantably whll@ the
cattle raLsers and the consumers o.!
meat are holding the bag Is the con-
clusion OF Acting Secretary ous.ey OF
the department OF agriculture, VINO
made public today an analysis of the
situation and the Department. recon-
mendaSon OF remedy.
Advises Eating More Meat.
THE fact is evident" said Mr. Gus
ley that many persons who desire 10
eat more meat. especially beef ana
lamb. are denying themselves. The
denartment is aware that much Of the
reason for the hesitation OF the aver
age housewife TO increase the amount
cessive retail prices which now pre-
vail. These prices are not justlheo .!
the wholesale quotations.
An increased consumption OF peer
Mr., OusIev thinks would save III
cattle raiser and operate TO reduce
prices to the consumer. and 10 that
end he advises people 70 get out Of
the food conservation habit, except IN
Zs
and prevention Of sinful waste and
Ia ignore the save food" signs still
hanging in restaurants and dining
cars.
In federal. state and municipal SUI
nervision Of the meat production in
dustrv. and OF all agencies Of dis
tribution, lies the only effective means
of insuring the cattle raiser and the
consumer a square deal in the op.n-
ion of the department which places
itself squarely behind the move OF
such legislation nov nater-aiizing IN
congress.
Needs Legal SUPERVISION.
The facts demonstrate clearly the
commanding need for governmental
supervision over the manufacture, SAFE
and distribution OF meat products,
said Mr.. Ousley. Federal supervision
OF the interstate industry may well De
accompanied by state and munclpa4
legislation providing supervision over
The intrastate and local industry, 10
the end that federal, state and munlcl-
pal supervision may be correlated Tor
the prevention of unfair dealings, spe-
2 culation, and profiteering, by furnish
ing to the public from unimpesChao!e
sources al! the facts with regard 10
the industry from the farm 70 the
table. in order that both producer and
consumer>may have a square deal.
Packers Gain Cent Pound.
Federal supervision OF the packers
Mr. Ousley contends, would prevent
unfair dealings, speculation and pro-
fiteering," while local supervisor
would eliminate such evils IN whole
sale and retail distribution.
The acting secretary was careful not
to charge the packers with protiteeT-
ing or manipulation of prices, tho
he mildly observed that with the ad-
vance in the price Of hides and otheI
by-products the packers are now saw
ing a cent a pound on the cost Of pro
ducing beef over the cost on March !.
with meat prices to the consumer
go high that ne is denying himself, ant
with the prices for live stock ,espe
cially beef and lambs, 50 low 10 th'
producer that he is actually !osin:
money, the nation Is confronted witt
q grave problem which requires solu
ton If we are not 10 suffer a declin
in the live stock industry said MI
Ousley.
There is no longer need for mea
consery alton. The supply is PLENTIFUL
and patriotic citizens may freely dis
regard the meat saving placards whicl
are still displayed at many eatin;
places.
Producers in Danger of Losses.
Europe needs our surplus pork, %
is filling its beef requirements by i'm
portations from South America ant
Australia Prices OF beef cattle hav
fallen sharply since March l on &C
count of the stoppage Of exports 70
army use, and a slack demand for bee
at home, due TO the continuation Q
netf conservation under the mistaken
idea that such conservation is still nee
essary TO feed the people OF Europe.
Beef producers and, lamb producer
who sell their products at this time ar
confronted with the danger Of heav
financial losses which would tend I
restrict production and cause a seriou
shortage in future"
Mr.. Ousley quoted the Chicago mar
ket reports showing that steers on tn
,,,n,f medium ana eurdi nave decline
in price from $3.50 to $3.50 hun
drsd- weight on March TO $500 t
s $14.S0 on July l. decline of Il pc
cent while choice and prime steer
that brought from $3.50 to s20.25 o
March ] are now down to s14.35 t
$3.50, decline of % per cent.
Beef, which was wholesaled in Chi
cago at % to &c cents a pound o.
March l, is now bringing Is to 10 cents
sAS q decline Of % per cent.
Chicago Least Offender.
Mr.. Ousley called attention to the re
tail prices in almost all large cite.
which I"have not declined in due ratI
57 917 10 the wholesale prices" There he
been a far greater decline in the reta
prices in Chicago than in any of tn
as19 other cities ne cited. The Chicago fig
ures in cents per pound follow:
= t,.-- Pc
Mch. 1. July I. de
Gtrloin steak .......45 35-40
POrterhouse :. ......5 5-15 40-5S
.l.--l. 49, -