Williams news., 1919-08-22

88SeP tA tnS Onul aoOm or a Large
 spected and Passed 3 lPrepared by the United States Depart
 ment of Agriculture.)
 With meat prices to the consumer so high that he Is denying himself, and with the prices for live stock, espe- claliy beef and lambs, so low to the producer that he is actually losing mon- ey. the nation is confronted with a grave problem which requires solution If we are not to suffer decline in the live stock industry.
 It is an anomalous situation. The department has endeavored to inform itself on the subject, and after confer ence with senators and members of the house who represent livestock produc- ing regions and who also feel deep con- cern for the welfare of consumers, deems it important to give to the pub lie certain outstanding facts, which may be summarized as follows:
 There is no longer need for meat con- servation. The supply is plentiful, and patriotic citizens may freely disregard the meat-saving placards which are still displayed at many eating places.
 Europe Needs Pork.
 Europe needs our surplus pork, but is filling it's beef requirements by im- portafions from South America and Australia. Prices of beef cattle have fallen sharply since March 1 on ac- count of the stoppage of exports for army use, and slack demand for beef at home, due to the continuation of beef conservation under the mis- taken idea that such conservation is stiIl necessary to feed the people of Europe. Beef producers and lamb pro- ducers who sell their products at this time are confronted with the danger of heavy financial losses which tend to restrict production and cause a Se- rious shortage in future.
 rEhe United States will never have satisfactory and permanent solution of the problem until the manufacture, sale and distribution of meat prod ucts are officially supervised by au- thOriZed agents of the government, working in cooperation with state and municipal authorities, whose only aim is to serve the public at large and. not any particular class. When the federal government is enabled by law to maintain a just supervision over the meat-producing industry that will prevent unfair dealings, specula- tion and profiteering, by furnishing the public from an unimpeachable source all the facts with regard to the industry, and when the states and municipalities are enabled by law to exercise similar supervision over in trastate and local business, then only can we expect to have fair and stable markets in which producer and con- sumner alike will have square deal.
 Beef Industry Crisis.
 Some of the particulars of the situ- aHon are as follows:
 The beef industry in the United States faces a most serious crisis. For decade before the outbreak of war in Europe farmers and ranch men had been urged to increase beef cattle production because the industry was not keeping pace with the growth Of population. The lowest ebb in pro- duction was reached in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1914. when we prac- ticaIly ceased to have fresh dressed beef for export, but began to import 1t from the southern hemisphere. The campaign for increased production be- gan to bear fruit with the outbreak of the war and beef again gained volume in our exports. Prices rose and farm CTS were encouraged to expand their beef-making operations. With the en. trance of the United States into the war a vigorous successful effort was made to increase the supply of meat for our army, especially beef, by ci william self-denial. Hotels and res taurants, at the request of the gov ernment, reduced the size of theil beef portions and regularly left bee1 off their menus. Private families by thousands did likewise. Farmers ana ranchmen exerted themselves to tht utmost at great risk in order that oul soldiers and sailors could have the best food that skill and loving car, could produce. The result is history ElxQEn an export of beef and beef prod uctAsaQf 151,0OO pounds in 1914, W, exported 59O0O0.OOO pounds of bee and beef products. in 1918-almOs AnualinO fho proaf s11rpluc If 7QO1