Arizona republican., 1919-07-05
]. 5. DIRECTION .IS ONLY REMEDY IF MEAT PROBLEM
Department of Agriculture Sees It as Only Solution No Need of Conservation Now The Government Should Supervise Packing and Sale of All Meat Products

WASHINGTON, July 4.-Federal su- pervision of the packing, sale and dis tribution of meat products was declared today by the Department of Agricul- ture to be the only solution for the present situation in which meat prices to the consumer are so high that he Is denying himself, and in which prices for livestock, especially beef and lambs, are so low that the producer is losing money.
 The department emphasized that save food" should now be disregarded as to meat, especially beef and wheat products. Faced by the largest wheat crop on record and with many cattle raised in response to the demand for meat production for the army now ma turing, the American people, the de- partment asserted, must realize that no necessity for conservation of such foods longer exists.
 A survey of the meat price situation the department said, reveals that the excessive retail prices now existing are not justified by wholesale quotations Prices to the producers have declined since the war, it was said, but prices paid by the consumer have not ma teriallv lessened. The only solution the department believes, is more strict federal supervision.
 Discourage Conservation The entire meat situation, based or conferences with senators and repre- sentatives from livestock producing re- gions. was summarized by the depart ment as follows:
 | There is no longer need for meat con- servation. The supply is plentiful ant patriotic citizens may freely disregard l the meat saving placards which art still displayed at many places. | Europe needs our surplus pork, bu | is filling it's beef requirements by i'm | portations from South America anc Australia Prices of beef cattle have fallen sharply since March 1 on ac count of the stoppage of exports fol army use and a slack demand for bee at home, due to the continuation O i beef conservation under the mistakeI 1 idea. that such conservation is stil necessary to feed the people of Europe Beef producers and lamb producers who sell their products at this time are confronted with the danger o heavy financial losses which would tend to restrict production and caus a serious shortage in future.
 Federal Control Only Solution
 "The United States will never have ; satisfactory and permanent solution o the problem until the manufacture, sal and distribution of meat products ar officially supervised, by authorizes agents of the government, working il cooperation with state and municipa authorities, whose only aim is to serv the public at large and not anly par ticular class. When the Federal gov ernment is enabled by law to main tain a just supervision over the mea producing industry that will preven unfair dealings, speculation and profit eering, by furnishing the public iron an unimpeachable source all the fact with regard to the industry, and whe the states and municipalities are en abled by law to exercise similar super vision over intra state and local busi ness. then only can we expect to hay fair and stable markets in which pro ducer and consumer alike will have
 square deal.'