Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-05
URGESU.S. CONTROL
Of NEAT INDUSTRY
Department of Agriculture
Asserts Present High Prices
Are Not jusiifiabIe.


entire meat producing. packing and
distributing industry as the only
means by which producers. packers
and consumers can he assured of
square deal is urged by the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
In its statement the depa rtment de
clares tina. retail meat prices are so
high that consumers are denying
themselves, while prices paid to pro
ducers are so low that the men who
raise the cattle, sheep and hogs are
actually losing money.
Says No Saving of Meat Necessary
Need for conservation of beef lamb,
mutton. etc. the statement says. no
longer exists. and consumers are ad
viSed to disregard the Save Food
signs still displayed in many retail
establishments and eating places.
With the farmers now harvesting
the largest wheat crop on record and
with largely increased numbers of
cattle, raised in response to the de-
mand for increased meat production.
now maturing. the American people
must realize. the department says.
that necessity for conservation -
such foods has wholly ceased to ex-
pug .pLoosI no doIo lHaQM lssSLGI sul
iSt..
A survey OF the meat price situa-
ton. the department said. reveals that
the excessive retail prices now ex-
listing 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 materially lessened. The
only solution the department believes
is more strict federal supervision.
Situation Summarized.
The entire meat situation. based on
conferences with senators and repre-
sentatives from livestock producing
regions. was summarized by the de
partment as follows:
There is no longer need for meat
conservation. The supply is plentiful,
and patriotic citizens may freely dis
regard the meat-saving placards,
which are still displayed at many eat
ing places.
Europe needs our surplus pork. but
is filing it's beef requirements by i'm
portations from South America and
Australia Prices of beef cattle have
fallen sharply since March l on &C
count of the stoppase OF exports TOT
Army use, and a slack demand for
of beef conservation under the mis-
taken idea that such conservation is
still 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 would
tend to restrict production and cause
/! a serious shortage in future.
Gives Solution.
THE United States will never have
a satisfactory and permanent solu-
ton of the problem until the manu-
facture, sale and distribution of meat
products are officially supervised by
authorized 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 en-
abled by law to maintain a just su-
peryision over the meat-producing
industry that will prevent unfair
dealings, speculation and profiteering.
by furnishing the public from an I'M
iinpeachable source all the facts with
regard to the industry. and when the
states and municipalities are enabled
by law to exercise similar supervision
over the intrastate and local business.
/ then only can we expect to have fair
| and stable markets in which producer
| and consumer alike will have a
square deal"