New-York tribune., 1919-05-28
Kenyon TO- Record
Letters to Baker
On Meat Surplus
lowan to File Correspond.
ence To-day Before Order
ing Probe by Senate
Agricultural Committee
Nc,U York Tribune
WGshir1tOn BurenaL


WASHINGTON, May 27.-Frelmin-
ary to authorizing the Senate Com
mlttcc on Agriculture to investigate the
War Departments policy in regard tc
surplus foodstufs, Senator Kenyon OF
Iowa, tomorrow will put into the
Congressional record the correspond
ence between himself and Secretary
Baker on this subject The proposed
investigation is expected to go thor
oughly into repeated allegations that
the War Department is Withholding
surplus foodstutls from sale for the
benefit of meat packers and others.
Baker for an explanation of reports
that the department was Withholding
from sale large quantities Of cameo
meats, and also Of bacon, in order tc
prevent drop in prices. Secretary
Baker replied that the department was
exertng it's energy to find a domestic
market for the meats III question, but
had been unable to find one, and that
failing to do so the only alternative
would be sale for export. Senator Ken
yon said he found it difficult to believe
~ 10 iliOOSNlOlc W Stb Il maj hcJ lOi
goods in this country, and hopes that
the Committee OH Agriculture can help
some.
Holding of Supplies Charged
Among the charges against the War
Department are that it has not been
Jealous in trying to dispose Of the
canned meats in question, that it sold
large quantity of butter to the
French high commission at So cents
pound when it had an offer for home
consumption of 56 cents, and that it
is planning to hold all its canned sal
mon and vegetables off the markc. un-
til the Gamers have sold this seasons
pack.
The facts in the situation, according
to C. w. Hare, the Philadelphia bust
ness man who is acting as director of
'eales of surplus materials for the
War Department, are as follows:
"The War Department has declared a
surplus Of meats products amounting
10 150o00,o00 pounds, consisting of
canned roast beef corned beef, corned
beef hash and bacon in tins and crates
On account of the large cans in which
most of the meat is packed, on ac-
count of the fact that canned roast
beef is not Il regular article of Amer
lean consumption and because the
bacon is extra salty, it has so far been
found impossible to secure a domestic
market through ordinary trade chan
nols. Wholesalers and jobbers will not
bid for the goods, and so far all at
tempts to interest state, charitable, in
stitutoral and farmers cooperative
organizations of all sorts have failed
Buyers Are Circularized
"Crculars are now being sent out
to $4,000 possible buyers offering the
meats in lots OF, 10000 pounds or more
The only other way to dispose of the
meats would be for the department to
open retail stores or agencies all oven
the country, which is considered inn
practicable. If the present circularza-
tion does not bring results, export sales
will be the only recourse"
Mr.. Ware scouts all intimations OF
any sort of collusion between the War
Department and wholesalers. packers OF
jobbers. He says that his Office is sim
ply trying TO make the best possible
disposition of surplus goods, and that
the prime consideration has been to
find a domestic market