The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-07-07
MEAT PLENTIFUL,
PRICES JuCCLED
Acting Secretary of Agricul-
ture Ousley- Makes This
= Declaration
80 .sssxst7
COMBINATION. MAKES
IMMENSE PROFITS
Clear 100 Per Cent Year-Pinch Meat
Producers and Charges the Public Elk
cessive Prices-Boosts Price of Hides
to Cover Meat Reduction.

WASHINGTON, July Acting Sec
retary OF Agriculture Clarence Ousley,
speaking for the department, has joined
IN the demand for Supervision" over
the meat packing industry.
lie says that the price to the produc-
er is too low, compared with that to the
consumer. He adds that while the whole
sale prices on meats have been reduced,
the packers ale making up the loss to
them by boosting the prices on hides.
Mr. ousley advises hotels to throw away
their meat-saving cards now and encour-
age the eating OF more beef He points
ont that there is great danger of dis
couraglng live stock growers. thereby re
duclng the production of cattle and boost
ing the cost to the ultimate consumer
lie states that the supply of meat is
plentiful now, but the prices are Jug
ged
The United States will never have a
satisfactory and permanent solution of the
problem until the manufacture, sale and
distribution of meat products are official
y supervised by authorized agents of the
government, working in cooperation with
state and municipal authorities, whose on
" ann IS to serve the public at large and
not any particular class That is the
way Mr.. Ousley would start out to solve
the problem OF the high cost of meat to
the consumer and the inadequate price to
the producer.
When the federal government, he
SAID lis enabled by law to maintain a
lust supervision over the meat producing
industry that will prevent unfair deal
ings. speculation and profteering by fur
nlshlng the public from an unimpeach-
able source all the facts with regard to
the industry, and when the states and
municipalities arc enabled bv law to cx-
ercise similar supervision over interstate
and local business, then only can we
expect to have fair and stable markets
in which producer and consumer alike
viii have square deal
That is what Senators Kendrick. Ken
Won, Norris La Toilette and other CON
gressmen desire and the big five packers
re resisting
The Ousley statement bears ont the re-
port OF the federal trade commission to
the effect that there is an international
neat pool, which controls shipments OF
meat to European countries.
Europe needs our surplus pork said
he, but is filling it's beef requirements
by lmportations from South America and
australia. Europe turned to South Amer
G. and Australia for beef and lamb as
soon as Shipping conditions permitted.
England and Italy are now buying in these
markets"
1--we stock producers in this country
charge that to dominant American pack
ars killed their industry by manipulating
The South American markets for exports,
md driving oHt Of cxisteuce all markets
n the United States except about p
centcred about Chicago.
The Federal Trade commission has
ound from the Sulzbcrger Black Book
hat Armour. Swift, Morris and SuIzberc-
: I interests formed conspiracy with GER
tain British and South American con
Germs TO regulate and divide the ship
nents OF beef, mutton and other meats
rom South America to the United States
md certain foreign countries, particular
y England
The statement referred to saws.
lhcy (the combination II packing CON
1anlcsl suppress real competition r1ain-
.alnng 1t on}y in appearance, aad they
'etermnc by common agreement, the
prices which are to be paid producers.
'escrvng to themselves the right to sell at
he highest price possible In order to OBJ
tam enormous profits which 10 not re-
nam N the country Thus it IS that these
orelgn countries have been able to show
their latest balance sheets more than
100 per cen OF profits; that is t. say. that
n single year they have made more
than their capital. They purchase the
i've stock from the producers. impos
ns upon them the Law 81 tie strongest