Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-07-05
COVE ERNMENT MAY
TAKE CHARGE Of
MEAT INDUSTRY
To REDUCE PRICE
Department of Agriculture Is
sues Statement That Pres
ent High Prices Not JuSti-
fled By Conditions,
MEAT SURPLUS NOW
THE REAL SITUATION
Army Demand for Beef and
Mutton Gone, Europe Get
ting Supply Elsewhere and
j. S, Prices Still Climbing,
10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wreGI

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WlREl
Washington, July 4.-Federal su-
perVislon of the packing, sale and dis
tribution of meat products was dc
clared today by the department of ag-
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 signs should now be disre-
garded as to meat especially beef and
wheat crop on record and with many
cattle raised in response to the de-
mand for meat production for the
army now maturing, the American
people, the department asserted, must
realize that no necessity for cunser-
walton of such foods any longer eX-
lists
Prices Not Justified.
A survey of the meat price situation,
excessive retail prices now existing
are not justified by the wholesale quo
tatiOns Prices to the producers have
declined since the war; II was said,
but prices paid by the consumer have
not materially lessened. The only So
luton, the department believes, is
more strict federal supervision.
The entire meat situation, based on
senlatives 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 eating
places
Europe Needs No Beef.
Europe needs our surplus pork,
but is filling its beef requirements by
importatiOns from South America and
Australia. Prices of beef cattle have
fallen sharply since March 1 on ac-
count Of the stoppage of export for
army use and a slack demand for beef
at home, due to the continuation of
beef conservation under the mistak-
en- idea that such conservation Is still
necessary to feed the people of Eu
rope. 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.
"The United States will never have
n satisfactory and permanent solu
ton of the problem until the manufac-
ture. 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 enabled by
law to maintain just supervision over
the meat producing industry that will
prevent unfair dealings, speculation
and profiteering, by furnishing the
public from an unimpeachable source
all the facts with regard to the indus
try. and when the states and munich
palties are enabled by law to eXer-
else similar supervision over intra-
state and local business, then only can
we expect to have fair and stable mar
kets in which the producer and con-
sumer alike will have a square deal"