The Omaha guide., 1943-04-24

in meat. the Department of AEri-
culture announced. If the con-
sumer guards against buying meats
at prices above the ceiling, 1t was
pointed out the black market or
orator will have little reason u
stay in business.
There are several reasons why
consumers SHOULD not purchase
food-stud particularly meats. in
black markets.
n It skyrOekets the cost Of Iiv-
ing. A survey Of the prices of
meats in New York City revealed
rates 10 to IS percent above auth
0rized Ceilings. These Operations
were so profitable that. according
to a Cleveland packer. n man
who Identified himself as a whole
sale meat dealer from New York
offered a bonus Of $4,000 for a
quantity of prime beef. Later rha
oPA filed 100 actions in FederaI
Court III New York against 40
firms and individuals acussed u
price violations. Throughout the
nation. 7Ss similar court actions
brought against 1015 individ-
ua1s during the first two months
Of 1913. In the criminal cases dis
posed Of during this period. the
courts imposed jail sentences rang
ing Up TO seven months, twelve
fines of LID to $1,000. ana W
suspended sentences. No defend
ant was acquitted.
u Ii civilians 60 outside the Ie-
gal market to satisfy their demand
for meat. they will upset the gov
eminent meat rationing
and in addition. get interior meat.
Much Of the meat sold on black
r-arket during 1912 was sufficient
l. tainted to cause illness. Accord
ing to the American Meat Institute
a very large part Of the meat hat
comes into the black market ~
from so-called cutter and Gamer
cattle, the lowest grade or beef. III
meet this Situation. the Depart
nsent OF Agriculture has ordered
all slaughterers to get a slaugnr-
ering permit an dto stamp the num
Ter Of this permit on every pfzce
OF meat shipped to retail outlets
No retailer may sell meat from un
s.-mped wholesale cuts. These
steps were taken as part OF the
rEEat control program launched by
the eDpartment Of Agriculture and
tire office OF Price Administration
UnGer this program each consumer
viii be assured his fair share of
meat through rationing, and meat
PRODUCTION will be closely s-p=r-
sised from the time animals are
ready for slaughter until it i sold
tn the consumer.
, Black market Operation is q
form Of Bookkeeping and viii
help to bring back the typ OF
gangster rule" that prevailed
during the days Of Prohibition. Al
ready. illegal Brade III meas Ia
teen so great that even buyers f-r
the Army have 1ad difficulties,
though they have secured ade-
quate meat supplies for Americas
fighting men here and abroad AT
ceiling prices. The illegal trade
has expanded as shortages in meat
have increased. In many areas
growing black market stocks have
caused shortages.
The black market in meats IL BE-
ing supplied from a humber u
sources. Considerable meat ~
sent into the illegal market by un-
scrupulous buyers who travel farm
land highways buying live animals
from farmers at prices higher than
legitimate buyers a possibly pay.
Another source OF supply II tn
rustler who rides the range At
night. shooting animals where ~
finds them dressing them on the
spot and driving away with the
carcasses in a truck. On the rela-
lively remote grazing lands Of nor
thern Arizona, illegal slaughter
was responsible for 3 five percent
rise in cattle thefts during tina
first two months OF 1913, accord
ing 70 p Spokesman for the rancn-
ers.
In addition to the meat lost by
the legal trade to the black marh-
etos, great quantities " strategia-
ally important b~y-products have al
so been lost Potential surgical
sututRs. adrenaiin- insulin- gela-
tin for military films, and bone
meal for feeds are disregarded w
the men who slaughter ~IivestoeS
illegally They keep the primal
cuts and throw away the remaind-
3D. In some cases they keep the
hides If these can be easily chan
neled into legal outlets.