Evening star., 1943-06-13
VIA 10 Divert
Pct. Of Beef
10 Military
Civilians Face New
Cut Soon; OPA May
Boost Point Values
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr,

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
Civilians face a further cut in
beef supplies in the very near
future, War Food Administration
officials admitted as result of
an order issued yesterday re-
quiring all slaughterers operat-
ing under Federal inspection to
set aside for the Government As
per cent of their beef production.
Of1cials said they could not esti-
mate as yet how much of cut
in civilian supplies the order would
mean. 1t Immediately raised spec
ulation, however, over whether the
Office of Price Administration will
be forced to increase the number of
points required for beef cuts.
OPA ordered increases in the
number of ration points for nearly
all beef products week ago. Ex-
planation at that time was that
supplies were diminishing and the
Government wanted to discourage
civilian consumption. Most cuts of
beefsteak were raised 3 points a
pound and most roasts points.
Order Effective Tomorrow.
The fact that the VIA set aside
order becomes effective tomorrow
indicated that the new pinch in
beef for civilians would not be long
in coming.
VIA said the action was taken
because Government purchasing
agencies have been unable to buy
adequate supplies of beef to meet
urgent requirements. The beef set
aside will be available for purchase
only by the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Coast Guard and contract
schools ieeding military personnel.
For some weeks past, the armed
forces mad considerable difficulty in
procuring its requirements of beef"
the announcement said. Without
the set aside order, the armed forces
would continue to fall far short of
obtaining their beef supplies"
Civilian Quotas Were Filled First.
Heretofore, Government agencies
obtained supplies only after civilian
beef quotas were filled. Slaughterers
have been permitted tc distribute for
civilians quantities equivalent to IS
per cent Of the amount distributed
in the same period in l941.
Previously, Federal purchasing
agencies took about 40 per cent of
livestock slaughter. Between IS and
10 per cent of all beef produced in
the country is estimated as Federally
inspected.
With beef supplies admittedly low
the question arose over success of
the Governments drive to stamp out
black market operations. Some
sources were inclined to believe that
such operations were far from ended.
VIA stressed that yesterdays
order applies to weekly production
of beef and does not involve inven-
tories.
Industry Blames Black Market.
In Chicago, the American Meat
Institute said, "our industry natu-
rally will do it's best to comply with
the Army's desire" and added:
The principle reason our armed
forces have not been getting beef
they need is that supplies of cattle
continued to be syphoned illegally
from normal channels and regula-
tions which should break up black
market operations are not being
enforced. Every day these opera
lions continued, the more critical
the situation will become"
In the Chicago livestock market
alone, the institute declared. out
going shipments have nearly
doubled in the last five months,
lin most cases to people never
before in the meat business" while
total receipts in the same period
have decreased. The same situation
prevails on most markets else
where" the institute asserted.