Evening star., 1944-12-27
Ceilings on LivestocI
Awaited as Supply
OF Meat Tiehtens

that more than IS per cent o
the retail dealers were continu
ing their holiday" in protes
against OPA regulations.
The dealers contend the regula
tions are preventing them from
operating at a profit in the absenc
Of controls on the prices of cattl,
on the hoof.
In the face of opposition from
the cattle country and the Food Ad
ministration, John j. Madigan, OPP
assistant director of food prices, me
with 60 cattle producers and slaugh'
terers in Chicago for an all-day
discussion of ceiling prices on liv.
cattle. Although Washington OPA
sources said the schedule would be
announced after the meeting, Mr.
Madigan said the disclosure would
not necessarily be made today.
Blasting at the cattle bloc,
Representative Celler, Democrat, OF
New York said he would ask legis-
lation in the new Congress to COM
pei price ceilings on live cattle, but
Senator OMahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming, defending the cattle in
terests, asserted that the seaboard
meat situation could not be blamed
on the absence of controls.
La Guardia Sees U. S. Decision.
In New York, the Associated Press
reported, Police Commissioner Lewis
j. Valentine announced that 2.135
Of 5000 retail shops checked yester-
day were closed.
However, a police survey today
showed that many shops closed yes
terday had reopened with the re-
ceipt Of partial supplies.
A count of 264 retail meat shops
in the Lower East Side showed only
96 closed today, as compared to 13e
yesterday
Most of the stores open were re-
ported to have received some sup
plies. Results Of the police survey
were substantiated by the depart
ment of markets, which made an
independent tabulation.
Mayor La Guardia, in a broadcast
last night, said that Federal de-
cision" was expected before January
2 on the conditions which brought
about the meat crisis.
Further developments in the New
York food situation included an an
nouncement of several hundred deli
catessen store owners they would be
forced to close unless more prepared
meat products became available. and
a bakery drivers union went on
strike over wage controversy. The
strike curtailed pastry deliveries
yesterday.
Beside the anticipated action of
Mr.. Madigan in Chicago today, an
other meeting on the livestock CELL
ing issue was scheduled for Kansas
City, Mo. tomorrow.
Joseph Cohn, counsel for the New
York Council of Wholesale Meat
Dealers, announced yesterday that
half Of the butcher shops in New
York City were closed and trade
spokesmen declared that further
shutdowns would occur today, due
to little meat being obtainable.
Crack Down on Spectators.
Meanwhile, Daniel P. Woolley,
regional OPA administrator, an
nounced a crack down" on meat
spectators who, he added "consti-
tute the core of the black market"
In a weekly report, the War Food
Administration said meat arrivals
for the New York metropolitan area
for the week ended December %
were 30,5o4,671 pounds, an increase
OF ~ per cent over the previous
week.
In attacking the cattle bloc"
which he said steers the Govern
ment any way it wishes" Mr.. Celler
asserted 1T says the consuming pop
ulation Of the cities of the East be
damned This bloc, meanwhile,
lines its pockets with nice profits
while retail butchers must sell at
ruinous prices"
Senator OMahoney, defending the
livestock growers, suggested check
up in seaboard cities to see why
more commercial and utility grade
beef is not offered for sale and
whether some dealers are demanding
red points for grades Of meat sup
posed to be ration-free
7% Of Meat Graded Choice"
I'm told that IN some big cities
consumers have been required to
surrender red coupons for this
ration-free beef" he told reporters
The Wyoming Senator said go
per cent of the higher grades of
beef is set aside for the armed
forces, but that the military is not
allocated any of the less desirable
grades.
In a recent week, he added, 1885, Sal
steers and heifers were slaughtered
by inspected packers. OF that num-
Der, IL per cent were graded as
choice, about Al per cent good, 35.7
per cent commercial and slightly
more than 16 per cent utility.
"It is perfectly obvious" he said,
that If all the consumers want to
buy meat from the IL per cent
category there rs going to be short
age.
IF the consumers could be per-
suaded to purchase the lower grades
of meat, and the butchers to sell the
lower grades, there probably would
be q much greater supply in all the
big cities"
Senator O'Mahoney said the meat
retailers were unable to sell at the
retail ceiling prices because they are
unable to buy at the wholesale CELL
tngs.
According to statements of re-
tailers to OPA enforcement ofhcers,
he said, they are compelled to pay
excess prices to packers either by
way Of tie-in purchases of products
they don't want or by way OF side
money payments.
In private conversations retailers
will acknowledge this condition, but
they suffer a convenient lapse OF
memory in court
German 'Panic' Radio
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