Montana labor news., 1945-04-12

Meeting at the White House April 6
with his committee, Anderson talked with
the top figures Of government. including
War Food Administrator Marvin Jones.
Lend Lease Administrator Leo Crowley.
OPA Administrator Chester Bowles. Eco
nomic Sterilization Director William H
Davis, UNRRA Chairman Henry Lehman
md Director Of War Mobilization Fred
Unison.
While Anderson avoided some Of the
headline-getting tactics of other con-
gressmen and not a few senators. he
has been boring into the heart Of the
issue.
Coming out Of the White House con
ference, Anderson apparently had won
agreement on these points:
Farmers would be guaranteed a
floor on pork Of $13 a -hundredweight. or
soc more than at present, and assured
that the ceiling of $l4.75 would be main
tanned through September, 1916.
2-The Army will look into the pros
pect OF operating idle packing plants in
order to have more facilities for handling
cattle, and easing the strain on the fed
orally inspected plants.
3-oPA will take over the ALLEGATION
of cattle to the packing houses-formerly
a function Of the VITA.
While the increase on pork will aid
the farmers, there will be no boost in
the price consumers pay because the SOC
is added to the governments support
price. The continuation of the guaran-
teed ceiling through the fall Of 1916 is
designed to reassure farmers and give
the nation more pork in the coming
season regardless OF We day.
The second point is designed to help
meat-short areas by having the Army
take more Of its requirements from plants
that are unable to ship in interstate
commerce because of the federal inspec-
ton law. Under this plan the Army
would inspect its own meat, and the
pressure on the small packer by the big
fellows would be eased by that extent.
A new OPA regulation directing the
flow Of meat to the packing houses is
expected before May /, replacing the
present VIA control. This plan, Ander-
explained, is expected to be particu-
larry helpful. It will benefit the little
packer in the shortage areas.
To point up the idle plant situation.
Anderson said he told the White House
group Of three instances he knows about
and remarked that it was unfair in a
meat crisis, with plenty of cattle on the
for a packing plant to be closed
because somebody isn't making any
money"
Anderson said cattlemen are COM
planning that they have a surplus of
range cattle, although the U. S. will be
q billion pounds short in its meat re-
luirements for the quarter beginning july
These requirements include the needs
the Army, civilian and ~lend-lease.
Another question put to the govern
nent heads by Anderson was the cut
ing down Of the supplies allotted to
hotels and restaurants at the expense of
he average householder. He said it was
suggested that the 1870 of the supply
low marked for hotels and restaurants
'e cut so as to help assure the house
wife Of the lis pounds Of meat she
hould have in the quarter starting
July /.
With an incentive payment for mar
citing beef, higher support price for
logs, Army operation of idle packing
iouses and some relaxing of the Army's
ederally inspected requirements, it may
that there will be more meat avail
bl.
But, Anderson warned, that would not
.ecessarily mean more meat Tor the
william population. It would simply
ut more meat into the U. S. pot for
location by VITA. At present the
respect is against any meat for export
the July / quarter-and every addi-
pound brought to market would
clip relieve that much suffering abroad.
Improvement in the distribution situa-
on would naturally be of great help
the meat supply in the industrial.
areas.