Evening star., 1945-04-10
WherryCharge,
Big DC. Meat
Black Market
Offered Red Points
By the Thousands,
Senator Says

meat exists in the District, Sen
ator Wherry, Republican, of
Nebraska charged today, adding
that he had been offered red
points by the thousands and "all
the chicken I wanted to buy"
Senator Wherry's statement came
shortly after Senator Wheeler.
Democrat, of Montana had declared
before a Senate Agriculture Com
mittee that there was something
crooked" in the Office of Price Ad-
ministration Otherwise, he said, it
would take more vigorous action
against black markets.
Defending the OPA. Deputy ADJ
ministrator Thomas I. Emerson told
the committee that reports that a
high percentage of the meat sold
here came through illegal channels
was gross exaggeration."
Made Personal Investigation.
Senator Wherry. who said he made
his charges as the result of per-
sonal investigation among grocers
who did not know that he was
Senator, scoffed at the OPA's be-
| littling of the black market in meat
here, declaring:
IF there is any enforcement Of
ceiling prices in Washington, then
the enforcement officers would find
this black market And if they
failed to find the black market,
then there simply isn't any enforce
ment."
Senator Wherry told reporters
that since the food investigation
started he began to receive offers"
Il received a call from one party
who said he could supply me with
all the chickens would want at rs
cents pound And I received an
offer from another who volunteered
to sell me red points at So thou
sand"
Senator Wherry recently turned
over to the subcommittee a report
that go tons of non-federally in
spected meats are being brought
into the District each week and sold
at above-ceiling prices. He said to-
day he had made personal inspec-
ton trips to a number OF retail
outlets in the District.
Finds Complaints Justified.
Information he gathered on such
trips. including conversation with
| storekeepers, he said. convinced him
/ that black market complaints were
justified. He said he had refrained
from revealing the names of his
informants and the identities of the
dealers involved because of a fear
that the individuals might suffer
violence
He said he did not intend to make
case" since that was the job of the
enforcement officers and because he
might be accused of overemphasiz-
ing an isolated instance" or even
of attempting to frame case"
Furthermore, he added, some
body in this black market business
might attempt to frame case on
me-"
Senator Wherry said he was
aroused by declarations made today
by Mr. Emerson, who told the Sem
ate group:
1T is impossible to measure with
any accuracy the extent of the black
market in meat Black market
operators do not keep accurate rec
ords for Government inspection.
Any estimate of the percentage Of
meat sold in the black market is the
sheerest guess. 1t can be safely said.
however. that the estimates and
rumors of high percentages of meat
flowing in the black market Sre gross
exaggerations.
Bought Meat without Points.
Senator Wherry said he wanted
to know why OPA enforcement
officers were unable to find black
market operations when he, his
j identity unknown to shopkeepers
and statesmen, could buy meats
without points, and chickens so long
as he paid the above ceiling prices.
when other people. sticking to the
point system and ceiling prices,
could not find such food supplies.
Senator Wheeler'S remarks capped
an exchange begun when Mr.. Emer-
son described as fantastic" reports
the Senator said he had received
that 80 per cent of the meat sold
in most big cities is black market.
If you know what the facts are
then there is something crooked
in your Office" Senator Wheeler
retorted. The trouble is that when
you are told about the situation you
don't do anything about it."
Growth of Racket Admitted.
How much of a checkup have
you made?" Senator Wheeler de-
manded LAS matter of fact, you
don't know what is going on in
(See FOOD, Page A-5)
Rt. Rev. J. W. Atwood,