Evening star., 1946-10-01
II. 5. Action on Meat
Possible Spence Says
After Seeing Truman !
sy The Assoeiatsd Press

q -
Representative Spence, Democrat
of Kentucky said he gathered the
impression" at a conference with
President Truman today that the
Government may take some RENE
dial action" to ease the meat Short
age,
Mr.. Spence, chairman Of the House
Banking Committee, told reporters
after the White House conference
that he was mot at liberty to dis
cuss" what the action maybe.
Secretary of Agriculture Anderson
said earlier there is very real
danger" that the Government may
have to seize all market bound live
stock.
Mr.. Spence said he had talked to
Mr.. Truman about OPA and the
dissatisfaction OF the people about
lit.
Meat Stays on Scarce List.
Some OF the people can't get fur
naces and, Of course, they can't get
meat" Mr.. Spence said.
He added that the principal pur-
pose OF his visit to the White House
was in connection with the constrpc-
ton Of a food wall at Newport, Ky
Mr.. Anderson's assertion to group
of New Mexico cattlemen conceded
with his formal announcement
through the Agriculture Department
here that meat must remain on the
Governments list of scarce farm
products.
At the same time, Mr.. Anderson
erased from the iist-and from price
control-all canned fruits. juices
nectars and corn, along with fresh
and frozen salmon, oat cereals and
rum.
Decontrol Hopes Fade.
What lingering hopes the meat In
dustry might still have had that the
way might be cleared for lifting OPA
ceilings In a bid to farmers to speed
their stock to market apparently
were dashed by the announcement
here.
And Mr.. Anderson made the point
more emphatic in his Albuquerque
address yesterday by declaring thai
any new decontrol period would sim.
Iply lead to feast and then famine.
Pleading for Cooperation in try.
ing to bring meat back to the Ameri.
can people at legitimate prices,
the Secretary asked the Executive
Board of the New Mexico Cattle
Growers Association, What do yo,
have to suggest?"
1t was not Immediately clear here
whether the requisitioning step Mr.
Anderson mentioned as "a very rea
| danger" would be designed to chan
mel more meat into regular channel.
| or merely to assure the armed serv.
ices and hospitals of greater
supply.
Another Warning to Stockmen.
Mr.. Anderson held out still an
other warning to the stockmen-
that the long standing fight against
importing Argentine beef into this
country might be reopened by pub
lie demand.
Asserting that cattle receipts are
down and black markets are sched-
uled to flourish the secretary
added:
In this circumstance the people
of this country, hungry for meat
and with money, to spend for it, are
likely to ask for new measures and
new sources
The Army disclosed yesterday that
it is trying to buy some Of its@meat
intended for overseas use from Ar.
gentina. Present sanitary regula.
tions prevent the importation ol
Argentine meat into this country N
Chewing Gum Ceilings Lifted.
Besides complying with Mr.. An
derson's findings on canned fruits
|and corn, GA acted independently
today to Lift price ceilings from
chewing gum. prepared -four mixes
animal gland derivatives used In
the preparation of insulin and other
medicinal items. and agricultural
insecticides and fungicides.
Previously the price agency an
nounced 21s-cent a pound boost
in the retail prices of oleomargarine
cooking and salad oils, may onnaise
salad dressing and shortening-in-
creases which the OPA said would
add $50, 100000 a year to the Ma
tion's food bill.