Evening star., 1946-09-08
Meat-Buyiing
Rush Fails 10
Develop Here
Stocks Sufficient
For Few Doys After
Return of CeiIinq'

Washington shoppers for the most
part calmly await the return of re.
tail ceiling prices on meat Tuesday
and IN only few scattered instances
stocked ZIP heavily at markets yes
terday In the face of q shortage
predicted by industry spokesmen.
So far as local stores and supply
houses were concerned, spot check
indicated last night that a com
paratively large quantity and as
sortment will be available for several
days.
Butcher shops in many other
large cities reported record break
ing sales yesterday as housewives
Stormed retail counters in large
numbers to stock up.
Buyers Rush Expected.
A buyers rush. however, is ex-
pected by some dealers to develop
here soon after the new OPA cell
ings go into effect. These ceilings.
although on an average of 3A cents
a pound higher than the ones that
prevailed when OPA lapsed tempo
rarily last June 30, are substantially
lower than the present "uncon-
trolled" prices. OPA declares.
Wholesalers and retailers, queried
about the new schedules, were prac-
tically unanimous in forecasting a
shortage. The general feeling was
that this will begin to be felt early
next week. Industry representatives
said they based their opinion prin-
cipally on what we read in the
papers and the market reports"
about sharp drops in livestock ship
ments from Chicago and other
major centers.
Chicago stockyards reported an
all-time low in livestock receipts
yesterday, with only 200 cattle, 300
nogS and 300 sheep delivered. This
compared with a run of 10000
cattle alone at the huge yards II
days ago, a 23-year record, as
farmers rushed stock to market for
record-breaking prices before re-
imposition of OPA controls.
OPA Sees Scarcity.
OPA officials, particularly Deputy
Administrator Geoffrey Baker,
agreed that meat may be scarce for
some time.
OPA emphasis at the District Of
flee and national headquarters,
however, was on a campaign to
force compliance with the new CELL
lngs and to smash any black market
activity.
George Moncharsn. deputy OPA
administra tor in charge of enforce
ment last night promised "a rugged"
winter and spring for big shots
selling black market meat. OPA is
not so much concerned with small
time violators but hopes it will be
a Bile to persuade them to help in
catching big operators in illegal
operations.
Although prices on most meats
will be lower Tuesday-despite in
creases of as much as l8 cents a
pound over June 80 ceilings on So
called luxury cuts-the threat OF a
shortage was expected in some
quarters yesterday to cause much
heavier weekend buying than
materialized
No Heavy Buying.
A spokesman for District Grocery
Stores said he had received only
two or three reports of unusual
Saturday buying of meat. A check
at several large chair stores in the
Dupont Circle, Fourteenth street,
Georgia avenue and Brookland
areas disclosed only the normal
number of shoppers.
Roasts and sirloin steaks were
still available early yesterday after
noon at some meat stores in the
Northwest and Northeast sections.
But ham. repeatedly, was harder to
find. Proprietors said shoppers in
recent days may have been buying
more ham because it keeps"
Managers of individual stores
hesitated to comment on earlier
statements by local wholesalers rep
resentativeS that the new ceilings
will be of little immediate benefit
to the consumer because of a prob
able shortage.
Stocks to Last Days.
They reported that stocks on
hand should last several days, and
this was verified by an official of
one of the city's largest warehous-
ing and refrigerating companies.
Yesterday was no holiday for the
augmented staff of 66 inspectors
and investigators in the District
OPA Office j. Grahame Walker,
District Enforcement Attorney and
Lloyd Williamson of the District
OPA Food Enforcement Section re-
ported that the staff was investi-
eating "all meat markets and meat
channels" in the District.
The District Office quoted Direc-
tor Vincent A. Holmes as express
ing confidence that meat prices will
rapidly fall into line from the
highs registered during the uncon-
trolled period" and conform to the
new ceiling prices effective Tues
day.
Other OPA officials estimated yes
terday that the newly announced
ceilings, although below current
costs, will nevertheless add $780,
100000 annually to the consumers
meat bill. The $500, 600, 900 is the
difference between the cost of meat
June 80 and the restored ceilings
scheduled for this week, they ex-
planned.
4 District Markets Earned