Evening star., 1946-10-08
0PAAdvisers
Urge Removal
0fBeefContro|s
Cattle Committees
Action by III Vote
HeruIds Showdown
BY ths Associated Press

headed for a showdown today
when the OPA Beef Advisory
Committee formally authorized
filing of a petition to remove
price ceilings from cattle, beef
and veal.
The committee voted IL to 1 to
petition for decontrol, and author
lied Robert G. Thomas, executive
vice president of the Lima Packing
Co., Lima, Ohio, and Roscoe G..
Haynie, committee chairman and
vice president of Wilson g. Co.,
Chicago, to sign the appeal.
Mr.. Haynie told reporters that
the petition will be based on a con-
tention that, under terms of the
Price Control Act, beef is eligible
for decontrol. One eligibility re-
quirement is that beef cattle be in
ample supply.
Working on New Regulations. -
Mr.. Haynie refused to name the
committee member who refused to
vote for a decontrol petition. How
ever, he said the member felt that
this is not the proper time for the
action.
An oPA official told reporters the
agency now is working on new regu-
lations which he said deal with dis
tribution of meat supplies and in
creases in prices on some meats.
The decontrol action came as the
War Department disclosed that
negotiations are under way for a
loan" of 100000 pounds of beef
belonging to Great Britain to meet
requirements for troops overseas.
The department had said earlier
the negotiations were for Argentine
beef, to be taken from .Argentina's S
exportable surplus.
Would Pay Back by March.
Today's announcement said that
under plans being discussed with
Britain, the United States would re-
pay the British with meat, pound
for pound, before February %.
The Army announcement said:
negotiations by the War Depart
ment with British representatives
are under way in regard to loan of
100000 pounds of beef belonging
to Great Britain.
1.-THE purpose of these negotiations
is to provide meat to relieve the
precarious food situation for troops
in both the European and Pacific
theaters and also to lessen the calls
on the United States domestic meat
sources. =
"The procurement of the meat is
being discussed on loan basis, the
United States to repay the British
pound for pound prior to February
%, 1947."
Delivery in November.
The War Department said deliv-
cry would be sought for early No
vember. Combined requirements of
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and
War Shipping Administration, for
which the Army Quartermaster
general buys perishables, is 12,000,-
600 pounds of beef weekly.
However, only about 100000
pounds weekly has been forthcom-
ing in the past two weeks from fed
orally inspected packing plants. The
War Department said yesterday
that If 20,0O0,00O pounds extra could
be found it would relieve an imme-
diate shortage by approximately S.
100000 pounds weekly pending an
expected increase in cattle slaugh-
ter about one month hence.
Secretary of Agriculture Ander-
son has virtually committed himself
to rejecting the meat decontrol petit
ton. The next step would be an
appeal to the independent Price De-
control Board
Awaits White House Word.
Aides of Mr.. Anderson reported,
meanwhile, that the Secretary is
awaiting White House reaction to
the proposals he discussed with
President Truman last week for
putting meat back on the Nations
dinner tables.
These officials declined to discuss
the proposals except to state that
seizure of livestock on farms is not
being considered.
The subject of Federal seizure ac-
ton in another direction was raised,
however, by Senator Green, Demo-
crat, of Rhode Island, who told re-
porters he thinks the Government
should take over any excess stocks
of meat found in packers ware
houses.
Senator Green also said the JUS
tice Department should investigate
whether there is a conspiracy to
withhold meat from consumer trade
channels.
"There are reports that packers
and cattle feeders are striking, hop
ing to break OPA," the Senator as
serted. "I don't think they ought
to be allowed to strike"