Evening star., 1946-08-28
Anderson Increases
ngsonLivestock,
Overriding Porter
Pork to Cost ; Cents
A Pound More, With
Scent Rise for Beef
By MoIcolm lomborne, Jr.

Secretary of Agriculture An
derson, overriding Price Admin
istrator Porter, today directed
new ceiling prices for livestock,
which a department spokesman
said would increase the retail
prie of most pork cuts about 3
cents pound over old ceilings
and about 6 cents for beef.
Ending a deadlock which had
forced Sterilization Director Steel
man to take hand in the dispute,
MFR. Anderson, in a statement, an
nounced the new prices which he
lsaid were necessary to maintain pro-
duction and to carry out what the
department regards as clear man.
date from the Congress"
An OPA official said Mr.. Porter
had no comment, but that the agen-
| cy had no recourse but to place the
ceilings into effect.
Mr.. Porter has strongly opposed
livestock ceilings any higher than
those prevailing when price control
lapsed June 80.
Retail Ceiling Date in Doubt.
| Today's action left up in the air,
at least temporarily, the effective
date of retail meat ceilings origin
| ally scheduled by OPA to 60 into ef-
feet September 9. The Anderson
statement quoted the new Price Con-
troll Act to the effect that the Price
Administrator must make adjust
ments within 10 days after receipt
of any recommendation by the Sec
retary of Agriculture.
Asked by reporters if the an
Inouncement meant an agreement
had been reached between the two
agencies, the spokesman said. It
have no knowledge of any agreement
with OPA."
Specifically, Mr.. Anderson recon-
mended to OPA that the ceiling
price on hogs, Chicago basis, be
s1625 for 100 pounds. The June
80 ceiling was s1485. The ceiling
for cattle, Chicago basis, was set at
s2025, as against s1S for 100 pounds
under the old ceiling.
| In addition, ceiling on dressed
lamb should reflect about SIG for
100 pounds, the Secretary said.
There was no ceiling on live lambs
before June 30.
| Action Clearly on Order.
While Mr. Anderson's statement
said the prices had been recon-
mended to OPA. officials in the de-
partment conceded that today's ac-
ton was clearly an order. based on
the departments Interpretation of
the law. ..
| The statement declared:
The Congress of the United
States, when it passed the Price Con-
troll Extension Act of 1916, made
clear its intent in these words: 1t is
hereby declared to be the policy of
the Congress that the Office of Price
Administration and other agencies of
the Government shall use their
price, subsidy and other powers to
promote the earliest practicable ball
ance between production and the
demand of commodities under their
The statement further pointed out
that Congress had stipulated that
when the Secretary determines that
maximum prices on agricultural
commodities which are scarce are
impeding production, the Secretary
may recommend to the price admin
I1strator such adjustments and max
imum prices as the Secretary deter
mines to be necessary to attain es-
sential production.
Warns of High Slaughter Rate.
Mr.. Anderson said that in view
OF the findings of the Decontrol
Board that meat supplies will con-
tinue to be in short supply in rela-
ton to demand at reasonable prices,
"it is the decision of the department
that If ceilings are restored at the
June 80 levels such an action will
impede obtaining the necessary
production of livestock and meat"
Mr.. Anderson warned of a high
rate of slaughter of unfinished
cattle and hogs. and said that this
rapid liquidation (of livestock) is
already alarming" He added that
If continued ''it can well be dis
astrous'
In conclusion the statement de-
clared the department can not do
otherwise than take at face value
the declaration of decontroI policies
(See PRICES, Paage A-6.)