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SCHEDULE G.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND PROVISIONS.

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SCHEDULE G.-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND

PROVISIONS.

COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

January 20 and 21, 1913.

The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Oscar W. Underwood (chairman) presiding.

Present with the chairman: Messrs. Harrison, Kitchin, James, Rainey, Dixon, Hull, Hammond, Peters, Palmer, Payne, McCall, Hill, Needham, Fordney, and Longworth.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order.

Gentlemen, the committee, in order that we may dispose of the large number of witnesses that are coming here, has been allowing each witness 10 minutes. Of course, that does not include the time taken in cross-examination. We will endeavor to let each witness have 10 minutes, and if the committee wants to crossexamine afterwards the time so consumed will not be taken out of his time. We want to give all of the witnesses a chance to be heard. Representative SPARKMAN. May I ask the Chair, would it be proper for one party who will appear here to yield his time to another? The CHAIRMAN. The committee has been in the habit, where there is an important subject and there are several witnesses whose names appear on the calendar, of allowing them to select one man to make the statement; under such circumstances they may yield their time, 10 minutes, to anyone else. Of course the committee reserves the right, where it does not think the subject requires so much time, not to do that.

PARAGRAPH 225.

Cattle, if less than one year old, two dollars per head; all other cattle if valued at not more than fourteen dollars per head, three dollars and seventyfive cents per head; if valued at more than fourteen dollars per head, twentyseven and one-half per centum ad valorem.

CATTLE.

TESTIMONY OF MR. DANIEL J. HALEY, OF THE UNITED MASTER BUTCHERS' ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.

The witness was duly sworn by the chairman.

Mr. HALEY. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I represent the United Master Butchers' Association of America, an organization composed of retail market men. We have branches in every section of the country and represent the sentiment of a good many men in the trade. I have a great deal of data or figures to offer simply as facts in support of our contention that the tariff on cattle, animals designed for human food and meats, should be eliminated.

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PARAGRAPH 225-CATTLE.

I am the legislative agent of the United Master Butchers' Association of America, an organization of retail marketmen which has branches in every section of the country and which represents the sentiment of the trade on all matters concerning our trade interests.

The intimate business relations of our craft with both the producer and the consuming public would justify the assumption of a more than ordinary knowledge of the conditions affecting the meat trade; the causes of and remedies for existing conditions. We have repeatedly urged the elimination of the tariff on meats and animals designed for human food since 1905, and the arguments we then used apply with much greater force to-day. For 10 years the food supply of the country has gradually become restricted, so that to-day we are facing a condition where any kind of meat is a luxury and the best grades beyond the reach of the ordinary consumer. We are attempting to feed 90,000,000 people on less production than when our population was 70,000,000, and the ratio of decrease in our meat supply and increase in population still continues, with no apparent immediate relief from inside sources.

The present tariff rate on food animals is practically prohibitive and the teeming hordes of cattle from Mexico, at our very door, and the vast plains of northern South America, are barred from entering. Those cattle reports to the contrary-compare favorably with the average home supply, and would go a long ways in relieving the present tension in our meat supply. The supposed intent of the tariff is primarily to provide revenue for the support of the Government, and to protect home industries. As a revenue producer, the insignificant amount of imports of cattle and meats would mean a light revenue. The removal of the tariff on meats and food animals, would not materially affect the American farmers for, as a class, they are not in the cattle-raising business. As a matter of fact a large proportion of the farmers in the Northern and Eastern States purchase their meats at the retail shops. Free meats would not conflict with labor, as it would require more help to handle the imported product, and it would offset any loss. We favor the complete elimination of the tariff on meats and all animals designed for human food. In connection I beg to submit the following resolution adopted at our last convention held at Detroit, Mich., August, 1912.

I desire to read a resolution adopted by the organization I repre

sent:

Whereas present conditions and the outlook for the future makes the question of providing cheaper and more abundant meat food for the people the most important and vital of all issues, and

Whereas repeated warnings and petitions from this association and other expert sources have failed to arouse our Government to a realization of their responsibility for this crisis; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we, the United Master Butchers' Association of America, representing the retail meat trade of the country, and voicing an aroused public sentiment, demand that the Federal Government adopt such measures as will bring about an increased supply of animal food, commensurate with public necessities.

Resolved, That the National Association, through its legislative committee, adopt measures whereby a bill shall be introduced in Congress eliminating the tariff on live stock, such as cattle, calves, lambs, sheep, hogs, and live poultry.

Resolved, further, That the legislative committee be instructed to confer with the Federal and State Governments as to the advisability of offering a bounty to encourage cattle raising.

PARAGRAPH 225-CATTLE.

The CHAIRMAN. You are a practical man.

Mr. HALEY. Yes, sir; I have been 40 years a practical market man. The CHAIRMAN. If we follow your suggestion and put meats on the free list do you think it would reduce the price to the consumer? Mr. HALEY. I do; I think it would be a temporary relief, or until a better arrangement can be made for a better meat supply in this country.

The CHAIRMAN. You do not think it would be taken up by the middlemen?

Mr. HALEY. No, sir. Our trade is governed by the rule of supply and demand.

Mr. FORDNEY. If there should be a reduction in the duty, as you suggest, would there be an increased importation, and if so, where from? Is that your object in having the duty lowered-so as to get greater importations?

Mr. HALEY. Yes; to have a better source of supply outside the United States; the inside source of supply can not meet the demands at present.

Mr. FORDNEY. Where will that come from?

Mr. HALEY. Mexico, Canada, and the northern part of South America. There are unlimited cattle resources in those countries, particularly in South America.

Mr. HARRISON. I read a statement in the papers the other day by a representative of what is called the Beef Trust to the effect that meat would not be any cheaper in the United States for four years to come. Do you believe that?

Mr. HALEY. It certainly will not under present conditions and unless there is immediate relief from outside. The importation of cattle from those countries would tend to lessen the tension for the present. Ultimately I suppose we would bring about the same conditions. We favor the Agricultural Department taking steps to increase the meat supply from inside, but for a temporary remedy, immediate remedy, we favor absolutely the elimination of the tariff on cattle and meat products and believe it is the only remedy now.

Mr. FORDNEY. The consular reports from Europe show that in every country in Europe meat is sold at a higher price than in the United States. Do you know whether that is true?

Mr. HALEY. Well, I am not familiar exactly with it, but that condition should be true, from the fact that America has been in the past a cattle-producing country. We should not have as dear meat here as we have over there, because our resources here are greater than they are over there. But we have used them up.

Mr. FORDNEY. Supply and demand has everything to do with the price, has it not?

Mr. HALEY. Well, it has here; yes, sir. Supply and demand has all to do with the price. They can not corral or tighten up the price on stuff if there is a great supply. The only time they get a chance to raise the price is when the supply is short.

Mr. FORDNEY. Horse meat to-day in Germany is bringing a higher price than meats in our markets-that is, everything except the choicest cuts.

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