Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1906 — IMPORTANT ACTION [ARTICLE]

IMPORTANT ACTION

Senator Beveridge’s Meat Inspection I Bill Passed by the Senate Without Discussion. SANITARY RULES ARE RIGID PropoMd New Law Places the Packing Houses Under Strict Requirements as to the Wholesomeness of Thslr Products—An Amendment to the Agricultural Bill That Will Be of Far-Reaching Importance. One of the moat important measures passed by the United States senate so far this session was the Meat Inspection bill, introduced by the senior sen- - ator of Indiana, Albert J. Beverdige. This bill was introduced after a conference of President Roosevelt, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and Senator Beveridge. The Beveridge bill provides for the inspection of animals on the* hoof, and also for the Inspection of all food products prepared in any slaughtering, canning, salting, packing, rendering or similar establishment. It is provided that nothing in the way of meat products shall go to the public for consumption until it bears the label “Inspected and passed.” Rigid Sanitary Rules. Rigid sanitary rules for all packing houses are laid down In the proposed law. It is made the duty of the government inspectors to inspect the sanitary condition of packing houses as well as to Inspect the animals offered for slaughter and the meat offered for sale. In order to make the law effective It Is provided that on and after Jan. 1, 1907, no person, firm or corporation shall transport or offer for transportation. and no carrier of Interstate commerce shall transport or receive for transportation from one state or territory or the District of Columbia, or any place under the jurisdiction of the United States, or to any foreign country, any carcasses, meat or food products thereof which have not been Inspected. examined and marked as “inspected and passed,” in accordance with the provisions of this act. It is provided that any meat food product packed in any can, tin, pot or canvas shall bear the government label before ft can enter Interstate commerce. The secretary of agriculture is authorized to fix a schedule of fees for the inspection of animals on the hoof and for the inspection of meats and meat products. It is proposed that these fees shall defray the cost ot inspection. A fine of $10,(>00 and imprisonment Is the penalty fixed for any violation of the provision of the proposed law. This bill was passed on last Friday as an amendment to the agricultural appropriation bill. More than ordinary significance attaches to the action of the senate in adopting it. The bill was passed without debate or the formality of a reference to committee and practically under a threat from the president that if congress did not pass the bill he would send a special message on the subject accompanied by a report of an investigation made by Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Reynolds and Commissioner of Labor Neill into the meat packing industries of the country, which Is little short of startling in its findings and recommendations. Will Not Be Changed. It is understood that everything was arranged, had the senate refused to act in the matter, to have the president send the special message, accompanied by the report ot the department of labor, which would have afforded tne country quite as much of a sensation regarding the operations of the meat packing houses as did the Garfield report of Standard Oil. Senator Beveridge has assurance from the probable conferees, on the agricultural bill that the amendment will not be changed in any particular. If it is he will take the matter up on the floor of the senate in a speech in which he promises to be backed up by the president’s message and special report that is expected to arouse the public to such an extent that immediate action will be demanded of congress. This is one instance In which the president has had the unquestioned advantage of the corporations. The mere threat on his part to send In to congress a special message dealing with the conditions In the packing houses was sufficient to quiet all opposition to the Beveridge bill when it was offered as»an amendment to the agricultural appropriation bill. The secret of the prompt adoption of the Beveridge bill as an amendment, it is said, is that the beef packers want nothing said about what the government agents discovered in their plants. Senator Beveridge called on the president and expressed the belief that his amendment was about as effective as could be made. “I believe that the bill contains as perfect, if not the most perfect, meat, beef and cattle inspection in the world,” said Senator Beveridge. - "The bill does not change the existing law regulating the inspection of meats for the export trade. It eimply provides that an American shall know that he is getting as good meat as the foreigner, who hae always been well protected under our inspection laws. Our people are about as good as those abroad, it seems to me, and are antitled to the same consideration." Read The Democrat for news.