Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1888 — THE ROW ABOUT LARD. [ARTICLE]

THE ROW ABOUT LARD.

The Investigation Takes a Wide Scope, and Is Likely to React. Wiahlngton tpecial to the Indiana poll* Journal. The investigation being conducted by the House committee on agriculture into the manufacture of the various grades of lard, with a view to legislation upon the subject, has taken a much wider scope, and is having a verv different effect than was originally intended. Thegreat trouble with many of the congressional investigations is tba’, there is no fixed programme or limit, and full rein is given, and the greatest latitude is allowed people who came to testify. Instead of the testimony being exclusively confined to thehealthfulnees and* nutrition of the articles which gj into the manufacture of compound or rtfined lard, which is the legitimate scope of the investigatiop men have been permitted to take the witnessstand, and testify as to all branches of the tiade. It may be that there is some It gitimacy about this, in view of the fact that in their efforts to show that refined lard is not wholesome the advocates of tbe bill have attacked this trade from every possible elevation. The defense hai naturally sought to show that the advocates of the measure, who are manufactures of what is purported to be lard from portions of the hog only, uje all kinds of vile matter. When the lard refiners were attacked they naturally began an assault upon the industry which assailed them, andj as a consequence, they began to show what the people who were fighting them were making out of the hog. They have shown that into the manufacture of prime steam lard, or leaf lard, gees every particle of the unclean hog, and they have also shown that diseased and dead hogs, and crippled hogs, and hogs in every possible state of unwholesomeness are used not only in the manufacture of what is alleged to be pure lard, but the manufacture of all kinds of meats, even to hams, and shoulders, and bacon, and salt pork. The tendency of all this has been to debase the American hog produet, and to such an extent that it has alarmed pork-packere, and they are crying a halt. There is no t doubt that the defendants have painted their opponents blacker than they should be, but it was probably their only line of defense. If half of the testimony which has been taken against the pork-packers was published in foreign countries there would be no doubt about American pork and lard being excluded from foreign markets. I am told that the Gei man and French, and one or two other ministers in Washington, have regularly sent to the Capitol for copies of the printed testimony in the investigation, and have forwarded them to their foreign home offices, and that they are preparing a special report on the American hog and its manufacture, which will be transmitted for action to the countries they represent. If this thing is worked up, as it probably will be, the effect will be legislation, which will exclude our pork from many of the countries where it is now accepted. This would be manifestly unjust, because the pork from this country is as healthful and clean as that marketed anywhere. , The ontlook of the whole business is that the pork packers, in their efforts to break down the manufacturers of refined lard, will destroy themselves. They have carried the thing too far. The investigation seems to have gone to a limit they cannot control. The only salvation there seems to be for the American hog export trade is to postpone legislation. If there should be specific legislation against this compound lard manufacture at this time it will point out to foreign countries the fact that in this country, where the article is made, it is regarded suspiciously, and calls for specific legislation. It will further impress foreign countries that there is something wrong in our whole manufacture of hog products. It is generally believed now that there will be a postponement of the question till a report is received from the Agricultural Department on the subject of food adulteration, and then the whole question will be legislated upon. This will obviate the necessity of stigmatizing any distinct American industry, and yet will have the effect of bringing about that federal supervision that is sought by the bill which is now before the committee on agriculture in the two houses of Congress. Just at present the fat seems to have all been kicked in the = fire.., s .