Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1893 — NATIONAL MEAT INSPECTON. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL MEAT INSPECTON.

Some of the DI (advantages- -Excessive Cost for Amount Involved. Secretary Morton has been trying to reduce tffe force of National Meat Inspectors without impairing its efficiency. He does not propose to stop meat inspection, but thinks the benefits derived’ from the execution of the law are purchased at toe great a cost. During the past two years the value of meat inspected for exportation was $4,577,473. During that period the government paid to microscopists ths sum of $224,465, and expended $8,475 for miclbscopes. Other incidental expenses were $6,639, making the total expense S per cent, of the value of the meat exported.- The question is whether the Country shall be taxed in this way for the benefit of packers of meat who export to countries demanding this inspection. During the same period wo have sold to countries not demanding government inspection more than $34,030,000 of meat products without a dollar of cost to the general public. The countries demanding government inspection are Germany, France; Denmark. Italy, Spain and Austria. The secretary thinks the law very faulty, and will urge its amendment by the next Gongress, but in the meantime will continue meat inspection according to the provision of the statute.