The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-15
THE AMERICAN HOG.
Injury to American Trade in Europe-A
Commission OF Inquiry.

New York Times.
The Chamber of Commerce met yester6 ay
to select one member of commission to be
appointed by the President of the United
States to make "a searching examination on
the spot of all the conditions of hog-raising
and packing industries of this country, and
to follow by the most practical examinations
the course of this food staple from the fields
and farms to the wharf where it is shipped or
to the shop where it is exposed for domestic
consumption" A letter from Secretary OF
State Frelinghuysen to the president of the
chamber was read, calling attention to the
fact that on several occasions during the last
few years the importation of hog products
from the United States had been restricted
and even entirely prohibited by the legisla-
ton of several foreign States. The grounds
of this seclon were understood to be the
alleged prevalence of disease-hog cholera,
trichinosis, etc.-amopg the swine of this
country. The letter continued as follows:
The consequent legislation, however, has not
in most cases expressed the motive of the re-
strictions imposed The prohlbltory DEGREES OF
Austria, Hungary and Germany, for instance,
unqualifiedly forbid the importation into those
countries OF the pork products of the United
States After exhaustive and impartial
investigation of the subject, the conviction was
reached by the government that the premises
upon which the adverse legislation abroad rest
ed were and are unfounded, and that the eX-
ported hog products of the United States are in
nowse the source of danger to life and health
which they are alleged To be-. The conviction
reached by this government has not, however,
been shared by the foreign governments 10
whose attention it was brought, and the con-
templated prohibitory legislation has been
effected, thereby closing important foreign mar
kets to a food product generally USED by large
proportion OF our people.
The matter presents itself to the President
with such urgency that he is unwilling to await
action by Congress. He believes IL of national
importance that the results OF the investigation
he mplatesas SHOULD be laid before C on gress
December
in order that il needrul, legislative action may
be then taken. l have. therefore TO invite the
attention of your chamber TO the subject one
of much interest to the community you repre-
sent, and TO ask that yOu recommend to me
the name of some compel ent and impartial per
son who may he appointed on the proposed COM
mission of inquiry. The commission will ELL
brace, i'll addition to one representative of the
Board of Trade of Chicago, two experts selected
by the Agricultural Department and one gentle
man TO be chosen by the President, comprising
in all five members.
Colonel Frederick A. Conkling regarded
the subject as one of great Importance, and
thought that the State Department had paid
the Chambe of Commerce a very high COM
pliment In asking it to name one OF the
commissioners He was satisfied that no
member of the German government-not
even Prince Bismarck-really believed that
there was any truth in the sensational charge
that American pork was diseased. The Ger
man prohibitory enactment had been made
from other motives The French govern
ment, in ordering a careful investigation of
this matter, had shown most honorable
disposition, in strong contrast to what might
be called the disreputabie treatment given
the subject by Germany, Austria and Hun
gary. On motion of Mr.. John Sinclair, the
meeting voted unanimously to recommend
Professor Charles f. Chandler, ex-president
of the Board of Health, for appointment as a
member OF tie proposed commission.