The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-01-19
LEGISLATION

~ legislation in earnest. While
there is q great deal of bumcombe In
the talk INDUCED in by Congressman
In general concerning the action OF
England, Frame and Germany
against the Importation Of American
meals there is also a great deal OF
sound sense. These countries assert
that America exports unsound meats
to their countries. Our own officials
deny it. For the purpose of testing
the soundness of orr pork the Presi-
dent invited German experts to come
to this country and make examina-
tons of the meats. No attention was
paid to the proposal by the German
Government. Thus the matter rests.
Germany refuses to receive the
American hog products. France
bars them out after the 10Th of this
month aud England raises objections
to our live stock.
1t order to bring these countries to
their senses retaliatory legi-lation is
recommended. It is proposed to pro-
hlbit the Introduction OF German
knit goods from Germany and French
wines from France into the United
States. But this Is not going far
enough If retaliatory measures be
adopted. Our exports of American
hog products for the last year
amounted to over $50, OOO, 900 notwith-
standing it was denied entrance into
two of the principal ports of Europe,
while our import, of German krit
goods amounted to but $5,0oO,OO0 and
our importation of French wines to
but $1,000, 0OO. Other articles from
those countries should also be ia
b0oed.
Senator Logan is in favor of striK-
ing directly and immef lately. at
these imports. He is, without
doutt, sustained in his position by
the majority of the people, but the
people sometimes get of wrong. In
this case they are apt to let their
passion get the better Of their judy
ment. The provocation is great, but
there Is still another and, we believe,
q better way to meet the emergency.
That way was suggested by the
level.headed Vest in the Senate day
before yesterday. He said he
Thought q spirit of international
community would dictate the organ
izatlon of q thorough system Of in
spection, 80 AZ to establish beyond a
doubt the perfect soundness of Amer.
lean meats before they leave this
country" That Is the idea exactly.
Let boards of inspection be created
M AZ every principal meat shipping
port in the United States. Let Eng
land, France and Germany each have
a representative on the boards if they
wish to. Then If they refuse to re-
CClVO Vul uAC0V pAOAuSCo
should prohibit not only French
wines and German Knit goods. but
such other articles they export to
make the sum total Of prohibited ar
tic!es equal our surplus neat pro.
ducts. Let US first be sure we are
right and then 90 ahead In retalia-
tory legislation. This prohibiting of
one %country's products by another
country is a game two can play at,
and the United States should show
the countries named that we can do
without their products al we'll as
they can do without ours. Our own
wine makers and wool growers will
not object, and the people are willing
to pay q little more for socks and
claret even if they are compelled to
raise less meat products for exporta-
ton. They have not forgotten the
lesson taught them by their fore
fathers at the great tea party held in
Boston over a hundred years ago.