National Republican., 1884-03-20
A MEATY ouEsrION.

Provisions OF the Bill TO Protect the
Interests OF the American Pork Pro-
duCcrs.
The bill reported to the senate yesterday,
from the committee on foreign relations, by
Senator Miller, of California, in response to
resolution of tho senate of Jan. % last,
directing that committee to report slch legis-
lation as shall protect the interests OF the
United States against those governments
which have prohibited or restrained the im-
portation of meat from tho United States,
provides that thero shall be instituted, undor
the direction of the secretary of the treasury,
n system of inspection of salted pork ana
bacon intended for expectation, and TO be
exported within sixty days after the date
unou which tho samo may have been salted
and packed, so that tho fact of the innoxuous
and wholesome character Of the article shall
be established by tho best, highest, and most
reliable proof, this inspection to be made at
the principal ports Of the United states by
the customs officers also that the President
of the United States be authorized at his dis
cretion to exclude from tho United States by
proclamation any product OF any foreign state
which by unjust discrimination prohibits
tho importation of any product of the United
States. 1t provides further that the importa-
ton into the United States Of any adulteratcl
or unwholcsome food or vnous, spirituous oil
malt liquors, adulterated or mixed with any
poisonous or noxious chemical, drug, or other
ingredient injurious to the health shall bo
hereafter prohibited under penalty of fine
aud imprisonment, or both, the President 60
be authorized in his discretion to suspend
the importation of articles of this charatcr
by proclamation when he becomes satisfied
that they are adultcrated to an oXtent in.
furious to the health of the public. In the
fhn pFnf fn
after explaining its provisions, say they con.
sidcred but one clause OF the resolution OF
Jan. %, that directing them TO report logisla.
tion to protect the interests OF tho United
States. and that in their opinion tho bill re-
ported contains all the legislation necessary
for that purpose.
These conclusions are based, they say, upon
the documents laid before them, comprising
the correspondence on file in the department
of state relative to Determinations against
American pork and pork products, the report
of the commission appointed by the President
TO examine into the swine industry of the
United States, aud the report of the chief o
the bureau of statistics on the production oi
swine into the United States and the inter
diction of American hog products. The com
mittee say: "The investigation which the
committee have been able to make of thi
subject result in establishing to the satisiac
tion of the committee, among others, two I'm
portant propositions or matters of fact: First
that triChna does exist to a limited extent
in the United States US well as others. Tht
evidence shows that about 3 per cent o
! American pork is infected by trichina
secondly, that the process Of curing pork by
salt destroys trichina to such degree tina
pork thoroughly salted and permitted to re
main long enough to become saturated with
the salt, although infested with trichina, it
| innoxuous."
They say, further, alluding to the bill re-
ported by them: These are the measures
which the committee deem necessary and
adequate as a remedy for the evils compre
hendcd in that part Of the resolution which
has been considered"
With respect to the further provisions o.
I resolution in question which instructed
the committee what Jdiscriminations are made
against exports from the United States by thu
tariff laws of the principal countries of Eu
rope and America by reason of com mercial o
| other special treaties or agreements will
more favored nations, and to report tn
causes which led to such determinations, th'
efforts, ii any, that have been made TO remov
them, and what legislation, if any, is neces
sary to place the United States on an equa
footing with the most favored nations, tn
committee say that it is their intention Il
consider them rs early as practicable,