The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-31
PROPOSED RETALIATORYLE LEGISLATION
The Secretary of State Advises that No I'M
mediate Action BE Taken.


The Secretary of State Advises that No I'M
mediate Action Be Taken.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30-Secretary Freling-
huyscA has addressed to the President commu-
nication, which he has transmitted to the House
of Representatives, in response to the resolution
asking for papers relating to the exclusion of
American hog products from foreign countries.
He submits to the President copies of all peril
nent Teatter found of record in the Department
of State, and gives in detail the history of the
exclusion of American meats from France Ger
man. and other European countries In March,
1881, the Secretary says, the Department of State
prosecute - examination i't" the various
phases of the pork industry of the Wesre, Il
States, which resulted in establishing the fact
of the entire healthfulness of the pork product.
The facts thus elected warranted the depart
ment il representing to the foreign govern
ments that the prejudicial Judgment against
swine export of this country was ex parte and
unfounded When 1t was ascertaned that
Germany was about to issue an order for its to-
tai exclusion the President notified the imperial
government of his intention to appoint COM
mission to examine the whole subject and in
vited il to send experts hither to act with the
commission. The invitation was declined. The
President has since appointed the commission
then contemplated. 1t is composed of repre-
sentative of the New York Chamber of Com
merce, Professor Charles F. Chandler, a rep
resentative of the Chicago Board of Trade. E.
W. Blalchord, and two members nominated by
the Commissioner of Agriculture, F. ID. Curtis
of New York, and Professor d. E. Salmon, the
whole under the Craftsmanship of the Commits
sioner ot Agriculture. In point of scientific
competence and elevated impartiality the for
nation OF the commission peculiarly fits it for
the execution of its responsible task. To it
should belong in a great measure the
shaping of the policy of this govern
ment towards the pork question in its
domestic or foreign aspects. In view, therefore,
of the prominent part which the results reached
by the pork commission must necessarily play in
the further treatment of the question by the ex-
ecutive by Congress, the Secretary feels it in
cumbent upon him to advise that the President
recommend that Congress abstain from any inn
mediate legislative action until after the report
of the commission which is soon to be presented
before it
The Secretary further says that the question
to be carefully, frankly, and honestly met is:
Whether prepared meat products exported from
this country are injurious to the public health.
We believe they are not, and have so repre-
sented. Should it appear shat the meat products
of this ntry are as we believe them TO be. not
deleterioGs, butp' motive orLealth, it is believed
those friendly nations which put forth DEGREES
inhibitng the importation of our meats would
annul those decreases If, however, in the face
of clear proof, elected both at home and abroad,
that our products are free from disease, or com
municable germs of disease, proof of which
might be established to a demonstration by
actual inspection, as well as supported by a
knowledge of the precautions, which surround the
raising and packing industries here, any nations
with which we are on terms of intimacy and
amity should, by legislation, discriminate
against the trade of this country, rather than
protect the health of their people, it would then
be the province of the executive to call the at
tention of such nations to the provisions of the
treaties, with the confident expectation that
those treaties be respected 1t seems very plain
that our policy in any event should be to prove
that our meat products are wholesome. This
the absence of trichiniasis in this country. and
particularly in army and navy where meats
are constantly used, goes far to demonstrate