Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-03-14

| tuieu tne MARKET. NOW Mr.. Edltor II
this gentleman would take the trouble to
look at the wholesale quotations Of prices
OF Chicago dressed beef, or go around to
some of cur refrigerators be would find
that good western dressed beef is selling
from 81 to u cents per pound
by the side. In regard to prices
now apd when home.reiaed cattle
raled the market, I would ssy that
have taken the trouble TO look over
some of my old hooks and hnd that in
the winter at 1882 sold sirloln steak OF
from % to 25 cents per pound; to-. day it
II worth from rs to IS cents; rump steak
20 to "a cents per pound. to day IL Is
worth is TO 19 cents; ronnd stock l6 10
10 cents per pound, to-day 1t Ia worth
from 12s 10 II cents; rib roast 20 to 25
cents, 10 day you can buy as good as
there is in the market for is c-nts per
pound. Ia The winter OF 1899 good
pieces Of plate and brisket sold for 10
cents per pound, to day you can buy as
good az ever knife wRs put into for five
cents per pound. Now how much more
! per cant the hatcher making now, with
mo prires have above quoted on Obi
cSgo heef at seven cents per pound by
the side, tbnn he was in 1882 on horne
dressed beef ct nine cents by the side
answer no more.
| Now / would ask in conclusion who it
| is that ia at the head OF all this talk about
UNHEALTHY and diseased western beef. Is
IL the poor Iabcring man who works in
our ship-yards, and foundries or on oar
public highways for SO or 81 per weekp
Is it our mechanics (who when hrme
raised cattle ruled our markets) had to be
content with some OF the poorer cuts, hut
wko now can buy as good roast for 10
cents per pound, as he could then for 16
cents, or is It our richer class of citizens
that have asked for such legislation?
don't believe it is. l dare soy mot petit
tion signed by buyers and consumers of
beef in our city, has ever been presented
| TO tho Legislature OF this State. praying
that body TO enact such law, that would
so seriously interfere with the healthy
competition in q commodity that enters
more largely into every household, than
any other article Of diet.
Peunsylganis and Delaware, two states
that have furnished their quota of sons
OF toll, who have emigrated to the west
ern borders, to better their condition,
now come forward and ask their lsgisla.
tive body to enact laws that viii stop
them from putting their products in our
markets, not because they sre anxious
about the public health, but because the
farmers of Pennsylvania and Delaware
with their high-pricsd lands, cannot COM
pete with the farmers of the west in cattle
raising. And 1t ,is a faw farmers
and few other ifmen who would
like to have monopoly of handling and
killing our native cattle (and not the con-
sumors) that would like to exclude west
ern dressed beef from coming into our
market. Now I hope il the Legislature
does anything in regard to this beef busi-
ness they will provide for an inspector to
inspect some OF the miserable old COWS
that are sold on our curbstone market by
farmers, who neither pay taxes nor
lloense TO help support the expenses Of
our city government, in opposition to
or business men who pay taxes and q
license on every dollar worth OF business
they do. CHAMBERS E. KEMBLE.
March LIST, 1889.
AN oUrBAaE UPON livery CONSUMER.
Editor GdEtts: noticed in Nthe
report of the Legislative proceedings
the introduction of bill with the follow
ing title: "An act for the protection of
the public health by promoting the
growth and sale Of healthy cattle, sheep
and swine within the State"
Section makes il s'unlawful to sell,
Offer or expose for sale in this State any
beef, mutton or pork for human food
which has not been inspected alive within
this State by duly appointed inspector.
Any person violating this law shall be
nf1i1tx1 NJ r.Sa ox.l a,,h. A..
fine of $50 or imprisonment,h notwith.
standing he might offer for eale beef,
mutton or pork perfectly healthy when
alive and of excellent quality when
slaughtered.
Section 2 would necessitate the ap-
pointment of an inspector in nearly every
small town in the state and in Winning
ton, probably several. Then the COM
pensation for the inspection, viz: 10 cents
for each beef, three cents for each calf,
lamb or hog, is inadequate. Where would
it be possible to find persons capable OF
MAJ ing inspections, who would be willing
to do it foi the amount specified doubt
the inspector general being obie to tind
enough competent deputies within the
State to fill the positions.
Section 8 says ''this act shall not apply
to farmers who slaughter cattle. sheep or
swine Of their own raising or feeding for
human food" This section exempts the
farmers from auy penalties. no matter
what the condition Of the animal may bs
at the time of its slaughter. Yet il q
bntoher or dealer in rleats should pur-
chase one of these same animals aud
Slaughter it without lisp sction, he would
be subject to hne of $50 or imprison-
ment. This is what call Gloss iegisla.
tion, pure and Simple. From this section
OF the bill are we TO INFER that the best,
sheep or swine raised, fed or slaughtered
by our own farnisrI are OF supsrior
bfeed or quality Or is it that they are
moro honest than people Of the same
oiass residing in other states Os that
they would net offer, for consideration,
meat that il nnwhoiasome regret to
say the latter suggestion is hardly borne
out hy my personal observation.
Section exempts from inspections
"nlents that are smoked, sailed or
canned" Does smoking, salting, or
canning maat free it from disease?
think not; in fact know it does not.
Now, whilo have every Rympathy for
our farmers, and would earnestly favor
any legitimate legislative ensotments that
would in any way benefit them as a com.
munity, can but condemn this bill as |
piecs Of mischisvous legislation for the
following reasons The title is ambigu- |
Gus; a thorough inspection of the meat
cannot be made while the animal is alive;
several diseased conditions cannot, with
be asoertained until after
1t would raise the price OF |
animal food, which would be a hardship !
to our working peopls; and it diserimi-
mates in favor of one GLASS and to the in
jury of another.
If we are TO have an inspection let IL |
frst be upon the cattle that are brought |
into the State TO be fed or fattened, so as