Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-16
KANSAS CATTLE INTERESTS.
A Word With Our Law Makers at
Topeka,

Topeka.
| The local butchers of Pennsylvania, Or
more properly. speaking, Philadelphia,
some time since, in their own interest
and in opposition to western beef, started
an agitation in favor of local inspection
of all live cattle intended for food. The
cry was taken up by butchers in num-
Der of states, until in many instances
local authorities passed ordinances to
meet the demands of the butchers in that
particular. OF this last we have no COM
plant to make. If any community
| concludes that it is more to their inter-
est to support the local butcher than to
have cheap meat for their people, and
their people are satisfied with such an
order Of things, it probably does not be-
come any one else to complain. Such
community are simply paying their
good money to sustain what they hap
pen to consider an important local
interest.
But this question is liable to take
a wider scope Of far reaching
consequences. It is known that the
Pennsylvania agitation and the false
showings made in pursuance of sustain
ing that agitation resulted in the raising
of committee of inquiry by the United
States senate Now we learn that bill
is to be introduced in the Kansas legisla-
ture for the purpose of controlling the
matter as state matter and by the state.
If great care is not exercised the cattle
interests of Kansas will get such a back
set as will fairly make our farmers and
stock raisers groan. The first result will
be that eastern legislatures will at once
say that if Kansas as a state is afraid of
her own meats then the quicker we pass
a similar law the sooner will the health
of our people be protected. With such
laws on the statute books Of a majority
of the eastern states what would become
of the markets for Kansas and other
western cattle: There would be no
market, except as the beeves of the west
were sent around here and there in pairs
and dozens to the scattered local markets
which process would ruin the price of
live stock throughout the west to the
producer in freight charges.
This is not said as against the demand
for wholesome meats. Every member
of the Kansas legislature is intelligent
enough to understand the animus of this
inspection move. 1t comes of the agita-
ton of local butchers. So long as it is
left to individual communities of the
several states and is not made state
matter there is not likely to be any coun-
ter move made by other states, which
counter move would directly and inn
mediately effect the price of our cattle.
The cry of diseased cattle is for the most
part purely pretence. If there is any
ground for such cry then let the state
have law whereby state inspector
may be appointed for each packing cen
ter. But great care will have to be ex-
ercised or any law passed On the subject |
will prove a burthen to the Kansas
farmer and Kansas stock man, and live |
stock is the greateet source of income to
Kansas today. If Topeka or Atchison |
don't want the cheaper dressed meats of |
the Kansas City, Kan, packing houses
let them say SO through an ordinance |
providing for local inspection. That's
all proper if they so choose. Nobody |
will force their meats upon them. But |
don't permit any legislation which will
effect the great packing interest that the
state has at Kansas City, Kan, and
others which will become as great in the |
state, and all of which insure not only
better price to the farmer for his stock,
but rebound to the wealth and COM
mercial importance of the state.