St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-03
Opposition DemoraliZed by
Petitions and Finally
Stampeded.
A Powerful and Lengthy De-
Tense Of the Bill by Sena-
tor Goodrich.
Senator Durant Makes a Wig
opouS Attack on ConSti-
tutional Grounds.

vote OF Inirty-tnree yeas 10 SIX lays.
The opposition was completely demon
allied. When the senate assembled, at
10 O'clock, petition after petition in
favor of the bill was handed to the desk,
signed by many thousands of agricult-
wrists and others throughout the state.
Blue Earth. Yellow Medicine. Renville.
Scott, Olmsted. Mcleod. Washington,
Freedom. Goodhue. Benton. Brown,
kandiyohi, Steele, Watonwan and LIE
Sueur counties sent up voluminous pc
petitions. The presentation of these
petitions had visible effect upon the
subsequent discussion of the bill. There
was not the slightest disposition to kick,
senators being disposed to bow to the
VIII of the people. The supporters of
the measure saw this. and said lit
tie in the debate. Senator Goodrich was
the only legilator to make lengthy de-
Tense of the bill. delivering the most
powerful speech Of the day. Senator
Durant fought hard against the bill,
taking his stand solely upon constitu-
tional grounds. But his strenuous
efforts were unreWarded. Senator
Hoard secured the elimination of an
important section, that relating TO
canned and cured meats; but it is, diff
cult to see how. under the provisions
of the measure, these meats can be
prohibited from entering the state.
The bill merely deals with ''the sale of
any fresh beef, veal. mutton, lamb or
pork" and there would appear nothing
gained by Senator Hoard's amendment.
though several attorneys conceded that
it made the bill unconstitutional. There
was a general feeling among senators
that the bill should be passed as an eX-
pertinent. If it failed. the law could be
repealed two years hence. A large
lobby was on the floor of the senate,
and the gallery was filed with sup
porters Of the bill. Occasionally, these
individuals were nothing 10th in making
their predictions known.
Senator Goodrich amended the bill by
making it obligatory in cities and dis
cretionary in villages. boroughs and
townships of the state. The amendment
was accepted by Senator Scheffer, and
Senator Goodrich recommended the
passage of the bill. There were cries
of second the notion" and Chairman
Dodge at once called for division,
shutting out Senator Durant. who vainly
endeavOred to secure the recognition of
the chair. According to the viva voce
vote the motion was carried: but Sen
ator Durant pointed out the absurdity
of shutting off all debate, and it was
tacitly agreed that the vote be recon-
sidered and the bill debated. Senator
Durant delivered a carefully prepared
speech against the bill. His strongest
opposition to the measure was upon con-
stitutiOnal grounds. He argued that it
was unavoidable. and that the burden to
be placed upon the people in the shape
of inspectors was more than they could
bear. He elOquently continued:
~ claim that this bill emanates from
the slaughter houses, the packing
houses and the butcher interests of this
vicinity. For the first time in the his
tory of municipalities, this class of men
seek to establish a sanitarium for the
benefit and protection of the public
health. l imagine that can see mag
nifcent sanitarium established where
the slaughter yards have been. with
its dome. its turrets. its towers. its
minarets. glistening in the rays of the
sunlight and surrounded by halo of
health: and [ can imagine | see coming
the vast herds that feed on the plains of
Alaska, headed by the bulls of Bashan,
the rear being brought up by the
golden calf of Israel. | see also coming
from the valleys and mountains of
Colorado and Montana huge fiocks
of sheep. headed by the ram, as in the
days of Abraham: and | see the swine
herds of Iowa rushing forth with an in
tereSt unprecedented. actuated, no
doubt, by the same spirit that the devil
drove their ancestry into the sea. A
moments respite, and find it is all
dream-a sausage-maker's dream! [
look over the tield-the Sanitarum has
Disappeared The herds of Nebraska
are feeding peacefully on their plains;
the descendants of Abraham'S ram still
inhabit the valleys and the mountains
of Colorado and Montana; the swine
herds Of Iowa give grunt of Satifae-
ton. rejoicing while they themselves
object to the butchers knife, the
constitution of the United States has es-
capped the same casualty.
Senator Durant concluded that it
would be folly to pass the bill: it would
damn that legislature in the eyes of the
people of the state. Mr.. Durant scarce
ly became seated when Senator Good
rich took the floor and poured a food of
eloquence into the chamber. 1t was an ell
Oquently WOrded and argumentative adj
dress why the bill should be made law.
The main points are reproduced:
The voice Of the people of Minnesota
demands the passage of this act. Not
the butchers of st. Paul. but the people
of the state at large, and | have no hes
itation in saying that the people will
approve our action in passing this bill.
Is this bill unconstitutional? 1t is said
that the constitution of the United
States provides that there shall be COM
merce between the several states of this
Union. and that no state can check that
commerce.; that as a principle is true,
but what have the states reserved to
themselves? The states reserved to
themselves their own police regulation.
and If we pass this bill l claim it TO be
solely as police regulation. We have
right to exclude things from this state
which come for the consumption of the
people, and which are bad and going to
injure the health of the people. 1t is a
prerOgative we haye-to say that no
impure provisions shall be shipped into
this state.
Inspection is absolutely necessary
before the death of an animal. The
very best physicians say you cannot
tell after the animal Is killed and the
meat dressed; you cannot tell whether
the blood was vitiated or not.
Senator Hayden interrupted the tenor
OF Mr.. Goodrich'S Orat0ry by interpola-
ting: Il introduced bill, which you
slaughtered. making competent men
inspectors OF beef. If this bill is passed
you will have lot of lawyers put in as
inspectors" Laughter
Senator Goodrich was somewhat riled
at the Interpolation. and retOrted that
lawyers were sometimes very good in
spectors. He felt that he could inspect
an animal. If he saw an animal and
looked into its eyes he could tell whether
there was any disease.
Il never knew successful lawyer
farmer" once more put in Senator Hay
den.
Webster was ore replied Senator
Goodrich.
''0rder. ORDER" demanded Chairman
Dodge: and thence onward Senator
Goodrich proceeded without Interrupt