Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-25
INSPECTION AVID EXCL Usros.

some Pertinent RemnrRs ON Inter-
ference with the Importation OF
ltecf.
A recent issue OF the New York ZYmss
said:
One Of the bills for the suppression of
the dressed beef trade that were devised
at the convention In st. Louis has been
introduced In the Connecticut legislature
and referred to the Judiciary committee.
II provides that beef cattle shall be in.
spected on the hoof in the state, the pre-
tence being that such inspection is re.
quired for the protection Of the public
health, and that considerable quantity
of the dressed beef brought from the
west in refrigerator oars is taken from
diseased animals. On Wednesday last the
committee heard arguments for and
against this measure. Only one person
appeared in support Of the bill, and he
urged that II should be passed because il
would shut out dressed beef alleged 10
be diseased, and because the exclusion of
western dressed beef would help the
farmers in the state who have cattle to
sell.
On the other side appeared William II.
Brewer, professor of agriculture In the
Sheffield Scientific School Of Yale Uni.
yersity, and DR.. Lindsley, for several
years the secretary of the state board
Of health. These gentlemen declared
that the sanitary inspection in Chicago
was thorough, and, rs one Of the local
papers says, THAT from q Sanitary point
OF view western DIRE ssed beef is marketed
here in better condition than Connecticut
beef"
1t is stated that Connecticut raises only
one-twentieth Of tho beef that is con.
sumed by the people of the state. The
enlistment Of such a law as is proposed
in the pending bill would stimulate home
production in some measure, but IL the
estimate given above is correct one IL
would be necessary to import at least
hree-tourths of tho beef required, in the
form Of live cattle brought from the far
weat on the hoof. 1t is we'll Known that
the transportation CT cattle from the
western plains to the Atlantic seaboard
atfects iniuiiouslY the quality OF the beef.
That the careful sanitary inspection of
beef cattle is OF the highest Importance
for the preservation OF the health of
consumers has been clearly shown,
but 1t does not appear that such local
eaoPeNNANa % WtuAh bb IGQulEbu Nv
the provisions of the inspection bills
pending in the legislatures of several
states would be more searching and
trustworthy than that which Ia made by
| state and municipal authorities in the
yards where the western dressed beef is
prepared for shipment. All cattle that
come into the stock-yards at Chicago are
subject to inspection by officers CD.
polluted by the state Board OF Live Stock
Commissioners, and also by officers Of
the Chicago health department. The
Inspection bill now pending iu the legis.
lssure OF Minnesota il almost worthless
80 far as local inspection is concerned,
by the admission of its author, whose de.
bcription OF il is reported by St. Paul
paper as follows: Z" 1t will in no way az.
feet the farmer or producer, for the rea
son that the health officers of each town
can appoint one or more in. psctors.' In
other words, every safmer can be his own
inspector"
IL it can be shown that the slauRhterers
and shippers In Chicago and Kansas City
send diseased dressed beef to the east, the
shiI ments of this beef will fall of with.
out the discouraging irflasncs OF oxolu.
sion laws. The people will not buy
western dressed beef If they shall become
! convinced that the zee as u HiM enaansor
sAeif health But Il haa aps tten shown
tWt ne 3raased bsef is objectionable ON
1 sanitary groun1s. The movement for
the exclus on OF it has not besn made by
sanitarisns, but by the local butchers,
who have sought, and to some extent pro.
cured, the assistance OF farmers in the
several states who raise cattle for the
local markets. The real ground on which
the bills are supported is the commercial
interest OF persons interested in the local
beef trade, and they pretend that they
are moved by desire 10 protect the pub
lie health. 1t will not be denied that
sons OF the opponents OF the dressed.
beef trade have grievances with respect
to which they may justly complain, but
the remedy should be sought in some
other way. II there is an oppressive
combination OF the slaughterers and
shippers it should be attacked openly and
directly.