Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-05-22
IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
The Minnesota Meat Inspection
Law Unconstitutional

Tn0 MINNESOTA Moht lnbpecUloK
Law Unconstitutional.
The Law Intended 20 Restrict Commercs
and Therefore Invalid-The Mormon
Church Loses Its Suit Over tho
Edmunds Law.
WASHINGTON, May 20.-The Supreme
Court OF the United States has rendered
an opinion holding unconstitutional this
law Of Minnesota requiring all fresh
meats sold In the State to be cut from
animals slaughtered within the State
and inspected twenty-four hours before
slaughter. The case is entitled state
OF Minnesota against Henry y. Barber
and is OF great interest to dressed beei
men, who win the case.
Barber was convicted OF selling fresh
beef slaughtered in Illinois and which
had not been inspected before slaughter
as required by the law OF Minnesota.
He alleged that the law was an uncon.
stitutonal interference with Inter-State
commerce.
The court in an opinion by Justice
Harlan says: "1he enactment of a
similar statute by each one OF the States
composing the Union would result In
the destruction OF commerce among the
several States, so far as such commerce
is involved in the transportation from
one part OF the country to another OF
meat designed for human food and en-
! H. g.. 10
yides that all cattle, sheep and swine
shall be inspected within twenty-four
hours before the animals are slaughtered
and that (if such be the fact) the inspect
ors shall certify that the slaughtered
animals were found TO be healthy and
At for human food. The sale OF meat not
taken from an inspected and certified
animal is forbidden under penalty OF
fine or Imprisonment. As the inspection
must take place within the twenty-fonr
hours Immediately preceding the
slaughtering the act, by its necessary
operation, excludes from the Minnesota
market practically all fresh beef, veal,
mutton, lamb or pork--in whatever
form and although entirely sound,
healthy and fit for human food-taken
from animals slaughtered in other
States; and directly tend to restrict the
slaughtering OF animals whose meat is
to be sold in Minnesota for human food,
to those engaged in such business in
rlsat Stdte.- >"
"When 10 this Is added the fact that
the statute, by its necessary operation,
prohibits the sale in the State Of fresh
beef veal, mutton, lamb or pork from
animals that may have been inspected
carefully and thoroughly in the State
whore they we're slaughtered, no doubt
can remain as to its effect upon COM
merce among the several States.
''It will not do to say--certainly no
judicial tribunal can with propriety as
sume-that the people OF Minnesota
may not with due regard to
their health, rely upon the inspec-
tions in other States OF animals
there slaughtered for purposes OF human
food. II the object of the statute
had hoen 70 deny altogether to the citi-
zens Of Other States the privilege %
selling within the limits OF Minnesota
for human food, fresh beef, veal, NUT
ton, lamb or pork, from animals slaught-
cred outside of that State, even those
who are free from disease when slaugh-
tered, and to compel the people of Min
nosota desiring to buy such meats, Ell
ther to purchase them, when desired for
their own domestic use at points be-
yond the State, that object is attained
by the act in question. Our duty TO main
.
to shut our eyes TO these obvious and
necessary results OF the Minnesota
statute. II this legislation does not
make such discrimination against the
products and business Of other States in
favor OF the products and business OF
Minnesota as interferes with and bur
dens commerce among the several
States, IL would be difficult to enact
legislation that would have such re-
suit
"The Judgment OF the lower court is
affirmed"
THE MORMON CASE.
WASHINGTON, May 2O.-The Supreme
Court of the United States has rendered
an opinion of vital interest TO the Nor
mon Church in the suit Of the Church Of
Latter Day Saints against the United
States, which came here on appeal from
the decision of the Supreme Court OF
Utah in favor OF the United States. The
court affirmed that Judgment
The case grew out OF the passage Of
the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy law by the
Forty-ninth Congress. This law among
other things dissolved the Mormon
Church corporation, and killed
its charter, directed the appoint
ment OF reeeiver TO wind
up its affairs and escheated to the United
States all the real estate owned by the
Church in excess Of $4,000 which was
not on the date Of the passage OF the act
held for purposes OF worship or burial.
When the United States, under the
terms of this act, began proceedings to
confiscate about $3.50, 900 worth of prop
erty belong ng to the Church, the Nor
mons Immediately entered suit TO have
the Edmunds law declared unconstitu-
tional.
Marriage Freaks.
KINGSTON. n. v, May eO.-While the