The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-13
MANIFESTATION.
History OF the Bill which Il Causing Com
m,nt-Governor McKinney's Position.

History OF the Bill which IL Causing 'o"'
m,nt-Governor McKinney's Postum"
The bill passed at the last session OF ,ne
General Assembly OF Virginia, en'''''u
Gan act to prevent the sale of un"io'eso'',
meat- slaughtered outside Of one bundIev
miles from the citv of Richmond, has cauHeu
more widespread and diversified con,'n nv,
than any other act passed by the las' 'c. 80,
latlre. 30 much has been salu an" ',t
Ten on both sides Of the question, so li.."
that seemed at least 10 have the 7.""'l
m carelessness on its face, tha' n,
hrief outline of the history OF the Dni'
ard the causes which led 20 it- fas7a3o-
MIGHT not be out Of place az tniS P'l ,t'.t
iuncture of affairs. when the iIei IN n, a.
operatiOns of the hlll are ue'nH '. ~, So,
oinaciaIlv due 10 the Executive Oh Tue ''''e'
III be should be heard from IN the pfeiii-
w. because. in some portions OF the STATE
sou,o of the Governors warmest supporters
and staunchest friends have seen mt, through
the columns Of their papers, 10 express sur
nrise al the Governors action IN approving
the bill.
ABOUT ITS ORIGIN.
In the early days Of the late session, Mr.
Dummy offered a bill having for us OBJECT
substantially the ends set forth IN the pres
emf act. The primal cause for this Dili was
10 be found in the clamor raised py inc
farmers and cattle growers OF the STATE j.
will be remembered that when the Farmers
Assembly OF Virginia convened here,a SNORT
time before the Legislature met, that IL was
clearly shown that the Farmers AssemD!
had been swallowed by the FARM
ers' Alliance. secret orgaIiza-
tjon entered into by men only
who were practical farmers. actually en-
oaged i'm the cultivation OF the soil. THESE
Gentlemen had been invited 20 participate
/ I'M tine deliberations of the Farmers Assem-
/ biv which was not q secret organization
and were accorded all the privileges OF
membership that were enjoyed by member.
of the assembly. So that the acton Oh tne
Farmers Assembly in open session IN the
hall Of the House Of Delegates, became
virtually the action OF the faIm'
ers' Alliance. AZ any RATE "na'
ever was done certainly received the sane
ton of the powerful Alliance, its members
holding an Overwhelming majority Of votes
| AT tnis session Of the Farmers Assembly
resolutions Of the strongest character were
endorsed calling for reform IN the nethous
of state legislation. SO far as the farming
interests were concerned, and demand
| inc that more attention be given m
legislation to agricultural needs. one
of the members In merry speech
declared that if the members-eleet oil the
the Alliance would see 70 IL that mei
legislature failed TO respond 10 these calls
who would listen TO their appeals must be
sent 40 the legislature These resolutions
were strongly urged and were adopted D,
the Farmers Assembly. II was In response
no this sentiment that Mr.. Dupuy offered hi'
bill. which was appropriately referred.
| IT sTRFNGTUFNs AND GROWS.
As strange as itmay appear, Mr.. Dupuy'i
bill created but little comment, and nothin-
more was heard Of the meat inspection law
Notwithstanding there was lethargic spell
i'm legislative matters, which lasted about
ten davs. until Mr.. Downing, OF the county
of Warren. offered the bill, which after
wards became law, providing for the pre-
vontiOn of the sale Of unwh0lesOme meats
In fact. it was not until after the Gov
ernor had signed the bill, and an
effort was made in the Senate e
have IL repealed. that the subject wa
commenced 20 be ventilated by the press
and the salient features of the act assalled
Then it was that the press took up the mat
ter. and the people became familiar witt
what had been done, in order 20 satisfy tn
farmers and beef growers. 1t was charge
that the measure was a protective one, an'
was In opposition 90 the national principle
of Democracy. that it was class legisla
ton, and a hardship on the poor or WORK
ing classes. and Governor Mckinney iOun
himself receiving criticism of caustic char
acter from some of his best friends.
] THE GOVERNORS VIEWS.
In order 10 give the Governor q chance
be heard ON this SUBJECT, The TIMES had
talk with him yesterday, and here Is aDou
the gist of the views expressed by him IN De-
, gard 10 the act of assembly about which 81
much has been said. The Governor think
that the principle of inspection is as old "a
the commonwealth itself. The reason TO
inspection lies in the effort 10 Gull the gool
from the bad. Tobacco is inspected, flour D
inspected, whiskey, fish. &c Who are th
beef eaters, why the people, good ana BAD. ah
theprinciple OfinspectlOn, simply guarantee
pure wholesome meat % all. In fact, un
der the inspection no hardship was Wr0ugh
such as is 10 be seen i'm the killing OF dis
eased cattle, more than 100 miles from Rich
{ mOnd. Very frequently, perhapsli might D'
the case, that very fat beef would De seilel
with that cancerOus disease Of the head
that is common i'm some localities, aht
the minute the fact is discovered
il that beef is killed. dressed and sent O
market. seeds OF disease might be spread
broadcast 10 was the duty of law maker
90 prevent this, just as much as % try an'
prevent poisoning. murder, and Othc
crimes by passing laws 10 punish an "h'
undertake 20 poison and murder lhes'
laws were intended 10 protect persons an'
property. and there was no protective tarii
or anti-DemOcratic principle i'm the inspec
ton law.
The principle Of inspection is perfectly
lust one, and by no manner OF means new
one. In the case Of live cattle brought o
Richmond. within radius OF hundred
miles, who are the inspectors W hy, every
body is. The purchaser can see TOT hihsel
what he is buying. II any Of the cattle have
the murrain or the pleurO-pneumonia, th
man who buys can Judge for himself, Du
suppose the cattle are slaughtered and Gu
up. who can tell whether the meat is sOunl
or mott This is made the duty OF the in
| spectOrs-just the same as in the case o
bad tobacco. bad fish. or flour. Now. as q
+ the power Of appointing the inspectors, th
act gives that power 90 the people, Tor Do
Judge can appoint unless twenty men %
Responsibility petition him 90 do so, and cen
tainly no more impartial authority could ID
found 10 exercise any power than that vest
ed in the judiciary. There can certainl
be nothing but the spirit of the trues
JeiiersOnian Democracy in this. TIA
bill as presented 10 him was opel
4 TO criticism in one particular am
the Governor. when asked by those VIII
favored the bin in the Assembly, urge
this: He thought the charge OF one cent TO
much. and insisted that IL should be re
duced 10 one-iOurth OF one cent; but th
members Of the Legislature did not see d
10 agree with him i'm this conclusion. and Ok
bill passed, with the charge named aDOV
incorporated in It.
GIBBS-SKELTON.
A Quiet and Pretty Wedding al the Mon
umental Church.