The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-14
FARMER MORTON H0WLS
He Is Opposed to Spending Money TO
Increase Our Trade Across the Sea.
Because the Exports of Inspected Meats Are Not
Large He breaches Against Continuing the
Work-Locbren's Latest Pension order.

WASHINGTON, July ia short time ago
Secretary Morton issued q circular ad-
dressed to the packers of meat. in which
he asked for views as to tho advisability
of diminishing the force of employees in the
Bureau of Animal Industry. and whether
or not the inspection of meat conducted by
that bureau at the expense of the govern
ment ought not to be conducted by the ex.
porters themselves. The criticism follow
ing this circular was to the effect that the
Secretary proposed to abandon the inspec-
tion of meat and thereby threaten the
stopping of expectation.
"I have not proposed the stopDage of
meat inspection" said Secretary Morton.
discussing the sub blect to-day. IF the la "
distinctly says that Ii shall 40 on no officer
has the power to abr0gate the laws enacted
by Congress. However. under that law
there is discretionary power which ell
aDleS the Secretary To reduce expenses. es-
pecially unnecessary ones. If the benefits
to be derived from the law are supposed to
DO In the direction of creating a demand
failure. The inspection of beef for export
began May Is. 1891. and the first shipment
of inspected beef was May %, four days
later. The microscopic inspection of
pork for export began June ~.
exported was shipped Sept. 5. 1891.
Since inspection began. up to May 81 last.
q period of q little more than two years.
We have sold to countries demanding q
certificate of inspection of the value of
S4,577,473. During the Same period We
have paid 20 micr0scOpists for salaries
alone. to inspect this same meat, the sum
of S224. .495. and before they could begin
their work the government laid ont 2S.475
for microscopes. The other incidental ex-
penses amounted to $685. SO that the to-
tai for ell expenses OF inspecting this meat
wae per cent. of the value of the entire
product sold by reason of the inspec-
tiOn. The question is shall the people be
taxed in this way TO assist a few ind ustries.
or shall those engaged In tho business OF
exporting stand the expense. The coun-
tries requiring this inspection and TO W which
tins three and half millions OF meat were
sent are Germany, France. Denmark, Italy.
Spain and Austria. Look at the other side.
During the same period We have sold to
countries not demanding this inspection
meat to the amount of more than S34. co.,
600. and that, toO without cost of o dollar
to the general public. 1t is not the inten-
ton of this department to do anything that
will cripple che business of the country.
but IL is the positive intention to do all
that can be done in the way of QUITTING oil
useless and ornamental employees and that
work will 90 on 60 long as nny such officials
are discovered"
Secretary Morton gave. as an illustration
of the way in which what he facetiously
grown. the facts in the case of the two sta.
tiOns at Omaha and Kansas CITY. At these
two houses the government had paid out
more than S24. 600 In salaries to inspectors
of meat for export and yet the reports of
the customs officers show that not one dol.
lars worth of meat has been exported by
the packers in these two cities. In reply
to the Secretary's letters the firms. along
with the others. say that their business
will be ruined If the inspection ia done
away with. as it would be impossi BILE for the
packers to have il done at their own ex penss
on account of the "present narrow margin
of profit" Up to May 81, last. Secretary
Morton had cut off from the pay rolls tn Q
names of 242 employees of the Bureau AMI
NAL Industry. and since then more have
followed, and the saving of expense thus
made amounts to more than $4,000 per
annum.
The chief of the Bureau Of Statistics re-
ports that the total value of the OK ports of
beef and hog products from the United
States during June, 1893. was Si0, 0,09S S37.