The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-07
ABOUT FOREIGN TRADE.
Secretary Morton Thinks We Cannot
be Too Careful.
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-SscreIary
Morton of the department of agriculture
furnished today the number of cattle ex-
ported to the United Kingdom Of Great
Britain during each year since 1874. to-
! gether with the value of the ca,tlr, in
| dollars, each year. It shows that the
United States sent into the United King
| dom of Great Britain only 123 fea6 OF
| cattle in 1874. while up to the present
date in 1894 the United States has already
furnished Great Britain 345,T34 head
The United States sent no fresh beof into
England until 1877. when 40 21O.990
pounds were sent, and returned 10 the
| farmers of this country A552.52S. This
year we have already shipped into the
United Kingdom 1873, 331 ,292 POUNDS of
fresh beef. which brought S16,G59,S l4.
Germany took no live cattle from The
United States until 1875 when that en-
pire received LILO head from the United
states. valued at $8I.64S. During the
year 1891 Germany received from the
United States its largest number of cattle,
T 5.223 head, valued at $427 $685. In 1888
Germany received only 419 head. valued
at s41,S00 Thus far in 1891 she has re-
| ceived S,O69 head valued at $2S5,7J2. Ger
many took no fresh beef from the United
States until 1887. when it took $3.50
pounds, and in 1894 all Germany took only
LOGS pounds OF fresh beef from the United
States. valued at $50
In view of the above facts Secretary
Morton says he does not think IL worth
while to exploit or magnify as matter
of any Importance the loss of the German
market to American cattle and meat pro-
ducers.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2.-Secretary
Morton Of the department Of agriculture
is giving earnest attention TO the ques-
ton of the inspection Of foods exported
from and imported into the United States
and as a result may suggest some very
radical steps in his next report. The re-
cent action of Germany in prohibiting the
reception of American cattle and dressed
beef into her ports has brought the sys-
tenn. or lack of system, to the front as
vital question.
Secretary Morton thinks the principle
of requiring inspection of foods and drinks
is a wise one if properly and efficiently
enforced but thinks also that the pres
ent regulations governing commerce be-
tween the United States and Germany,
France and other countries are in some
respects disadvantageous to American in
terests. The principal impOrtatons from
those countries to America, wines, BRAN
dies and beer, come in without any as
surance to the buyers that they are OBJ
tanning pure articles free from adultera-
ton beyond the representations OF the
firms from which they are purchased.
In speaking of the matter today, Secre-
tary Morton says:
"I have decided to recommend in my
next report that an inspection of these
imports be provided for. There should be
n microscopic inspection at the ports Of
entry to detect the presence of adultera-
ton and the shipments should be in
spectcd also by officials of the countries
from which they come and certificates of
their purity furnished"
connection secretary
attention to a report made to the depart
ment Of state some years ago by Consul
George w. Roosevelt, at Bordeaux, upon
the adulteration of Bordeaux wines, in
which after citing various methods of
adulteration and coloring which had
come under his observation, the consul
gave it as his judgment that 80 per cent.
OF the wines and brandies sent to the
United States from that district were
falsified, placed under labels Of brards
of higher quality and adulterated with
poisonous chemicals. He reported that
the process known as "wetting' was
winked at by the customs and chamber
of commerce, when resorted to by eX-
porters, and suggested the organization
OF bureau of analysis at ports of entry
similar to those attached to the French
service.
The secretary has reason to believe
that much OF this sort of imposition is
still thrust upon the American people.
One instance has come under his obser-
walton of the large importations into the
United States of certain brand of
Rhine wine which can be produced only
in a small tract of Germany; but of
which this country receives more than
that particular tract is capable of produc-
ing.
The impression prevails that Germanys
action in excluding American meats is
intended as retaliation for the section Of
the new sugar schedule which displaces
them, but the government officials in
talking of the m-tter, accept the aSsur-
ances Of the German ambassador that
prohibition is based solely on sanitary
grounds.
They could find no cause for complaint
If the United States should decide to en-
force a strict inspection of their wines
for sanitary reasons. and such a policy
might prove an effective method of re-
taliation, one which would lead Germany
70 conclude that American meat was
wholesome.
1t may be recommended by Secretary
Morton that the packers, whose meat is
inspected, be taxed to defray the cost of
inspection, as liquor and cigar manu-
facturers are taxed. The government has
been paying a quarter of a million a
year for this service and although Sec
rotary Morton has been able TO reduce the
expense materially, he thinks the system
might be made self-sustaining. rs he be-
lieves that the meat packers, rather than
the general taX-paying public, are its bene-
ficiaries In the past it has been largely
political institution, he asserts. and some
of the inspectors were not qualified for
their duties. Admissions to this branch
of the service are to be secured hereafter
only after the applicants nave passed a
rigid civil service examination. This rule
went into effect on the first of July last.
OF the first group examined but two as
pirants for office attained a rank which
viii secure them appointments. AL of
the inspectors who have been retained in
the service will be required to take the
examination when the eligible list con-
tains enough names To fill the places of
these who fail to pass The department
is meeting much trouble in it's efforts to
find men of the needful scientific require
ments for these positions