The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-11-03
RETALIATION.
How Germany May be Punished
for Excluding Our Beef,
ADULT6RATED VINES SENT HERE.

More of IL Certain Brand of Rhine Wine
Sent to Us Than the District Is Capable
of Producing Morton VIII
Recommend Inspection,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8-Secretary Nor
ton of the department of agriculture, Is
giving earnest attenuor4to the question OF
the inspection of foods exported and i'm
ported into the United States, and as
result may suggest some very radical steps
in his next report While the matter Is
one to which he has already devoted no
little consideration, the recent action OF
Germany in prohibiting the reception of
American cattle and dressed beef into her
ports has brought the system, or lack OF
system, to the front as a vital question.
Secretary Morton thinks the principle OF
requiring inspection of foods and drinks is
a wise one, If properly and efficiently en-
forced, but thinks also that the present
regulations governing commerce between
the United States and Germany, France
and other countries are in some respects
disadvantageous to American interests.
The principal importations from those
countries to America wine, brandies and
beer, come in without any assurance to the
buyers that they are obtaining pure ar
ticles, free from adulteration, beyond the
representation of the firms from which
| they are purchased.
In sneallingof the matter Secretary Nor
ton said;
| II nave decided to recommend in my
next report that an inspection of these i'm
ports be provided for. There should be a
microscopical inspection at the ports Of
entry to detect the presence of adultera-
tion, and the shipments should be in
spected also by officials of che countries
from which they come and certificates of
their purity furnished"
| In this connection the secretary called
attention to a report made TO the depart
ment of state some years ago by Consul
George Roosevelt, at Bordeaux upon the
adulteration of Bordeaux wines, in which,
after citing several methods of adultera-
tion and coloring which had come under
his observation, the consul gave it as his
Judgment that 90 per cant. of the wines
and brandies sent to thL United States
from that district We're faiSi1ed packed
under labels of brands of higher quality,
and adulterated with poisonous chemic..is.
He reported that the process known as
''wetting" was winked at by the customs
officers and chamber of commerce, when
resorted to by exporters, and suggested the
organization of a bureau of analysis al
ports Of entry. similar to those attached tC
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 observation
Of the large importation into the United
States of a certain brand of Rhine wine
which can be produced only in a small
tract of Germany, but of which this coun
try receives more than this particular trac
is capable of producing.
The impression prevails that Germany
action in excluding American meats is in
tended us retaliatory for the section Of tn
new sugar schedulewhioh displeases them
but the government officials, in talking o
( the matter, accept the assurances of tn
German ambassador that the prohibition
is based solely on sanitary grounds The.
could find no cause for complaint if tn
United States should decide to enforce
strict inspection of their wines for sani
tary reasons, and such II policy nigh
prove an effective method OF retaliation
one which would lead Germany to con
clude that American meat was wholesome