The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-03
WANTS A NEW DEAL
SECRETARY MORTON LOOKS INTO
FOREIGN IMPORTS
Finds no Government Inspection by
Foreigners of Their Exports and
Will Recommend That They
be Welcomed OH American Shores
With a Microscope.

| WASHINGTON, NOV. , - Secretary OF
Agriculture Morton is giving earnest at
tention 10 the question of foods exported
! from and imported into the L uited States
aud as result may suggest some very
radical steps in his next report.
The recent action OF Germany in pro-
hihi' ing the reception of American cattle
and dressed beef into her port has brought
the system, or lack Of system, TO the trout
as vital question. Secretary Morton
/ thinks the principle OF requiring inspec-
ton of foods and drinks is a wise one
| II properly and efficiently enforced,
| but thinks also that the pres
ent regulations governing commerce
between the United States aud Germany,
France and other countries are in some It.
/ spects Instantaneous to American i'll
! terests. The principal importations from
| those countries to America, wines, bran
| dies and beer, come in without any assur-
ance to the buyers that they are oDtain z
pure articles, free from aduiteratiDn, be-
You'd the represen tations OF the firms from
which they are purchased.
In speaking of the matter today Secre-
tary Morton said: Il have decided to
recommend In my next report that an
| Inspection OF these imports be provided
Tor. There should BE- a microscopicai
Inspection at the ports OF entry to detect
the presence of aduiteration and the ship
ments should be Inspected also by officials
Tor the country from which they came aud
certificates of their purity furnished.
10 this connection tue secretary called
attention TO a report made to the depart
mert OF state some years ago by Consul
George W. Roosevelt, at Bordeaux, upon
the adultsration of Bordeaux wines, in
4 =
aduI'eration aud coloTing which had
come under his observation, the consul
gave 1t as his Judgment that 90 per
cent OF the wines and brandies sent
To the United States from that
district We're faisited. placed under
labels of brands OF higher quality and
adUlterated with poisonous CHEMICALS. He
reported that the process known as wet
ting, was winked at by the customs Of
ilciais and Chambers of commerce, when
rrsorted to by Exporters, and suggested
The organization OF bureau of analysis al
ports OF entry similar to those attached u
the French service. The secretary has
reason TO believe that much of this sort Of
imposition is still thrust upon the Ameri-
can people. One Instance has come
under his observation, If large i'm.
portation into the United States
OF I. certain brand of Rhine wine
which can be produced only in small
tract OF Germany, but Of which this couu-
try receives more than that particular
tract IS capable of producing. Germany,
therefore, could find no Cause for COM
plant If the United States should decide
To epiorce strict inspection of their wines
for sanitary reasons: AMI such policy
might prove an effective methods of retail
alton, one which would lead Germany To
conclude that American meat was whole
some.
IL may be recommended by Secretary
Morton that the packers, whose meat is in-
spected, be taxed to defray the cost of in
spection, as liquor and cigar manufactur-
ers are taxed. The government has been
paying quarter of million year for
his service, and although Secretary Nor
ton has been unable To reducs the expense
materially, he thinks The system might he
made self-sustaining, as he believes the
meat packers, rather than he general tax
paying public, are its beueticiaries.