The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-11-03
INDIRECT RETALIATION.
How Germany May be Punished
for Excluding Our Beef.
ADULTERATED WINES SENT HERE.

More of n Certain Brand of Rhine Wine
of Producing-secretary Morton VIII
Recommend Inspections. ..s-...
WASHINGTON, Nov s.-Secretary Nor
ton, of the department OF agriculture, Is
giving earnest attention to the question of
the inspection OF foods exported and i'm
ported Into tho United States, and as o
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 vital question.
Secretary Morton thinks the principle Of
requiring inspection Of foods and drinks is
wise one, if propcrl, and efficiently en-
forced, but thinks also that the present
regulations governing commerce between
the United States nrd Germany, France
and other couutries are in some respects
diSadvantny yeous TO American interests.
TIE principal importations from those
countries tc America, wne, bTandies and
beer, come tn Nithout any assurance to the
buyers that they are obtaining ppc mr.
ticles, free from adulteration, beyond the
representation of thu firms from which
they are purchased.
In speaking of the Iuntter Secretary Nor
ton said:
81 have decided to recommend in my
next report that ~ Inspection OF these i'm
ports be provided tot There SHOULD pe q
m,cr's'rpical inspection at the ports o.
enufy IN dete It tho presence OF adu;tera-
tior, and tho Shipmeuts should be in
spected also by officials at tat countries
from which thay c1nny and certificates of
their purity furnished
ia this connection the secIetary called
attention 80 report nnuo to the depart
ment OF sIHte some ycnrs ngo by Consul
George Roosevelt at Borjraux upon tho
adulteratou OF Bordeaux wiurs, in which,
after citing several methods OF adultcra-
tion and colorlug which had como under
his observation. tie consul gave it as his
Judgment THAI 90 per cent of the wines
and btnhdcs sent to tho nited States
from that district wero fulsifcd, packed
under labels of brands Of higher quality
ana adrlteratod with poisonous chemicals.
He reported that the PROFESS known as
"wctting' was winked Mt hy the customs
officers and chamber OF cn.,merce, when
resoited to by exporters, and suggested THE
Organization of a bureau Of analvsis al
ports of entry, similar to those attached TO
to the French service
The secretary has reason 70 bn.ieve that
much of this sort Of imposition is still
thrust upon tho American people. One
instance has cotIc under his observation
Of the large Importation into the United
States of II certain brand Of Rhine wine,
which can be produced only in small
tract of Germany but of which this colin-
try receives more than THE particular tIaot
is capable OF producing.
The impression prevails that Germnny's
action IN excluding America meats is in
tended as retaliatory for the section OF phe
new suatr schedule which displeases them,
| but til government officials, In talking CT
the tcr, accept the assurances Of the
| Grrnuu ambassador that the prohibition
| is tasad solely on sanitary grounds. They
| couid an1 no cause for complaint If the
| uh,te States should decide to enforce a
stric', inspection of their wines for sani-
tary IpaScus, and such policy fright
\ prove an effective Inett od Of retaliation,
one which wD:.ld lcal Germany to con-
clude that American meat was wholesome.