St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-20
AGAIN MEAT INSPECTION.


No organ of paternalism could
have the real satisfaction the
GLOBE would feel in seeing the
growth and firm establishment of
any branch of industry in this city
or it's vicinity, if the enterprise were
the result of the combination of in
dustry, energy, prudence, manage
ment, qualities that only can build
enduring foundations for any bust
ness. No paper will go farther than
will the GLOBE in giving to such
all the aid and encouragement in
it's power.
But the GLOBE will go farther
than the farthest in opposing any
industry that comes whining about
a competition it cannot meet unless
the strong arm of the nation or
state is stretched out to shelter it
from competition that renders it
Improbable, and it makes no differ
ence whether the industry is local
or national, nor whether it asks to
be sheltered by federal tariffs or
when the request for the states
interference is open and frank the
opposition becomes more rigid
when it comes cloaked under any
specious pretense of care for the
public health or other welfare.
For these reasons the GLOBE op-
poses the measure providing in
spection of all meats slaughtered
or sold in cities of $4,000 and more
population. 1t comedies that it is
the right and duty of any community
to take precautions to guard the
health Of the public. This is but the
use by all of the instinct of self
preservation inherent in the indi-
vidual. We concede that it is the
right of the state to ascertain if
and to punish the sale of unhealthy
food. But that is not the purpose
of this measure. The means taken
to secure the end are not such as
would be used if health were the
sole purpose. The machinery is just
that that would be devised were it
intended to serve the ends of some
private interest.
We do not question the sincerity
Of the motives of some who are sup
pOrterS of the measure. They have
been impressed by the clamor, so
suddenly and suspiciously raised,
about the unhealthiness of the
meats offered for sale. Doubtless
there is disease among cattle.
Doubtless there are men so reck-
less and rapacious that they would
slaughter and sell such animals,
knowing them to be diseased But
such action is a crime and punish
able as such. The criminal arm of
the law could be more successfully
invoked for its suppression than
would be an army Of inspectors The
facts, though, are all against the
assertion of the increase of disease
among cattle. The death rate is
lighter and diminishing, and the
average duration of life lengthen-
ing, thing impossible if people were
fed diseased meats. On the other
hand, the conditions under which
cattle are bred, reared and fed are
lettering. We may we'll suspect the
sudden concern for the public health
of men who have behind it a pri-
vate interest to be served by the
means taken to guard it.
The papers supporting the meas
ure are brutally frank in their dis
closure Of the motive behind the
measure. They say that the present
packing industry is Improbable;
that it's stockholders are putting up
a heavy deficit. If the measure is
passed it will be profitable Why
and how? Improbable because
some one is giving meats cheaper
than they can or will. If the bill
will help them it can only be, then,
by making meats dearer. In other
words, these packers ask the legis-
lature to use it's power to make
dearer the meats of the people of
these two cities-for it affects only
them-that a few men may make
profits impossible under open COM
petition. The GLOBE is too sin
cerely and loyalty Democratic to
give its assent to any such PROPOSE
ton.