New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-10
SECRETARY MORTONS TARDY ACTION.

Tho circular issued by Secretary Morton, OF
tho Donartment OF Agriculture, ordering that all
beef offered for expectation, whether fresh' salt
ed. canned, corned or packed, shall be accom-
papicd by the certificate OF an inspector OF lia'
department. showing that the cattle from when
tho meat was produced were free from disease
and that the meat was sound ana wnoiesoihe'
and that meat OF all other species OF animals
which is packed in barrels cases or other pack
ages shall be legibly marked so as clearly 10
indicate the species Of animals from which the
meat was produced, Is partial ana somewhat
tarlv compliance with the provisions or an
amendment of the meat inspection law or 1871,
which amendment was enacted into law on
March 9. 1890 Not only has the Secretary OF
Agriculture deliberatcd for the space Of seven
months before taking the first step toward en-
forcing the amended law but, as appears from
his crcular. he will not be ready to begin actual
operations for three months to come, and there
fore the order will not become operative until
January l. 1896. One reason for this delay as
the circular explains, is because lit is evident
that the inspection force OF the department
"must be increased before the affected trade
"can be properly accommodated ana the o'nei
rooson * that reliable evidence has been
submitted showing that large quah'i'! Vi
.insnected beef has been prepared for exporta-
.ion. the identity Of which has been lost IN the
"process of curing, and that the Immediate en-
"forcement Of this order would prevent .le i''
| "fment Of many contracts now ou's'ahu'"-'
! In other words the existing condl'loh III "n".''
os 10 the beef export trade is due 10 the oi'oi"'
| negligence Of the Secretary or Agriculture -
NAV be remembered that among MS carry He''
after assuming the duties or MS present oi"'e
was the dismissal Of large nuinDer vi lnspo'E
ors who were capable efficient ana lai'hi"'' w
| the ground that their services were not heeueu'
and that the payment of salaries Tor SUCH Sei
| vices was wicked waste or puphc hon'!'
From that time TO this Secretary Morton HIS
| taken advantage II not Of every opportunity III
least OF many opportunities 10 decry' ueriue
and ridicule the system OF animal ana meat III
| snections established and maintained Dy Ills
PREDECESSOR in compliance with law, ana NJ mas
! so greatly reduced and widely dispersed the OIL
| cial force engaged in the work or inspection
that II will require at least three months to pre-
mare for the first actual substantial compliance
| with n law that was enacted seven months ago
Within a much shorter time than that the Secre-
tory has proclaimed TO the country through the
| columns Of Administration newspapers that sucn
inspections as he now proposes were unneces
sorv and involved needless and wasteful ex
nenditurcs. and has pointed to the heavy exports
of cattle and meat products as proof OF his as
eortion He is now constrained not only 10 re-
worse his own official attitude, but also TO admit
chat no has not executed the law Of March 3
1901 and that n large quantity Of beef that
has heen prepared for expectation" has not been
so inspected as to comply with the requirements
Of the law.