The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
TRICK OF GERMAN DEALERS
AMERICAN PORK REMOVED FROM
THE ORIGINAL PACKAGES
And Triehinixed German Meat Sub
stituted So as to Cast Discredit ON
the American Product.

ing the period from July /, lS96. TO Jan. 1,
1897. and seized by the authorities. will be
a sore disappointment to the Prussian gov
ernment and still more TO the Agrarian
party, both of which have all along con-
tended that the United States sends trich-
inized pork, despite the American officials
certificates to the contrary accompanying
each package OF meat In the Prussian
Diet as well i'm the ReichStag and in the
German press, and likewise in the official
correspondence between the government. it
has for years been emphatfcally stated
that these American meat certificates. tes-
tifying to the healthy condition of the ex-
ported pork, both canned and smoked or
salted, are not trustworthy and that in
many Instances trichina has been discoy-
cred by the German meat inspectors in
such certified meat after delivery here.
This claim has never been admitted by the
American government, but To all demands
to substantiate it with more than mere al
legation, the Prussian government has
turned a deaf ear, though repeating the
claim itself from time 10 time. A few
cases OF alleged American trichinized pork
which were cited by the Prusslan govern
ment ins support OF it's claims turned out
on investigation instituted by the Ameri-
unproven.
In one single case it was last spring es-
tablished beyond doubt that a lot of pork
sold in American packages did contain
trichina, but those packages had been sent
by the American exporters over a year
prior, and the fact that the marks on the
packages had been tampered with was
evident SO that the conclusion that the
German packer had simply used the Amer
lean packages second time to do up his
German pork in was inevitable In other
cases those former Prussian reports con-
tanned such meagre notices as THE three
cases of American trichinized pork in Co.
logne, The two cases ditto i'm Salsewed-
DELL" etc. etc, but when the attempt was
made TO identify those cases by demanding
the number Of the American packages,
such as accompany each American certif-
cate, such numbers could not be produced
The American embassy in Berlin thereupon
insisted that each case OF alleged American
trichinized pork hereafter be accompanied
in the official Prussian report with the
number of the American certificates, etc.
so that the shipper and the negligent
american inspector could be provided
against at home. Against this demand
Mhich the american government hoped
Noulu snow the utter groundleSsness of the
frusslan Claims, the Prusian government
made resistance i'm Various forms for some
length of time, but last spring at last they
We're induced TO promise TO comply with IL.
Instructions were issued by the Prussian
minister OF the interior to all the presidents
OF the government districts of Prussia to
add IN every instance where trichina had
been found in American pork, such details.
numbers of certificates and facts which
might enable the American government to
trace the offending shippers and officials ar
home And the forthcoming report is the
result OF this decree.
he ~ he
thirty-three government districts compris-
ing the Prussian monarchy have now
terror. In only five of these districts Is
there reports of alleged American trichin-
ized pork. but these reports. In disregard
to the instructions issued by the PrussIan
minister OF the interior, are unaccompanied
by the necessary proof which would estal,-
lish the fact that the pork in question
really of American origin and had been
seized I'm the original American packages
before others had had a chance TO tanner
with it. Hence even these cases. of which
there are thirteen all told. are worthless
and do not prove the trichinous character OF
american pork, even in "A single instance.
These thirteen cases are reported from
Muenster Westphalia. Coeslin. Pomerania
and Altona, near Hamburg. Each package
of imported American pork is accompanied
by register number and with certificate
from the American meat inspector at the
number.
In none of the above cases are these Num-
| bers given. The American embassy will
therefore. dispute that these cases OF
| trichinized pork are of American origin.
| So far, therefore. as this government re-
| port is concerned IL amounts to a vindca-
ton of American pork. This report. il the
American embassy can obtain H. will be
| ready for publication about March l or
| sooner. Meanwhile ii will go through the
hands of the chiefs OF the different depart
| and the Ministry of Husbandry. III the
American embassy is liable TO obtain this
| report ii will be sent to Washington. IL
| IS likely however. that the report, since il
| is so much more favorable 20 American
meat interests than was suspected. will not
be forwarded to the American embassy at
| all, as TX Is surmlsed on the PruSsian side
| that il would only furnish the American
| government the means TO dsprove the al
| legations made so often and persistently
| TO the discredit OF American pork. num-
! Der of statements have been made in the
| Prussian Diet TO the effect that American
! pork in Prussia was a detriment 10 public
health, and should be excluded. IL Is prob
able that the official report utterly His
| proved these allegations that the Radical
and Liberal factions I'm the Diet and
| Reichstag who favor the unrestricted
| importation Of American pork as a whole
some and cheap food FOR the masses In Ger
| many Will, as soon as the facts contained in
! the report are accessible To them, interpret
late the government as To the reasons for
restricting the importation OF American
pork by vexatious tarin regulations.
The predicted consolidation OF the Liberal
political parties in Germany has been seri-
executive committees of the various fac
| tions. The two radical wings. headed by
| Herren Richter and Rickert. have arrived
! at an understanding for united action in all
! the Reichstag electoral districts repre-
| sented by Conservatives, but are believed
/ TO he ready for change. The South Ger
man Radical parties are expected 10 enter
| into the union. The Liberal press and part
of the National Liberal press. such the
National Zettung and the Cologne Gazette.
are advocating union while the NosSlscher
Zeitung the Tageblatt and the Frankfurter
Zeitung enthusiastically support the
scheme. Since 1880 the Liberals have lost
much ground. but the leaders believe that
the reactionary agrarian policy OF the gov
ernment has since estranged many thou
sands OF electors and that the Liberals, IL
they unite. can now gain majority in the
Reichstag at the elections OF 1881.
The Reichstag for many years past has
adopted resolution providing for the pay
ment OF members. but the Bundesrath has
always annuled 1.-THE government has now
| intimated that IL Is prepared 10 support the
payment OF members II the Keichsta1