The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-02
Attorney General Griggs Has Advised
the Department OF Agriculture
to Continue Its Work.
DECREASE In PUBLIC DEBT
DINGLEY TARIFF LAW NOW MAKING
A FAVORABLE SHOWING.
Senator FairbanIs's Efforts in Behalf
of indianapolis Paving COM
panies Successful.

WASHINGTON, March LIN speaking to-
day of the decision of United States Dis
trict Judge Rogers, at Kansas City, in
which he held in effect that the present
system of government meat inspection was
unconstitutional Attorney General Griggs
said that his advice to the Agricultural De-
partment officials would be to continue the
system as at present until all of the facts
In the case could be presented to the court
The attorney general had no criticism TO
make of the way the indictment was drawn,
but in the light of the opinion, itself he was
satisfied that the indictment failed to bring
out the important fact that the cattle
slaugk tered were purchased in the West,
and, although the commodity took another
form it was, in fact, in transit to another
market without the State, and, therefore,
not only a subject of interstate commerce
but actually in the channels of interstate
commerce. The failure to set out this fact
In the indictment the attorney general said
may have Influenced Judge Rogerss opin-
ion. In any event the department will dis
regard the opinion, for the present, at
least.
Officials of the Agricultural Depart
Is executed, regard the decision as one
largely technical in character. which will
uOl dilSCl Inc pIdCllCd1 OpG-IilOu VI lHO
law when applied to the inspection of meats
intended for interstate traffic export to
foreign countries Their chief regret in the
matter appears to he the failure to convict
Boyer of the Dold Packing Company, who
was charged with attempting to bride one
Of the meat inspectors 1t was the first case
that had been brought under the penal
clause of the statute, and the officials had
bnn hot result n n conviction
Secretary Wilson was about to leave the
department for the. Cabinet meeting when
reporter called his attention to the decision.
He said: 1--WE have known for some time
what the decision in the case would be, but
did not feel at liberty to speak of it before
it was rendered. The case being q criminal
one the government has not the right OF
appeal, and the Constitution provides that
no man shall be twice put in jeopardy OF
life or limb. AS the matter stands we shall
proceed to administer the law just as II no
decision had been rendered" lie then re-
ferred the reporter to DR.. Salmon, the
chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry,
who has direct supervision OF this branch
of the service, and who said:
''The decision, l think, is rather techni-
cal, and Judge Rodgers is probably close
cisions of the United States Supreme Court
for authority TO show that the government
has a right to inspect meats intended Tor
interstate shipment The intent of Congress
when it enacted this legislation evidently
was that the animal was a subject of inter
state commerce from the time it was
raised until reaching the destination for
consumption. There is nothing for the de-
partment to do in the case as it now stands.
If the meat is intended for domestic con-
sumption entirely within the limits of the
State, then the United States authorities
cannot insist on an inspection, but just as
soon as it passes beyond the borders, then
inspection will be necessary, as this requi-
site is imposed by the requirements of the
law. A large amount of our meats IS now
will not accept them if not properly tagged
and branded with the inspectors mark.
Should the decision of Judge Rodgers be
accepted literally by the proprietors of
packing houses, and they should refuse to
permit our inspectors to do their work as
heretofore We SHALL when shipments reach
the State boundaries, simply refuse. to give
a certificate of inspection"