The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-01
nAVN UUUInINE.
.. s. Government Isn't Going
to Pay the Slightest
Attention to the Decision of
Federal Court
In the Meat Inspection Case
From Kansas City.
TO KEEP INSPECTORS
At Work just the Same as
Usual.
If Uncle Sam Can Defy the
Courts Why Not All.

Washington, March 1.-The decision
of Judge Rodgers, at Fort Smith, Ark,
yesterday, holding the United States
federal meat inspection law to be uncon-
stitutional, apparently causes no con-
Germ to the officials of the agricultural
department, under whose administra-
tion the law is executed. They regard
the decision as one largely technical in
character, which will not affect the
practical operation of the law, when
applied to the inspection of meats in
tended for interstate traffic, or export to
foreign countries. Their chief regret
in the matter appears to be the failure
to convict Boyer of the DOld Packing
company, who was charged with at
tempting to bribe one of the meat in
spectOrs. 1t was the first case that
had been brought under the penal
clause of the statute and the officials
had hoped it would result in a convic
ton.
Secy. Wilson was about OF leave the
department for the cabinet meeting
when reporter called his attention to
the decision. He said: I'VE have
known for some time what the decision
would be but did not feel at liberty to
speak of it before it was rendered. The
case being a criminal one the govern
ment has not the right of appeal, the
constitution provides that no man shall
twice be put in jeopardy of life, or limb
AS the matter stands, we shall proceed
to administer the law just as if no de-
cisiOn had been rendered.
He referred the reporter to DR.. Sal
mon, the chief of the bureau of animal
industry, who has direct supervision of
this branch of the service, and who
said
1.-The decision, I think is rather tech
nical and Judge Rodgers is probably a
cOnstructiOnist of the law. We rely on
decision of the United States supreme
court for authority to show that the
government has the right to inspect
meats intended for Interstate shipment.
The intent of congress, when it enacted
this legislation, evidently was that the
animal was subject of interstate com
merce from the time it was shipped
from the state in which it was raised,
until reaching the destination for con-
sumption. There is nothing for the de-
partment to do in the case as it now
stands. If the meat is intended for do
mestic consumption entirely within the
| limits of the state, then the United
| States authorities cannot insist on an
| inspection, but just so soon as it passes
| beyond the borders, then inspection will
| be necessary, as this requisite is i'm
| posed by the requirements of the law.
| A large amount of our meats are now
| exported to Europe, and foreign coun-
| tries will not accept them if not proper
| " tagged and branded with the inspec-
| tors mark. Should the decision of Judge
! Rodgers be accepted literally by the
| proprietors of the packing houses and
| they should refuse to permit our inSpec-
| tors to do their work as heretofore, we
| shall, when shipments reach the state
| boundaries, simply refuse to give a
| certificate of inspection.