The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-21
MEAT INSPECTION BILL,
Baron Won Herman Thinks Some Modlflca-
ton Thould Be Made.
OPPOSITION LIES WITH AGRARlAN MEMBERS
which Was Brought About by the
Exclusion OF Certain German
Goods from the United states.


Herman, agricultural expert OF the Ger
man embassy, Is just back from two
months visit to Germany, during winch
period he had an opportunity to observe
the progress of the meat inspection OH
in the relchstag and to note the develop
ment of the opposition by the agSarians'
Baron Won Herman talked quite freely on
these non political questions to a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press.
When asked as to the status VI the meat
inspectlon bill. he said: THE bill was
brought before the reichstag last SPRING
but a strong opposition developed among
agrarian members on the ground that the
government measures were too friendly
10 the United States. You will remember
that provision was placed in the agricul-
tural appropriation bill passed in this
country giving the secretary authority TO
exclude such exports as he CO lsldefeo Va :
furious to health. This provision was d.
rected against certain German products
such as toys, which, 1t was sail, might ne
Injurious to health, because Of the paint
ON them. At all events, this provision
caused bad feeling in Germany an. Lace
II more difficult for the gove-nineI, 10
secure the passage of the meat lnspectIon
bill. 1t was referred by the reicaStaS 20
committee, which had full pow1r t. &C.
termlne what course was to be adopted.
The committee reported adversely, wH'ch
was equivalent TO refusal by tue iclch-
stag to take any action.
1T may be brought forward again. as
there really ought to be sume modification
of the present law. But it is too early to
say what the future plans will be, as the
reichstag is adjourned until November
and everything Is at a standstill through
the summer. 1t Is probable, however.
that the government will consult with the
leaders and see If some understanding can
be reached on the measure"
Concerning the agrarian movement
Baron Won Herman said: ut is very
interests Of the agricultural class of Ger
many. The sugar question is essentially
an agrarian one Our sugar interests are
seriously injured by the tax and counter
vailing duties in the American tariff law
and the Agrarians hold that this not only
prejudices their industry but that 1t Is
o. discrimination against them They feel
it most because it touches their pockets
and there is no other labor, but above
this consideration the system Is not right,
being discrimination. They contend
that the question should be dealt with on
broad grounds.
IN the final analysis 1t was brought to
/ this simple question: Shall there be a
development of the cane industry OF un-
civilized semi-barbarous countries or
shall there be continued use
OF the sugar producers of civilized
countries, which are able to buy
something in return? AS the United
States does not produce the sugar actually
required by consumers supply must
come from some outside source. 1t is tc
the interest of the country to buy of the
/ German producers rather than to turn
to the cane industry of Java. for example
when Java can give little or no return tol
the purchases made Of her.
! Moreover, II should be understood that
| the German government derives $4,000,
! 600 out Of the taxes on the sugar indus
| tries of the country while ii pays back
as export bounties only about S6,000,O00
so as a matter of fact the bounty comes
/ out of the pocket of the sugar produce.
| instead of the treasury, as 1t is part oil
the tax which producers have paid on his
industry. 1t Is somewhat in line with
the American revenue tax IN mixed -four
which is refunded to the prodIcer in case
/ the -four is exported"
On the whole the baron seems to think
that these pending questions can be solved
4 to the satisfaction OF both SIDES and thai
a public understanding II the constitu-
/ ton involved will solve half the diff
Guilty. Both nations, in his Judgment, ars
too far advanced to not see that their in
terests lie in the development II their al
ready extensive trade and not, as be says
sin building up Chinese wall against
the outside world"