The San Francisco call., 1899-04-23

BERLIN. April 22-The meat in
spection bill in the Reichstag and the
Midland Canal bill in the Diet have
engrossed attention this week through
out Germany. The Agrarians and the
Reactionists oppose both measures, and
the ultimate fate of the bills will be
interpreted as evidence of the fighting
strength of the parties.
The canal bill occupied moCe time in
the Diet than did the meat inspection
bill in the Reichstag, the first reading
of the latter requiring two days, while
the former took five days. Both bills
have gone to special commissions,
where they will probably be much al
tered, possibly more than acceptable to
the Government, in which case they
may be withdrawn.
The ranks of the opponents Of the
canal bill were strengthened this week
by the accession of Baron Won Stumm
also called the Coal King, and former
bosom friend of Emperor William,
fact which is much commented upon,
in view of his Majesty's prediction for
the project The Government thus far
does not fear the entire failure OF either
measure.
Regarding the meat inspection BILL
which more directly touches American
interests, there were many interesting
features in the Reichstag debate The
leading Agrarians made point of aim
ing their remarks and gestures at Pro
fessor Stiles, the scientific attache of
the United States Embassy, who was
present at the debate but who has now
started for home on account of family
matters. TriChinosiS was hardly dis
cussed by any of the two score speak
,I,o A ,nr-ifs nrl-
frequently contains trichinosis, which
until a year ago was constantly reit-
Grated in the ReichStag, was not once
made on the floor Of the house. This
shows that the irrefutable scientific
proof to the contrary advanced by Pro
fessor Stiles has been accepted as con-
elusive by even the widest Agrarians.
1t was also notable that the debate
was practically a repetition of the
statements made to the army beef in
vestigation. with the worst evidence
| and bittereSt construction of all sorts
| of American press comment. The rep
utation of leading American packing
/ houses was torn to ShredS by quota
tions from American publications,
which were read in eXtensO or sum
married. by Herren, KlinkOwstrom,
Wangenfeim, Vielhaben, Sieg or other
AgrarianS. 1t may be assumed that
this would be the line of argument fol-
lowed b the opponents of the bill. The
comment of the press this week, when
in sympathy with the Agrarians, al
most entirely consists of a reiteration
of the charge, which one paper puts
tersely, that this American meat,
which Germans are expected to eat,
has been found by the highest Ameri-
can investigating committee unhealthy
and even deadly to Americas own
army of strong, lusty men.
1t is out. of the question that the bill
can pass in it's present shape, and it is
merely a question as to how much it
can be altered without becoming un-
acceptable to the Government. Its op-
ponents wish above all the following
changes: The abolishment of the pro-
vision making a double inspection COM
pulsory. even on cattle slaughtered for
domestic use; to put foreign meat on
the same footing as domestic meat in
the matter of Inspections; to take the
execution of the provisions of the bill
out of the hands of the Bundesrath and
fix them in the bill, as one speaker