The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-14
BILL THAT Will HURT
MEASURE NOW BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURE RELATING TO
MEAT INSPECTION
ITS FEATURES EXPLAINED

of Swift & Co.'s Plant to st. Paul
If 1t Becomes a LaWA-Chamber
Thinks 1t Unnecessary and I'm
reasonable. saas 80
The bill providing for the state inspec-
ton of meat, which Is pending before the
legislature, came up for consideration at
meeting of the directors Of the cham
Der OF commerce yesterday. IA showing
was made that the bill, If passed. will re-
suit in the withdrawal from the state Of
the branch houses of Swift & Company
and all other houses doing an export
business 8-7
Under an act of congress there Is fed
eral inspection of all stock slaughtered
and all meat prepared for export and the
bill for state inspection would mean a
second imposition of fees upon the pack
ers, which, in the case of Swift & Co.,
would have amounted last year to over
$22,0OO. OF the fees 70 per cent would go
to the state inspector and but 30 per cent
to the state. Practically, the bill would
create new Office with a $40, 600 salary
to be paid by the packing houses, and all
this in the face of the fact that no other
state in the Union imposes the double in
spection of meat. 1q
Competition is so strong, 1t was claim
ed, that the margin of profit will not al
low the packing houses to pay this extra
fee. Especially is this true of the export
business. Letters and kilograms from
Swift & Co. left no doubt Of their inten-
ton should the legislature make the bill
law without modifying 1t in regard to
government inspected meat.
Gen. Mark D. Flower: president of the
Union stockyards, introduced the sub
ject before the chamber. After stating
that bill was now before the 'legiSla-
ture,; Mr.. Flower said:
II have become convinced that the
state needs a proper inspection law that
would protect the people against the
outrages of piratical butchers There are
scarcely any cities in the United States
that have submitted to greater outrages
than st. Paul and Minneapolis We have
become the dumping ground for the dis
eased animals from the ranges of the
West. E.-lg .-
1.-The present bill is not, however, what
we want. 1t is extravagant and goes
beyond it's real purpose. Swift & Co. and
other large packing houses submit to
United States inspection more rigid than
the state could possibly expect to pro-
vide. To compel them to submit to the
delay and expense Of a second inspection
by the state is not necessary for the
health of the people. ~
This point was raised before the state
board of health, when the bill was
brought to their attention, but the Sec
rotary and the board held that to re-
quire other packing houses to pay fees
of 10 cents per head for cattle and S
cents per head for hogs and sheep, and
to excuse Swift & Co., would be a hard
ship on the small butchers. They there
fore refused to exempt federal inspected
meat. They argued also that only the
meat which was to be sold In Minnesota
would have to be inspected under the
act. This is absolutely impracticable.
When Swift & Co., or any other packing
house, buys 5000 hogs they do not know
where a single ham is to be sold. Diff
ferent parts of the same animal are sent
to various parts of the country. Conse-
qIently all stock slaughtered by them
would have to be inspected twice.
Col. w. P. Clough did not believe that
1t was in the interest of St2ePaul or the
state to impose an unnecessary burden
on any industry. The only utility of the
double inspection would be to the official
who got the fees. aH.'
Gen. John B. Sanborn agreed that the
subject was very important and demand
ed the appointment of a special commit
tee by the board.
The following gentlemen were named
by the president to act as such commit
tee. working in cooperation with the
committee appointed by the Jobbers'
union: A. III. Lindeke, John A. stees,
Gen. John B. Sanborn, C. M. Griggs, H.
Holbert
This committee Is to promote the object
Of the resolution as framed by the board.
The resolution refers to the act entitled
an act to provide for the protection of
the public health by providing for the
inspection and condemnation of cattle.
sheep and swine slaughtered for the pur-
pose of sale for food
1t states that about 70 per. cent of all
the hogs and go per cent OF all the cattle
and sheep are slaughtered at South st.
Paul under United States government in
pect1on, and that this inspection is re-
CURED OF all companies which sell In the
markets Of the world; and that the in
spect1on Is so thorough as to preclude all
danger to health from these meats. and
the farmers and producers are benefited
by having the larger market for their
stock. Therefore it is
Resolved, by the board of directors of
the St Paul chamber of commerce, That
IL Is unnecessary and unreasonable to
Ssup9sct the slaughterers, packers or
with its attendant expenses, delay to
business, and other en1barra ssments
When the animals and meat products of
have been inspected BY the official insnec'
tors of the United States. under the rifles
ana regulations of the bureau of animal
industry.
The director also propose the follow
Ing amendment to section IS Of the bill.
embodying this change:
=, Noth1ng herein contained shall REQUIRE
the inspection Of any cattle, sheep or
s swine, or any beef pork. mutton, lamb,
ucts which have been inspected under fIe
laws, rules and regulations of the United
States. Provided, however, that any such
meats oHered Tor sale In the state Of Min
nesota shall bear the mark, tag or label
deslgnated by the regulations of the
bureau of animal industry of the United
states sta providing for such Inspection and
sale, offer for sale or purchase for f1u
man food any cattle, sheep or swine. or
any such meats after having been CON
e semi % py United States inspector,
than S25 nor more than $780, or by i'm
prlsonment not less than sixty DAYS nor
more than ninety days for each offense
The following resolutions were adopted
without debate:
Whereas, The ladies of st. Paul have
proposed TO organize a civic association
!or the purpose of encouraging a general
fore,
Resolved. That the chamber of com
merce cordially Endorses the movement
and commends It's purpose to the people
Whereas, Hon. Joseph A. jackson. OF
ST. Paul, has introduced into the state
legislature bill for the purpose Of hav-
ing al assessments for local improve
ments reported to the county treasurer,
for collection with the taxes on realty
thus relieving the many complications
winch occur with the various local as