Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-23
Two MAY PLAY AT THE GAME
Uncle Sam Also Likely to Impose Certain
Obnoxious Tariffs.
GERMANY AIMS BLOW AT MEAT IMPORTS
Bill Practically Prohibits the En-
trance of the American Product
Trade War May Follow
Its Passage.
GERMANY AIMS BLOW AT MEAT IMPORTS

Copyright 1892 by Associated Press)
| BERLIN, April 22.-The meat inspection
| bill in the Reichstag and the Midland canal
! Dill IN the Diet have engrossed attention
| this week throughout Germany. The agrari-
ans and reactionaries 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 more time in the
| Diet than did the meat inspection bill in
the Reichstag, the first reading of the lat
| ter requiring two days, while the former
took five days. Both bills have gone to spe-
cial commissions, where they will probably
be much altered, possibly more than ac-
ceptable 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they may be withdrawn.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 Stun, also called
| the Coal King" and former bosom friend
OF Emperor William, a fact which is much
commented on in view of his majesty's
prediction for the project. The, govern
ment thus far does not expect 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 a point of aiming their remarks and
gestures at Prof. Stiles, the scientific at
tache Of the United States embassy, who
was present during the whole debate but
who has now started for home on account of
family matters.
Trichnosis was hardly discussed by any
of the two score speakers, and the charge
that American pork frequently contains
trichinae, which until year ago was con
sta rpitpratp1 in the Rpiplgtl9
and Diet, was not once made on the floor
of the house This shows that the irrefutable
scientific proof to the contrary advanced by
Prof. Stiles has been accepted as conclusive
by even the widest agrarians.
Army HccG Plays Part.
1t was also noticeable that the debate was
practically a repetition of statements made
to the United States army beef investiga-
tion, with the worst evidence and the bit
terest construction of all sorts of American
press comment. 1t may be assumed that
this will be the line Of argument followed
by the opponents of the bill, for the COM
ment of the press this week when in SYM
pathy with the agrarians, almost entirely
consists Of a reteration Of the charge. one
paper says tersely that this American meat,
which Germans are expected to eat, has
been found by the highest American in
vestigatlng commission unhealthy and even
deadly to Americas own army of strong
lusty men"
1t is out of the question that the bill
can pass in its present shape and it is
merely a question as to how much it can
be altered without becoming unacceptable to
the government Its opponents wish above
all the following changes; The adjustment
of the provision making a double inspec-
tlon compulsory, even on cattle slaughtered
for domestic use to put foreign meat on
the same footing as domestic meat in the
matter Of inspection; to take the execution
OF the provisions Of the bin out of the
hands of the BundesTath and fix them
bindngly in the bill, in order, as one
speaker said TO remove 1t from the diplo-
matte tiukerng field with foreign coun-
tries" II its opponents accomplish this as
seems to be likely, the bill will be unac-
ceptable to the government and viii un-