The Indianapolis journal., 1899-04-18
And "Therefore Would Have Less
Their PRODUCTS Were Admitted.
FEATURES OF THE DEBATE
POSADOWSkY-WEH SPEECH ON
THE MEAT-INSPECTION BILL.
Prof. Atwater and Colonel Weston
Again Before the Wade Court Of In
quiry-Canned Beef Nutritivc.

BERLIN, April 1.-THE Reichstag to-day
began consideration of the meat inspection
bill with small attendance. Surprise was ex-
pressed at the fact that the minister of the
interior Count Posadowsky-W Wehner, who
alone represented the government, contrary
to custom, did not make an Introductory
speech.
Herr Gerstenberger, Centrist, who opened
the debate, opposed the bill on the
ground that it did not meet the re-
quirements of the case. He said the gov
ernment ought not to be overinfiuenced by
fear Of reprisals, adding that If German
meats could not be treated on an equal foot
ing with foreign imports the latter should
be excluded. He then moved to refer the
bill to a committee.
Count Klanickewstrom, Conservative, also
contended that foreign meats should be
subjected to the same conditions as German
meats, adding that his party absolutely de-
manded double inspection of home and
foreign meats. 1T was impossible, the
speaker claimed, to give the Bundesrath full
power TO entirely exempt American firms
from the regulations, and he asked the gov
ernment to give definite assurance that no
concessions to foreign meats were contem-
plated. The statements of Count Won
KIanickewstrom were applauded by the Ag-
rarians especially when he declared that in
this question Agrarian interests in the east,
west ana south were identical, and also his
assertion that the real authors of the bill
were not the officials of the ministry Of the
interior and Of agriculture, but those of the
foreign Office. When he quoted American
papers, In support Of his contention that
American packers had not scrupled to poi
therefore.
would have much less scruple in poisoning
Germans, there was much applause, even
from the galleries.
POSADOWSKY-W SPEECH.
Count Posadowsky-W -Wehner excused the
absence of the usual Introductory speech by
saying the views of the government were
set forth In the bill ard the ministers, he
added, were under no obligations to defend
against attacks bill which was nygienic
veterinary and police measure intended to
prevent the spread of disease, and the gov
ernment, he pointed out, undoubtedly pos
sessed the right TO apply to foreign meat
any control exercised over the meat product,
as within the domain of international do
main they were masters in their own house
The minister also said he was surprised the
provision for the compulsory inspection of
home killed animals had been attacked by
the Agrarians The question, the minister
asserted, did not concern the Killers family
alone but the laborers he employed and the
only burden imposed upon the farmers was
the rejection of portion OF the meat for
merly eaten Experts had proved, he con-
tended, that since the inspection had been In
force the appearance of parasites III the hu-
man brain had been less frequent, and If
equally stringent regulations were applied
to imports as were enforced at home, it
would amount TO an absolute prohibition
1t was clear preliminary inspection abroad
was not feasible as the inspection of meat
already cold gave no results.
Relative TO the suggestion of an eventual
absolute prohibition OF meat imports, the
minister also said the question arose to
whether Germany could dispense with such
imports Meat imports, especially preserved
meats played an important part in the food
supply of the people and there was, more
over, less danger in preserved meat. Fin
ally, the minister said the Prussian govern
ment had not found the existing regulations
adequate and, therefore, had applied to the
imperial government and fully approved the
kill. Moreover. the government reserved
tae right of extending the more stringent
regulations TO foreign countries at any time
the measure, mostly pleading against the in
spection of home-killed meat and demand
ing the same treatment for foreign as for
home meats, Count PosadowskyWeh
said the lower house of the Prussian Diet
was unanimously OF the opinion that the in
spection should be extended to home-killed
meat, as obligatory inspection had notably
improved German meats. He also said the
control of the importation of meat would
be thoroughly adequate and would exclude
unfair foreign competition. The house then
adjourned.
The impression prevails that the Reichs-
tag bill. in its present shape, will not prove
acce ptable, as 1t is looked upon as favoring
foreigners. The bill will be debated to-mor-
row and will then go to the committee.
where the real fight will begin. 1t is ques-
tionable whether the government will ac-
cept the bill if it is greatly amended. The
German Agricultural Council to-day pre-
seated a petition TO the government point
ing out that several features of the bill were
injurious 10 the interests of agriculturists
and demanding its withdrawal.
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