The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-18
UNDER FIRE In REICHSTAG
Attack on American Neat Interests
EyOkes Applause.
The Inspection Bill Not Likely to Receive
the Approval of the Body. as Being
Framed for the BENEFIT
of Other Nationk

Berlin. April 1.-THE Reichstag to-day
began the consideration of the meat in
spection bill. Surprise was expressed at
the fact that the Minister of the Interior.
Count POsaGoWsky-Weh who alone
represented the government, contrary To
custom, did not make an Introductory
speech.
Herr Gerstenberger, Centrist, who open-
ed the debate, opposed the bill on the
ground that IL did not meet the require
ments Of the case. He said the govern
ment ought not to be oyer-influenced by
fear Of reprisals, adding that if German
meats could rot be treated on an equal
footing with foreign imports the latter
should be excluded. He then moved to re-
Ter the bill TO a committee
Count Won Kalinckewstroem, Conserva-
tive. also contended that foreign meats
should be subjected TO the same conditions
as German meats, adding that the party
absolutely demanded a doublS inspection
OF home and foreign meats. IL was i'm
possible, the speaker claimed TO give the
Bundesrath full power to entirely exempt
American firms from the regulations and
asked the government 10 give definite as
surance that no concessions TO foreign
meats were contemplated.
Tne statements OF Count Won KalincK-
eWstrOem were applduded by the Agrari-
ans, especially when ne declared that in
this question Agrarian interests in the
east, west and south were Identical and
also his assertion that the real authors of
the bill We're not the officials of the Min
istTy of the Interior and of Agriculture
but those of the Foreign Office. When he
quoted American papers IN support of his
contention that the American packers
had not scrupled to poison the american
army, and therefore would have much
less scruple in poisoning Germans. there
was much applause, even from the gal
leries.
The impression prevails that the Reich
stag blil in its present shape Will not
prove acceptable, as it is looked upon as
faVoring foreigners. The bill will be de-
bated tomorrow and will then go TO COM
mittee. where the real fight will begin. 1t
is questionable whether the government
will accept the bill if il is greatly
amended
The German Agricultural Council TO-
day presented a petition to the govern
ment, pointing out that several features
OF the bill were injurious to the interests
OF agriculturists and demanding it's with
draWal
Count PosadOwsky-Weh excused the
absence of the usual Introductory speech
by saying the views OF the government
were set forth in the bill. and the Min
listers, he added, We're under no obligl-
tiOns 10 defend against attacks a bin
which was hygienic, veterinary, and no.
lice measure. intended to prevent the
spread of disease, and the government.
he pointed out undoubtedly possessed the
right 10 apply 10 foreign meat any control
exercised over the home prodlct. as
within the domain Of internal administra-
ton they were masters in their own
house.
Relative TO the suggestion Of an
eventual absolute prohibition Of meat i'm
ports, the Minister also said, the question
arose as 10 whether Germany could dis
penSe with such imports. The Prlssian
government had not found the Existing
regulations adequate and, therefore. mad
applied TO the imperial government and
fully approved the bill Moreove-. the
government reserved the right of extend
ing the more stringent regulations to for
eign countries at any time.
Count POsadowsky-We saII the
lower house Of the Prussian Diet was
unanimously of the opinion that tho in
spectiOn should DC extended 10 lone
killed meat, as obligatory inspection had
notably improved German meats Re also
said the control of the importation of
meat would be thoroughly adequate and
would exclude unfair foreign competition.