The record-union., 1899-04-18
MEAT INSPECTION BILL.
CONSIDERATION OF MEASURE
BEGUN IN REICHsrAG.
That It Cannot Pass in
Its Present Shape, Being Looked
Upon as Favoring Foreigners.

BERLIN, April 17-The Reichstag
to-day began the consideration of this
meat inspection bin with a small at
tendance Surprise was expressed ut
the fact that the Minister Of interior,
Count Pasadowski- w elmer, who alone
represented the Government, contrary
to custom did not make an introduce
tory speech.
Herr Goistenberger, Centrist, who
opened the debate, opposed the bill on
the ground that it did not meet the re-
qllirements of the case. He said the
Government ought not to be over inf. u
lenced by fear or reprisals, adding that
/ if German meats could not be treated
on an equal with foreign imports, the
latter should be excluded.
He then moved to refer the bill to a
committee.
Count on Klanickewstroem, Conserv-
lative also contended that foreign meats
should be subject to the same condi-
tions as German meats, adding that his
party absolutely demanded an inspec
tion of home and foreign meats. 1t
was impossible. the speaker claimed, TO
give the Bundesrath full power to en-
tirely exempt American firms from the
regulations, and he asked the Govern
ment to give definite assurance that NO
concessions to foreign meats were con-
itemplated.
The statements of the Count were ap.
plauded by the AgTarians, especially
when he declared that in this question
/ Agrarian interests in the. East, West
and. South were identical.
When he quoted American papers in
support of his contention that Ameri-
can packers had not .scrupled to poi
son the American army, and therefore
would have much less scruple in poi
soning Germans there was much ap-
plause, even from the galleries.
/ The impression prevails that the
Reichstag bill in it's present shape will
not prove acceptable, as it is looked
upon as favoring foreigners. The bill
will be debated tomorrow, and then go
to the committee, where. the real fight
will begin. 1t is questionable whether
the Government will accept the bill If
not greatly amended. 80
The German Agricultural Council to-
day presented petition to the Govern
ment. pointing out that several article
of the bill were injurious to the inter
ests of agriculturalists, and demanding
withdrawal.
Count Posadowsky- -Wehner excused
/ the absence of the usual Introductory
speech by saying the views of the GOV
ernment set forth in the day, and the
Ministers, he added, were under no OBJ
| LEGATIONS to defend against attacks a
/ bill which was a hygfenic, veterinary
and police measure, iritehdedi to prevent
the spread of disease, ahd the Govern
ment. he pointed out, Undoubtedly pos
sessed the right to apply to foreign
meat any control exercised over the
home product, as within the domain OF
internal administration they were mas
ters in their own house.
! The Minister of the Interior also said
he was surprised that the provision for
the compulsory inspection Of home
| killed animals had been attacked by
/ the AgrarianS.
Finally, the Minister said the Prus-
sian Government had hot found the
existing regulations adequate, and
| therefore had applied to the Imperial
| Government, and fully approved the
/ bill. Moreover, the Government re-
served the right Of extending the more
stringent regulations to foreign coun-
tries at any time.
| After further discussion for and
/ against the measure, mostly pleading
against the inspection Of home killed
meat and demanding the same treat
| ment for foreign as for home meats,
Count Posadowsky5W Wef1ner said the
4 lower house of the Prussian Diet was
! unanimously of the opinion that the
| inspection should be extended to home
killed meat, as obligatory inspection
| had notably improved German meats.
| He also said the control of the i'm
portation of meat would be thoroughly
adequate and would exclude unfair for
eign competition.