Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-05
MAY USE Rls POWER.
Is Possible Mckinley VIII Order Ger
many to Stay Ont,

1nduy ~ SNdy Ouk.
New York, May 31.-The Tribune's
Washington special says: There Is
much excitement among stock rails
ers and farmers of the western states
on account of the meat inspection bill
now pending in the German parlia-
ment, and it is reflected here in solie-
itude, expressed by the senator's ana
representatives of those states as we'll
as by officers of the agricultural de-
partment. 1t has also found express
sion in a bill offered at the request of
the National Live Stock association in
the house by Mr.. Bailey, of Kansas,
and referred to the ways and means
committee.
The bill provides FOR an imposition
OF discriminating duty Of ten per
cent on all importations from Ger
many. Of course there can be no &C.
ton on it at this session, and, more
over, the proposition to impose dis
eliminating duties for any object is
now generally regarded with favor,
or, as a practicable necessity to meet
the commercial conditions arising
from the unfriendly legislative, or
other action, by foreign governments,
congress has already enacted all that
appears needful is the opinion OF the
secretary of agriculture and other
members of the administration. BY
section of the act passed in 1890, the
president is authorized to suspend the
privilege of importation of articles TO
be designated by him from any
country which should impose unreas-
enable or unjust restrictions on I'M
portations of products Of the United
States.
1t was ten years ago, and the ALL
thority has never been revoked. The
act proved effective and beneficial in
indirect ways, however, especially as
an aid to negotiations for the remov-
al of such restrictions by several for
eign countries for American products.
By an act approved March l, 1899,
the authority of the secretary of agri-
culture to cause authorizations of food
to be investigated was increased and
widened SO as to require him when
ever he has reason to believe that ar
ticles are being imported from for
eign countries which are dangerous to
the health of the people, to make q
request of the secretary OF the treas
ury for samples from the original
packages of scuch articles for inspec-
ton and analysis, and the secretary
of the treasury is authorized to open
such original packages and deliver
specimens to the secretary of agri-
culture for the purpose mentioned,
giving notice to the owner or con-
signee of such articles. who may be
present and have the right to intro
.duce testimony, and the secretary of
the treasury shall refuse delivery to
the consignee of any goods which the
secretary of agriculture reports to
him as having been inspected and an
alyzcd and found dangerous to the
health. This provision is re-enacted in
the agricultural appropriation bill
which was approved by the president
last Saturday.
1t will be observed that the powers
of the secretary of agriculture under
this provision are very great, and it
is understood Investigations are now in
progress to determine whether or not
certain imported articles are danger
Gus to the health. OF course, if the au-
thority is invoked it will be as re-
spects all countries, and not against
one alone. unless that happens to be
the only one exporting dangerous arti-
cles to the United States. If the Ger
ann bill shall become law it will
serve at least one purpose which Amer
lean exporters of meats have long de-
sired to have accomplished, by substi-
tuting one general law operative thru
out the German empire for several
state laws, and differing from one an
other, and each operative in a single
state only. The law i'll Prussia or Ba-
yaria or any other political division OF
the empire will be the same as in all
other political divisions, thus prevent
ing trouble and confusion, which here
tofore has been unavoidable as well
as vexatious.
William .Jacohv WAS rim over nv :,