The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-23
THAT MEAT INSPECTION BILL.

THAT MEAT INSPECTION BILL.
There is disposition among all legis-
latures to load down the statute books
with useful laws. Each member thinks
that to acquit himself with credit and
win the approval of his constituents, he
must urge the passage of number of
bills. When these bills are harmless as
well as useless, the public pays the ex-
pense and makes no remarks-it is part
of the legislative farce. But when pro-
posed law is vicious as well as useless, it
is the duty of the public to protest againt
It's passage. Such a one is the so-caIIed
meat inspection bill Is. F. i25).
Let is be understood that the G / o b e
is in favor of any sensible measure to
promote the general public health. Any
law that will reasonably tend to this end
without working hardship to individ-
uals or industries will at all times re-
ceive the support of the G l OF be.
The meat inspection bill as proposed in
the senate is unnecessary and vicious 1t
is unnecessary, because the United States
inspection is sufficient to proSct the buy
er of Minnesota meat slaughtered at the
packing centers and the present sanitary
laws, if enforced, are adequate to protect
the consumer who buys from local
butchers.
It is vicious because it imposes a ruin
eous tax upon an industry that is now
under ample inspection by United States
authorities and which is compelled to
compete with similar industries in other
states where no such tax exists. 1t is
vicious in the further fact that it pro-
vides for a system of inspectors with
fees which would amount, it is estimated
during a year to the immense sum of
$4,000
The bill is ostensibly in the interest OF
public health, but behind the mask Is
seen the features of the "nigger in the
woodpile''-the scheme to make several
rat jobs for political retainers.
The ultimate effect of such law would
be to drive from the state the entire
slaughtering and packing industry
There is not state in the Union which
yresumes to duplicate the federal inspec-
Zion with another by the state and
charge the expense to the killing and
packing industry.
The foreign buyers of our meats would
not recognize state inspection. The meat
exported could in no way concern the
Of
the law would compel the packers to pay
a fee for the privilege of doing business
in the state
Packers from other states who now
ship their goods into Minnesota would be
obliged to pay an inspection fee although
the meats had been previously passed
on by United States inspectors.
1t is estimated that the small packers
and butchers in the state would have to
contribute to this hungry horde of in
spectors $4,000 year for the privilege
of buying and killing local cattle, sheep
ana hogs. This tax would he deducted
from the price of stock, thus placing the
burden on the producer The absurdty
of the measure appears when we remem-
Der, that it is this very industry-cattle,
sheep and hog raising-which the state Is
interested in fostering.
So far as the products OF the larger
packing establishments are concerned,
the public health is amply protected by
the rigid government inspection This is
trlle also of the meats shipped into the
state from other packing centers. II the
health laws governing the local packer
and country butchers are not now suf-
ficiently stringent to prevent the market,
ing of injurious meats, let them be SC
amended as to meet the requirements of
public safety. But under no circum-
stances let there be created any more fee
offices to be farmed out among the pub
lie leeches, that they may suck the blood
of the producer. The Globe is of the
opinion that the senate Meat inspection
Bill should be defeated