New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
THE VIEW OF TIE srocK RAISERS.

Mr.. Cowan, of Texas appears TO be man OF
good sense As attorney for the American
National Livestock Association and the TeXas
Cattle Raisers' Association, he appeared before
the House Committee on Agriculture yesterday,
and the burden of his argument was prolnptneSS
in the passage of an effective meat Inspection
bill. Undoubtedly the cattle raisers OF the
country as well as the meat packers, are sur
fering from the present revelations. A concerted
effort has been made on behalf of the packers
to start cry against inspection among the
farmers and sraziers. 1t has been partly sue
cessfuI. though it may be noted that many
cattle raisers have been prompt to resent such
appeals and to support the Presidents policy as
the one most likely in the long run TO promote
the prosperity of their industry.
Mr.. Cowan and those whom he represents take
this intelligent view of the situation. 1t is a
pity that some of the packers are not equally
keen TO see their own interests. 1t must be
evident that every days delay means loss to
both raisers and packers, and that the people.
not only of the United States, but of the whole
civilized world, who consume meat products
will be satisfied with nothing less than the
thoroughgOing inspection of the meat packing
business from the hoof TO the can. Mr.. Cowan
naturally urges that the government should
assume the cost of the inspection, but he prefers
the prompt passage even of a law assessing 1T
on the packers TO delay. 1t is probably true
that the packers, il the exercise of their well
understood methods would shoulder off the cost
of inspection upon the cattle raisers if a head
charge was made for the inspection. But it Is
vastly more important TO cattle raiSerS TO COM
mamd the confidence Of consumers of meats
and be able to sell their cattle at good price
than 20 save the eight cents a head which is
named as the maximum charge for the most
S11pprViSjnn AS n 9ODTODria-
tiot adequate to that supervision could be
hoped for. Mt least after the present agitation
had died out and consequently a law providing
for the support of inspection by appropriations
probably would not command confidence, the
best interests of the cattle raisers might be con-
served By inspection under the fee system.
On all other points the cattle growers, as rep
resented by Mr.. COwan seem TO be III reasonable
harmony with the President Mr.. COwan sug-
gests that the sanitation Of the packing houses
is not the concern of the federal government and
that the packers could exclude the inspectors
from their premises. Doubtless they could, but
at the cost of excluding themselves from inter
state and foreign commerce. In the same way
a traveller stand on his right of privacy
and refuse to let the inspector look into his
trunk but at the cost of not being able to get
it through the Custom House. There has been
much confusion on this subject. No one pro-
poses that the federal government shall usurp
the state police power. The federal government
is merely TO carry back its investigation 10 the
point where alone under the conditions of mod
ern industry, it can obtain the assurances re-
specting goods which 1t has right to demand
when they come TO cross a state line. The in
spector may, indeed. have no lawful authority
TO exercise in the packing houses but his evil
dence at the state line is lawful, and it is TO the
s-..-
testimony. If he were withdrawn they could
not ship pound of meat to England or Ger
many, and if they are wise they will give up
their obstruction and secure his guarantee to
help them sell their goods in America as we'll
in Europe.