Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-31
PACKERS IN A TRANCE
Many FAN to Comprehend Pro-
visions of the New Law.
ARE NEGLEcTING TO ACT
Must Have Inspection and the Legal
Label by October l.
SECRETARY WILSON EMPHATIC
Transportation by the Railroads Of
Uninspected Meat and Meat Prod
ucts Will Be Prevented.
SECRETARY WILSON EMPHATIC

Secretary Wilson returned to the Depart
ment of Agriculture today after a flying
trip OF inspection to Richmond. Va, where
he inspected the plant of meat-extract
establishment. The Secretary stated that
the meat-inspection regulations had been
well received by the packers and the trade
generally. While the regulations are strin-
gent they are fair. and there Is general
feeling in the trade that only under strin-
gent regulations. strictly enforced, can
American meats regain prestige at home
and abroad. The Secretary stated that
most of the large and some small establish
ments throughout the country were putting
their houses in order for the new dispen-
sation, but that many small establishments
had so far failed even to apply for inspec-
ton, although the department has adver-
tised the fact that such places must have
inspection or go out of Interstate or foreign
trade.
Must Have Label by October 1.
MANY slaughterers of food animals and
preparers of meat food products which en-
ter into Interstate or foreign trade have
apparently not realized that unless they
have federal inspection and the legal label
by October 4 their Interstate and foreign
trade will be closed said Secretary Will
son.
Inc secretary states tnat tnefe Is a pretty
general failure to comprehend that part OF
the meat-inspection amendment which shuts
out. on and after October /, 1906, from In
terstate or foreign trade meats or meat food
products which do not bear the government
label.
Representatives of the various railroad
systems of the country have been in con-
sultation with the Secretary and it is be-
lieved at the Department of Agriculture
that plans have been adopted which will ef-
fectually prevent the Interstate or foreign
transportation of uninspected meat.
1T Is not the desire to evade the law
which causes certin dealers and hrms 20
fail to arrange for Inspection said the
Secretary. 1T Is rather failure to grasp
the fact that the law applies to all food
products into which meat enters In whole
or in part Why, We had one firm which
thought the law would not affect them be-
cause they put out compound lard COM
posed of lard and cotton seed oil. We told
that firm," repeated the Secretary with en-
phasis, that unless they had the govern
ment Inspection and the government label
the product could not be sold In interstate
or foreign trade after October next. We
told them further that the government
label would show that their product con-
tanned cotton seed oil.
Canned Pork and Beans.
The Secretary was asked If such products
as canned pork and beans and mincemeat
would be barred from interstate trade, I'M
less their preparation was supervised by
federal inspectors, and his answer was en-
phatically in the affirmative.
The meat inspection law says that no
false or deceptive labels shall be used and
from the statements of Secretary Wilson
1t Is gathered that hereafter the American
people will know what is in the can If they
take the trouble to read the label. II the
label says "potted ham" the contents will
be ported ham and not minced dried beef.
If the label says pure lard the can will
contain nothing but rendered hog fat: If
stearin or cotton seed Oil Is added to the
product that fact must be stated the
label