The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-31
.PACKERsA At WORK
ON CATTLE MEN
Inducing Them to Send in Mes
sages Protesting Against I'M
posing the Inspection Tax.
THE REAL OBJECT DISGUISED
Designed to Throw Cost Upon
Government and Thus Make
Inspection Less Effective.

"a tFrOf1 Our tteBulHr SOIEespoIiuciS.J
WASHINGTON, y. c.. May So--The
expected has occurred and kilograms are
coming into members Of Congress and
senator's from the Western States. signed
by cattle-raisers, urging them to vote
against the Beveridge amendment to. the
agricultural bill, In so far as 1t puts the
cost OF meat inspection upon the packers.
It Is said that number OF such tele-
grams have been received to-day.
Their coming has been discounted. 1t
was expected that the packers would put
the screws down and compel the firing
In Of such kilograms from the stockmen
AS a matter OF fact, members and sem
ators will not pay great deal OF atten-
ton to these messages, which. whlo
genuine In one sense of the word, have
been forced by the packing companies.
The President wants inspection OF do
mcstic meats, and the Senate and House
want It. The efforts OF the packers to
force Congress TO have the cost OF IN
spection borne by the general govern
ment instead OF by the packing compa-
Mes is thoroughly understood, although
the inspection be borne by the govern
packers believe that II tho expense OF
the inspection beb orne by the govern
ment outright, provision for which is to
be made BY a straight appropriation, It
will be easily possible to keep this appro-
priation down so low that it will be
impossible to employ under 1t q sufficient
number OF inspectors to do the work.
In this way, methods in vogue at tho
packing houses may be continued with
1mpunlty.
Threat Of the Packers.
Is It is said the actual cost OF making
the most thorough inspection of car
cass will not exceed six cents eight
cents at the furthest, yet tho packers
say openly that II they are made to
bear the cost OF inspection they will In
crease the price OF Is to consumers.
OF course. this increase will aggregate
far more than O few cents on each
carcass.
Therefore. while the chances are over
whclmingly In favor OF an increase OF
the price OF meats II the packers are
made to bear the cost OF inspection, Il
appars to be the belief OF the jorty
OF senators and members that the pack
e-s OF the meats should be charged
fixed sum for the inspection of the car
cass of each animal slaughtered, which
shall be paid into the treasury OF the
general government and be covered into
fund to be expended In paying the
salaries of inspectors. So that while the
packers will in reality be bearing the
cost Of inspection, It Will be BY in
direction.
The expected call for meeting Of t!u
House Committee on Agriculture to con-
slider, the amendment to the agricultural
bill was not issued to-day.
a member OF the committee said he
thought they would get together this
week and consider the amendment nul
that II the packers desired to be heard
their request would undoubtedly be
granted.
Want the Information.
There IS most prevalent desire that
the President submit to Congress all the
information In his possession concerning
the ''IIorrors" OF the lnea. packing
Industry. This sentiment is quite as gen.
eral among Republicans a Democrats.
1t is recognized that the President may
have good reasons for refusal to dlvulge
all the information obtained for him
by the men whom lie delegated to make
the Investigation, but at the same time
1t Is commended that he has no right to
use such information as q. big stick. and
to expect Congress to take action solely
upon his word, without putting the
legislative body in possession OF the
infOrmaIlOH WHICH mas
While enough is known to Justify &C
ton. all the facts are wanted.
Senator Beverldge said this afternoon
that his sole object in proposing the
amendment, was to secure for the people
of this country just as good meat as Is
sent to Europe, the result OF our laws
recurring the inspection Of meat exported.
Mr.. Bveridge said he did not care to
discuss details of conditions in the pack
ing houses and Furthermore said he did
not wish to punish the packers for any
past offenses.
A member Of Congress said to-day he
thought congress should make some eff
forts to prevent the sale OF meats already
packed. He did not believe that Congress
could control that already on the shelves
OF the grocery stores, but he believed some
action could be taken which would call
attention Gs municipal and State authors
ties to the dangers now certainly known,
to be hidden In every can Of meat. II
is difficult to sec what action OF this
character could ba taken
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