Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-19
MEAT INSPECTION BILL.

Washington. June lS.-The basis of
a complete agreement on the meat in
spectiOn legislation between President
Roosevelt and the House committee
on agriculture was reached today at
the White House. Speaker Cannon
represented the committee in this in
stance and subsequently spent some
time explaining the situation to the
committee in its room at the Capitol.
The bill was practically completed
when the committee adjourned today.
1t will authorize an annual apprO-
priation of $3.00O.OOO to pay the cost
of inspection and will contain no pro-
vision for the levy of an assessment to
make up any deficiency in the amount
available for this work as suggested
by Mr.. Cowan representing the Texas
cattle growers, and later urged by the
President
The court review provision will not
be contained in the measure. This
action meets the suggestion of the
President. The words in the judg-
ment of the secretary of agriculture"
will not be inserted as suggested by
the President. and this conclusion now
meets Mr.. Roosevelt's approval.
There is to be no date on the label
Of the packing of meat food products.
In this the President yields to the
committee. The language which gives
inspectors the right to the packing
plants at all times is amplified by the
words whether the same be in opera
ton or not
The section waving the civil ser
vice law for one year in the selection
of inspectors, will go out of the pro-
vision, also one of the Presidents rec
concentrations.
With these changes made, the PreSi-
dent has indicated his entire satisfac-
ton with the mea sure. which will be
reported from the committee as Il sub
stitute for the Beveridge amendment
and was today recommitted to the
committee that the changes might be
made.
Ordinarily Speaker Cannon does not
take such active part in legislation as
he has in the recent instance. 1t has
been explained, however. that he re-
CARDS the passage of an adequate meat
inspection bill with all possible speed
as vitality essential to the welfare of
many important industries throughout
the country.
The objection which was urgel to
the President as a reason why he
should not insist on giving authority
to the secretary Of agriculture to levy
a TAX to make up any deficiency. was
the constitutional provision that Con-
gress shall levy AL taxes. A head tax
on animals. it was pointed out, would
be an exceedingly unequal one. a. the
value of q fine beef steer would be
much greater than steer of inferior
weight and condition, yet the tax would
have to be the same.
The guarantee of the constitution of
every mans right to hay. his gTiey-
anceS heard before a court was also
presented to the President forccfully
as a rea son why the decision Of tn" sec
rotary of agriculture should not he
made final: as would be the case should
the words lin the discretion of the
secretary of agriculture" be inserted
throughout the nea sure. In tins ar
gument il is said the President ac-
quiesced on the ground of its contain
ing fundamental principle of guar
anteed rights.
Although tomorrow and Wednesday
have been set apart for the passage Of
bills under suspension of the rules in
the House. it is probable that the
agricultural bill will be sent to con-
ference with out delay.