The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-16
PRESIDENT WON'T
YIELD An INCH
Will Call Congress in Extra ses-
sion, if Need Be, to Get Thoro
Meat Inspection.
Member of Agricultural Commit
tee Gives Hope that Senate
Plan Will Succeed.
Ry w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
president s letter to Mr.. Wadsworth
disappearing house substitute for Bev.
eridge meat inspection plan and Wads
worth s reply will be found on page 81
Washington, June 16-It looks as if
the house We're in a frame Of mind to
adopt the Wadsworth substitute for the
Beveridge meat inspection amendment.
AS showing something Of the situation
! am informed reliably that the greater
number Of the representatives from
Minnesota favor this substitute, and
will vote for it, unless something in
the way of pressure can be brought to
bear before the vote is ordered. And
what is true of Minnesota is true Of
numerous other states. # the president
has anything like a following in the
house, it appears that it is on the demo-
cratic side Of the chamber.
OF course, there is to be serious con-
slderatlon of the question on the floor
and when the test vote finally comes
many republicans now inclined to stand
with the majority of the Wadsworth
committee may change front. But if
the test vote were to come now it is
believed that the committee would be
lndorsed and the agricultural appropria-
ton bill sent to conference with the
substitute as a part of it.
just what the president will do, in
case the house plan should be adopted is
net authoritatively known. but it is
known that he has convictions regard
ing the inspection question, and that,
rather than surrender them at the be-
hest of the packers, he will either try
to keep congress in session, or failing
IN that, will call an extra session imme-
dlately upon adjournment. ---.--
iS ;, lo1;
contendlng for something that affects
the welfare of every home in the
country and that it is his duty to leave
no stone unturned that will help Sc
cure victory for what he considers the
right. His letter to Chairman Wads-
worth, in which he discusses the substi-
tute bill, conveys his opinions forcibly
Court Review Obnoxious. ."..
The president fnds~the court review
obnoxious, menacing the effectiveness
of the entire inspection system. He re-
CARDS that provision as forcing the Sec
retary of agriculture into subordinate
courts and hampered at every turn by
the objections of the packers
He points out also that the Wads-
worth amendment adroitly leaves a
loophole for the improper labelling of
cans cans by emitting the words, "under
that the packer may have the labels
pasted upon the containers without in
spection and the law will provide no
adequate means of checking a gross
fraud upon the public.
Furthermore, the word "unclean' is
omitted from a paragraph in such a
connection that the secretary of agri-
culture, under the Wadsworth bill,
would have to prove positively in court
the unsoundness Of meat products
against which the chief objection night
be that they were prepared in the most
unsanitary conditions, without oppor-
tunity to prove the existence of those
conditions.
Again, the president notes that, by
the omission of other words, the right
to inspect all parts of the packing
houses is not extended to the govern
ment representatives, the packers being
vested with the privilege Of debating
the portions open to them.
A Loophole.
In addition, it is discovered, upon
scrutiny, that the bill, which permits
packers to ship their old stocks of
goods on hand at the time of enact
ment, gives the packers an opportunity
to include in these stocks indefinite ad-
ditions, the government being com
PEELED, if suspicious are aroused, to go
. into court and prove affrmatively that
old goods are being shipped without
inspection.
Finally, in the opinion of the presi
dent, the appropriation language itself
is defective, SO that there is reason to
fear that the treasury officials, upon
the first examination of the statute
might declare that not a penny was
available for the service.
1t is pointed out by the president 's
suppcrte IS that the objections alluded
to in the letter to Chairman Wads
worth are not mere technicalities. but
are based upon practical, tangible facts
The Wadsworth substitute is a con
cession to the packers, and has beer
hailed by them as a victory. If rushed
:. thru the house and it's acceptance
forced upon the conferees, it woult
stand as the answer OF congress to thu
public demand for reform, and do i
in way savoring of contempt for the
popular wish. II. ~.
If in the light Of the itemized obiec
tion to the substitute bill, that bill i
still forced upon the house, those il
charge Of the legislative program will
- be deliberately taking long chance
with the lightning of public condemna
tlon. That is the view of the presiden
and his friends.
the question is to be threshed out, il
the house, possibly without any limi
Of debate. If this is done, then tn
country will have no difficulty in plac
ing responsibility and in knowing wher
- to visit punishment.
Senate Still Firm.
Fortunately for the country, there i
as yet no indication that the senate
has swerved from loyalty to the Bev
eridge amendment. That amendment
in the light Of the discussion of th
past days, may need changing in Ger
tain unimportant particulars. Ever
r Beveridge is said to admit this Blu
if the senate stands out for that amend
mcnt in substantially it's prs,Rs,,t form
deadlock will result, ana s.ss lime
light will be turned on the house i
way that will make good many o
its members feel very uncomfortable
The president, unless he shoul
change his mind will favor the con
@ Continued on I'd Page. I'd Column.