New-York tribune., 1906-06-12
MEAT BILL.
House Committees Proposed Sab
stitute Meets Opposition.
LFrom The TrIbane Burean.1 l

washington. June 11-In response to the gem
eral demand for prompt meat inspection egis-
latlon the House Committee on Agriculture to-
oay began in earnest the preparation of a bill
"hlch II will submit to the House as a substi-
tute lor the Beveridge amendment Chairman
"aosWorth and several other members of the
committee are unalterably opposed to some of
the provisions in the Beveridge amendment and
would like to change 1t materially but they are
meeting with opposition from other members of
the committee. who believe that the proposed
BeVerldge law is a good and that the people
viii not be satisfied unless it is reported pract-
caly 1t stands
The committee spent the entire day going over
the bill, except for a few minutes Interruption
when a delegation of business men from St.
Joseph Mo- heard relative to the condition
of the packing houses in that part of the coun-
try, which they said were models of cleanliness.
At the end of the session tonight members of
the committee said that fairly satisfactory prog
ress on the bill had been made, but that no
agreement could be reached without still further
consultation
Representative Adams of Wisconsin, of
the members OF the committee more favorable to
the Beveridge amendment than to any of the
four other substitute bills said: I'VE hope to
reach conclusion on the bill tomorrow. The
committee is using the Beverfdge amendment as
a basis In framing up the measure to be re-
ported. Careful consideration is also being given
to the four other measures before the COM
mittee No decision has been reached on the
question of the cost OF inspection. and that will
likely be left the final point for consideration
it will cause much discussion
Chairman Wadsworth it was said to-day, Is
determined TO make stand for the payment of
the cost of inspection by the government Sew
eral other I.iembers of the committee share
his views this point. and there is some dam
ger of a split in the committee In this event. II
is probable that the compromise suggested by
Judge w. II. Cowan will be accepted as way
out of the difficulty. Instead of specifying that
either the government the packers shall be
responsible for the inspection expenses, Judge
Cowan's bill provides for appropriation of
50, 100000 by the government. all over this to
be paid for by fees collected from the packers
Still another proposition before the committee
is one advanced by Representative Henry, pro-
viding that the packers shall defray the cost of
inspection the first year. leaving it necessary
for some further legislation to be passed in the
light of a years experience. Those opposed to
this proposition maintain that the Beveridge
amendment, placing the cost of inspection on the
packers, can be adopted and that If it is found
to work unsatisfactory II will be an easv mat
at the end of year They are afraid how
ever that If the law is left in such shape as to
make necessary further legislation next year
the demand which has followed the exposure
just made will have abated, public attention
will be occupied with other things and the pack
ers will find 1t easy to gain their end, the de-
fragment of the cost by the government with
out its attracting much public attention or en-
opposition