Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-19

President Roosevelt sent the Neill-Reynolds
report to congress. The greatest falling on
has been in canned meats. representa-
tive OF the Chicago packers who was here
the other day to confer with Secretary
Wilson said the concerns in that city had
lost 70 per cent of their foreign trade In
canned goods within the last three months.
Few canned goods are being put up, he
said, except such as are required to oil
foreign contracts that were made before
the meat scandal broke out. Secretary
Wilson is as deeply interested in the res
toration of the meat industry in Europe
as any OF the packers. and he is deter
mined to force the European governments
to recognize the efficiency of the American
meat inspection law Every European gov
eminent has its agents over here watch-
ing the progress toward effective govern
ment inspection. Most of these agents
have, by direction of their governments,
recently visited the packing houses in Chi
cago, Kansas City and other places LAeu-
tenant Colonel Hobbs OF the British army
has Just completed exhaustive inspec-
ton of the big packing plants. This gov
eminent has not received any intimation as
to what his report will contain. He was
sent here after questions were asked in
Parliament about the purchase of Ameri-
can caned meats for the British army. Mr..
Jacobson has made the rounds OF the es-
Establishments for Norway, and the japanese
consul stationed in Chicago has, by diree-
ton OF his government made a thorough
inspection OF the establishments that have
beer doing any business In Japan. It Is
understood that S soon as the inspection
law is put In full operation the president
will officially invite all foreign nations
that are or have been customers of the
United States to make inspections. 1t Is
anticipated that the Official reports OF these
inspections will restore confidence abroad
and the expectation is that within two
years the United States will be enjoying
the greatest foreign trade in packing house
products It ever had.
Promise Good Results.
Unquestionably both the meat inspection
law and the pure food law promise good
results, bat the government officials are In
clined 10 lay emphasis on the suggestion
that the public must not conclude tina
there is not something's great deal-left'
for the local authorities to do. The pure
food law. like the meat inspection law,
applies only to products that enter into in
terstate commerce. 1t really supplements
state food laws. 1t will be impotent II
states cease to be vigilant just state
authorities were handicapped by the alb
sence OF a federal law. Many OF the states
have excellent food laws, ana nave had Tor
years. but It was impossible TO get re-
suits under such laws so long as impure
foods, drugs and drinks could be shipped In
from other states. 1t Is pointed out that
with a federal law that will keep the bad
stun out OF Interstate commerce states
have an opportunity to make their own
legislation count for something. It devel-
ops that some of the state food laws are
In conflict with the federal law. II is as
sumed by the department that legislatures
will at the session, next January change
their food laws SO as 20 make them con-
form 30 the federal legislation in every
way -possibis. The important point is, so
the government officials say. that state.
county and city authorities will make a
mistake II they jump at the conclusion
that since congress has passed two laws
relating 10 pure food there is nothing left,
for them 10 do.-Boston Transcript.