The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-14
GOOD MEAT INSPECTION Agriculture Committee
 Has Measure. GOVERNMENT TO PAY COSTS Farmers and Small Butchers Ex-
 cepted in Law. United states will spend Two Million Dollars Annually To Assure
 World of Worth of
 Product.
GOVERNMENT TO PAY COSTS

 spection provision was completed by the House Committee on Agriculture today and will be presented to the House for action, probably tomorrow which it is declared by the commfttee will insure that American meats and meat products are healthful. clean ana in every respect wholesome and fit for food.
 The important features of the leeis- Iation Is that it places the cost of the inspection on the government and makes an annual automatic appropria- ton of s2,000,e0o to pay the expense. It requires a rigid post morten and antemortem examination of all animals killed for food. It requires govern- ment label as passport for all meats and meat products which enter Into interstate commerce and in addition to this label a certificate of purity to the carrier and to the secretary of aS- ricuiture for such products which en- ter foreign commerce. To secure this label the product must be handled In accordance with sanitary regulations to be prescribed by the secretary or 1k- riculture who Is authorized to employ without regard to the civil service law. for the first year an ade iuate corps or efficient inspectors to supervise ths enforcement of his regulations.
 It prohibits the use of preservatfves or chemicals in the preparation of meat food which are dangerous to heal' and leaves the matter of determining this question to the secretary of ag- riculture. The label on the product is indicate the ingredients, but the date of manufacture Is not required to bc stated
 sanitary Requirements.
 The sanitary requirements wnicn the secretary Is to prescribe must insure
 kH hal whether slaughter houses or canning establishments. There are many penal- ty clauses attaching to violations of all those nroyisions The common carrier is subject to heavy penalty 1T he ac- ,cepts for transportation any goods not bearing the government iaoei or n case Of foreign shipments In addition 10 the label. not accompanies by tho required certificate.
 The packers are subject to heavy penalty for false labelling as to con- tents of packages. Trade names are to be allowed in some eases In the discre- ton of the secretary. but in all cases the contents of the package must bo stated
 The violations of any of the provis- ions of the regulations Is made mis- demeanor punishable by fine not to exceed s10.000. or imprisonment not @ exceed two years There is special penalty against the bribery of inspee- tors, imposing imprisonment from one to three years and fine of from one to ten thousand dollars for offering a bribe and the same punishment for the acceptance of a bribe on the part of the inspectors.
 Farmers Are Excepted.
 Farmers and small butchers are ex- cepted from the operation of these regulations. This conclusion of the committee was reached after three full days of consideration following the ex- ecutive hearings held In connection with the official reports regarding con- ditions in the packing houses at Chi- cago; that statement of the packers and the report of the live stock raisers.
 The conclusion represents the judg- ment of nine members as against seven who preferred the Beveridge amend ment, slightly altered. A minority re- port will be made to the House by som of the members dissenting.
 Representative Cromer (Ind) led in the forces in the committee favoring the Reveridge amendment He offered four amendments to the Beveridge amendment and then moved its adop- ton by the committee in the place of the sub which had been perfected.
 On this motion he was sustained by Representative Penny (Conn), Haugen (Iowa). Davis (MInn). Republicans and Lamb CVal Bowie (Ala) and Chandler (Miss) Democrats. Nine votes were re- corded in the negative vote on the mo- tion.
 The four amendments which Mir. Cro- mer offered to the Beveridge amend ment are all cotnianed in the substi- ute They were:
 First, that in the inspection of the unfit meot the destruction should only for food purposes; second. that the in- spection should be restricted to oonti- mental United States and not extended to It's possessions: third. waiving the civil service operation for one year in the selection of inspectors and butcher from inspection.
 How They Voted.
 The members who voted for and car- ried the substitute were Chairman of New York; Scott Of Kansas. Haskins of Vermont. Lorimer of Illinois. Brooks of Colorado, Adams )f Wisconsin. Cocks of New York, Re- publicans; Lever of South Carolina and rrimble of Kentucky. Democrats.
 Representative Field of Texas, was. absent and Delegate Andrews of New Mexico. also
 ire Texas delegation in the House ap-. oealed to the committee with the plea that the cost of the inspection be placed on the government and not on he packers. If the latter course was pursued. 1t was stated, the packers would not only throw this cost back ln the producer, but would also un- make d double assessment ,,. a the consumers.