The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-06-19


tute Criticised. g7a sse
Washington, June gd9.,-- President
Roosevelt and the house committee
reached complete agreement on the
meat inspection BILL The president
yielded on some points and the house
committee on others.
The FIVE points Of difference between
the president and the representatives
were:
First. Whether or not the labels on
cans, etc, should bear the date of in
spection. The president yielded here,
and the date will not be required.
Second.3The cost of inspection. This
provision remains as fixed by the COM
1nittee--the cost to be paid by the gov
eminent, the appropriation therefor be-
ing increased to 100000. The presi-
dent wanted a system of fees provided
to be levied by the secretary Of agri-
culture in the event of congress failing
to make an adequate appropriation.
Third.-The committee agreed to
strike out the section waving the civil
service law in the appointment Of in
spectors. This was originally put in at
the request of the department of agri-
culture.
Fourth. The president wanted more
express terms used in providing for the
withdrawal of inspectors from estab-
lishments refusing to comply with the
orders of the secretary Of agriculture
in the destruction of diseased meat
The committee held that sections 2, 3,
400 and II Of the committee bill con-
fer a much wider power on the secre-
tary than would be conveyed in the
presidents wishes. This is an equal
.'Rive and take"
F'ifth.--The appeal and court review
provision In the committee bill Is elm
mated at the request of the president,
who in turn does not insist on the in
sertion of the words lin the judgment
of the secretary Of agriculture" This,
too, is an equal give and take"
With these major changes and few
minor ones which do not materially
change the bill the president said be
could give it his approval
President Roosevelt expressed en-
tire disapproval of the meat inspection
bill as amended by the house commit
tee on agriculture -
He expressed this view to Chairman
Wadsworth of the house committee on
agriculture when Mr.. Wadsworth call
ed on him and submitted a draft of the
new measure and asked the presidents
opinion. The president declared that
the bill was not at all adequate to meet
the conditions. He embodied his views
B In formal letter to Mr.. Wadsworth.
President Points Out Defects.
The president pointed out to Mr..
Wadsworth that the failure of the
committee to provide for inspection at
all hours either of the day or of the
night was a defect which he could not
overlook, and he urgently disapproved
also of the court review clause Of the
substitute which gives the right Of
review to the packers, but not to the
government.
InNreply to the letter of the president,
in which the latter declared that the
house amendments were ''very, very
bad" Mr.. Wadsworth Indignantly as
serted in letter to Mr.. Roosevelt that
the latter's estimate Of the committees
changes was Every, very wrong"
st.It is as perfect piece of legisla-
fion to carry into effect your own
views on this question as was ever
prepared by a committee of congress-"
said Mr.. Wadsworth. EVERY member
of the committee is absolutely as hon
est and sincere as yourself in his de-
sire to secure the passage of a rigid
meat inspection BILL They know the
meaning of the English language"
Mr.. Wadsworth went on to point out
that the president had erred in regard
to the provision concerning inspection
at any hour. In subsequent letter
the president admitted his error, but
declared that the court review provi-
sion would nullify the good effect Of
the law. The president said
Il care not whit for the language
of the amendment. What / am con
cerned with is to have it accomplish
the object / have in view-namely, a
thorough and rigid and not sham In
epection.'
Provisions of Amended Bill.
The house committee on agriculture
amendment to the agricultural appro-
priation bill contains the following pro
visions in addition to those already
mentioned:
All meat and meat products which
enter into Interstate commerce must
hear government labels which y,1aran
tee that the product has been made Of
healthful meat and has been put up in
a sanitary manner.
It requires government label as
passport for all meat and meat prod
ucts which enter interstate commerce
and in addition to this label certifl-
cate of purity to the carrier and to the
secretary Of agriculture for all such
products which enter foreign com
merce.
It prohibits in the preparation of
meat foods the use Of pFeseryatives or
chemicals which are deleterious to
health and leaves the matter Of deter
mining this question to the secretary
of agriculture.
The sanitary requirements which the
secretary Is to prescribe and enforce
are intended to insure complete santa
hon as to all buildings, whether siaugh-
Ter houses or canning establishments.
Thorough System Of Examination.