Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-29
TRYING TO AVOID SCANDAL
Guessing at Reports on the Packing
Industry.
REVOLVING DETAILS PUBLISHED
Some Opposition to the Beveridge
Amendment Manifested in the
House.

The agricultural appropriation bill, to
which special interest attaches because
of the meat inspection amendment placed
on II in the Senate, is now before the
House committee on agriculture. The bill
would have been sent direct to confer
ence yesterday had not Minority Leader
Williams indicated that he would object
TO unanimous consent for such procedure.
There will be a meeting of the COM
mittee before conference is asked. So
far there has been no request made for
n hearing on the part of the packers 1t
is understood this request would be
granted by C4e committee. coupled with
the undt-st. nding that IL the packers
were heard the committee would desire
also to hear the other sde and this
might neeessitate making public the
rrocial reports regarding sanitary con-
ditlons etc, now in the custody of the
President.
As analyzed by members OF the COM
mittee, the inspection amendment con-
tains three new propositions. 1t extends
the inspection of the product consumed
In this country provides for a sanitary
inspection of packing plants and places
the cost of the inspection on the packers
For some years the House committee
on agriculture has considered placing the
cost of inspection on the packers and
the amendment now on the agricultural
Dill was pending before the committee
as a separate bill having been introduced
by Representative Henry OF Connecticut.
1t was the purpose of the committee TO
consider this measure at the present ses-
sion. DIR. Melville OF the Department of
Agriculture stated to the committee dur
ing the hearings on the appropriation
Dill that the present ante-mortem and
post-mortem inspection of cattle and hogs
covered about threefourths of the meat
product.
Some Opposition in the House.
The Beveridge amendment went through
the Senate without a word of protest and
II was intimated that this was due to the
fact that the packers had been threatened
with publication of the reports in case
there was any trouble.
But since the amendment reached the
House it has been read carefully by
interested in the subject OF requiring ade
quate Inspection of meat products. Rumors
of amendment to the measure have been in
creasing. 1t Is claimed by some members
of the House thai the bill In its present
form will not stand the test of the Supreme
Court, IL previous decisions of that tribunal
upon similar subjects are to be taken as
precedents!
Judge Crumpacker of Indiana, one of the
conservative members of the House, told
reporter of The Star this afternoon that
In his opinion the bill will have to be
amended in order that 1t may not be de-
clared invalid by the Supreme Court.
OF course, If the committee should under
take hearings, Mr. Nell and his coworker.
Mr.. Reynolds, would be called to the stand
and would be questioned regarding their re-
ports. 1t was said today that the packers
are very anxious 10 know just what Mr..
Neill has reported to the President IN or
der to make up their minds whether II
would hurt their export trade in case Mr..
Nell should be called.
An kinds of stories are abroad as to the
scope and nature of Mr.. NeilIs verbal re-
port, but nothing positive can be stated
ABOUT 1t because he would not confirm the
rumors. Action upon the resolutions intro
duced in the House today calling for the re-
ports Will not be taken until there has been
conference between the House leaders
and the administration upon the nature OF
the reports. 1t is claimed in some quar-
ters that the publication of the reports. In
case 1t should hurt the export trade, would
react also on the cattle growers of the west
and that contingency will be taken into
consideration.
To Prevent Open Scandal.
On the surface there is calm, but under
meath all sorts OF forces are at work 10
strengthen the provision for inspection to
emasculate IT, to put it's cost on the gov
ernment and TO make the packers pay for
II. But above all things the one subject
on which the President. the packing inter-
ests and the cattle producers are all united,
Ia the effort to keep the matter quiet and
prevent an open scandal"
Naturally the publications OF the past few
days have laid the subject about as bare
as any Oniciai announcement, Dut there is
still considerable curiosity to Just what
the reports OF Messrs. Neill and Reynolds
will contain.
They have not yet put in their written re-
port at the White House. But IL is ex-
pected either tonight or tomorrow. There
has been no intimation given to whether
or not II will be made public when finally
placed in the Presidents hands but the
inference is drawn that there must be some
especial use to which IL is to be put the
report would not have been suddenly de-
nanded after several weeks delay.
There has been no intimation either to
what the report will contain, but this much
is assured. that 1t W II not contain any testi-
4nony or affidavits, being merely the report
OF the two eyewitnesses and what they
themselves saw In the packing houses.
IL Is possible that Congress will call for
this report. The President either can send
It or he can withhold II the grounds or
public policy. 1t Is believed that he Will
manage TO avoid having the call made. and
thus avoid the necessity OF refusing TO conf
ply with IL.
Packing Interests Indignant
The packing interests profess grea
deal OF indignation over the row that hes
been stirred up They have suggested the
proprIety of a congressional investigation.
IL Is explained that the beauty cs such
an investigation. from the packers point of
view, would be that, IT would give them
time to clean up before the commiss on go.
ready TO work. II Is alleged that they are
desperately at work cleaning UP nJw anu
that they have been cleaning up ever since
they heard that the President was about
10 send Messrs Neiil and Reynolds 10 Chi
cago. In fact Upton Sinclair. who may be
properly credited with having s.aeted all
The trouble. declares that the pacScfs
cleaned up as well as they could anead OF
the Presidents commissioners, AMI even
then there was enough left to sickea them.
Another thing alleged In the general dis
cusson is that the agitation has already
hurt the foreign trade OF the meat trust
Immensely. This injury began with the first
unofficial charges of Nth and corruption In
the Chicago packing houses. The dealers