The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-06-22
THEY AGREE ON
A COMPROMISE
Neat Inspection Bill to Suit Both
Sides.
SPEAKER CANNON As INTERMEDIARY.
The PresIdsnt HAD q Conference With
sUncle Joe" cannsn, Representing the
neuse Committee Made Concessions
The Gevsrnmsat VIII Pay the Cost Of
Inspection.

Washington (Special) The basis OF
= complete agreement on the meat-in-
spection legislation between President
Roosevelt and the House Committee on
Agriculture was arrived at Monday at
the White House. Speaker Canon rep
resented the committee in this instance,
and subsequently spent sometime ex-
planning the situation to the committee
in its room at the Capitol. Phe bill
was practically completed when the COM
mittee adjourned.
It will authorize an annual appropria-
ton of 100000 to pay the cost of in
spection and will contain no provision
for the levy Of an assessment to make up
any deficiency in the amount available
for this work, as suggested by Mr.
Cowan, representing the Texas cattle
growers, and later urged by the Presi-
dent
The court-review provision will not
be contained In the measure. This ac-
ton meets the suggestion OF the Presi-
dent The words "in the judgment OF
the secretary of agriculture" will not be
inserted as suggested by the President
and this conclusion now meets Mr.
Roosevelt's approval.
The section waving the Civil Service
Law for one year in the selection of In
spectors will go out Of the provision
also one of the Presidents recommended
tons.
There is to be no date on the label
of the packing of meat food products. In
this the President yields to the COM
I11ittee. The language which gives the
inspectors the right to the packing plants
at all times Is anplifed by the words
whether the same be in operation OF
moi"
With these changes made the Presi-
dent has indicated his entire satisfaction
with the measure, which was reported
from the committee as substitute for
the Beverage amendment, and was re-
committed to the committee that the
changes might be made.
Ordinarily Speaker Cannon does moi
take such active part in legislation as
he has in the present instance. 1t has
been explained, however, that he regards
the passage of an adequate meat-inspec-
ton bill with all possible speed as vi
lilly essential to the welfare of many
important industries throughout the
country.
The objection which was urged to the
President as reason why he should moi
insist on giving authority to the Secre-
tary of Agriculture to levy tax to make
up any deficiency was the constitutions
provision that Congress shall levy al
taxes. A head tax on animals, it was
pointed out, would be an exceedingly
unequal one, as the value of fine beef
steer would be much greater than q
steer of inferior weight and condition
yet the tax would have to be the same
The same condition would prevail as te
all other animals killed for food.
The guarantee of the Constitution o.
every mans right to have his grievances
heard before court was also presented
to the President forcefully as reason
why the decision of the Secretary of Ag-
riculture should not be made final, as
would be the case should the words "ir
the discretion of the Secretary of Agri.
culture" be inserted throughout the
measure. In this argument, it is under.
stood, the President acquiesced on the
ground of its containing Fundamental
principle of guaranteed rights.