The Washington times., 1906-05-30
UNCLE JERRY RUSK
SUSPECTED TRUST
Ordered Investigation of
Plants Twenty Years Ago.
ADAMS WAS HIS ENT
Present Congressman From Wisconsin
Discussed Their Conditions as
They Now Exist.

What was probably the first Federal
investigation OF the packing house in
dustIy of Chicago was made ears ago.
wher Jerry Rusk. of Wisconsin. was
Secretary of Agriculture and the man
who made it is now a member of Con-
gress, and a memoer Of the House Com
mittee on Agriculture.
This is Hon. Henry c Adams of Wis
consin. whose story of his experience
In PackingtOwn about twenty years ago
is expected 10 be Of the greatest value
10 the House committee when II takes
up the meat inspection measure now be-
fore it. Mr.. Adams is probably the best
equipped man in Congress. because of
his experience in this investigation Of
Two decades ago. and because Of his
long service as dairy and food commits
sioner of his State. TO conduct an in
quiry into the merits Of the charges that
will be given by the Neill- Reynolds re-
port If II is laid before Congress.
Pure Food Champion.
Mr.. Adams was friend Of the late
Secretary Rusk. who got interested in
the operation of the inspection service
in Chicago. At that time Mr.. Adams
was dairy commissioner at Madison.
and had been carrying on q long and
N-ttA HtlnFn nEnt IN congress against
the manufacturers OF Allied cheese
That was one Of the earliest and most
sensational Of the pure food campaigns.
and Mr.. Adams won IT, though not un-
I'll after the American export trade il
cheese had been almost ruined
II was fcllowlnE this contest that Sec
retary Rusk asked Mr.. Adams TO 90 and
sTend ten days in the stock yards and
packing houses OF Chicago and reporf
the result 10 him. Mr Adams did as re
quested. and the report he made was
remarkably suggestive of the conditions
now alleged 10 prevail there. He will
have something TO tell on that investiga-
ton. and some comparis 1ns 10 make with
present conditions. when the committee
starts in TO hear witnesses. IL any are
GsIed, IN connection with the pending
sIent a number OF days in the
yards and packing houses said Mr.
ADAMS today. and became convinced
that the inspection and preparation of
out meats FOR export was about all that
gould be desired. I did not think that for
nome consumption We were doing as
wen; and from what I have read re-
Gently Judge that that condition still
Mr.; Adams is strongly in favor Of
legislation tha. will remedy evils exist
Ing IN the packing plants. and he has
been making inquiries sbout the senti-
ment in the committee. These have con
yiEeed him that vigorous opposition is
planning, ard that it viii he difficult 10
get the measure passed at this session.
Beef Trust Determined.
There is going to be 10 haste about
getting the measure through the House.
II Il passes at this session Of Congress
II VIII do so only as a result OF the
most determined efforts Of the Presi-
dent In all proba bility the Beef trust
opposition will force the President 10
show all the cards in his hand. even
10 the Neill- Reynolds report It was
supposed few days ago that the Beef
trust people were especially anxious
that this report should not be made
public. but their attitude and the dis
position Of their friends in the House
indicates that the trust has changed
rs mlnd and IS willing - have the re-
port published on the ground that IL
VIII be so much milder than the things
that have been alleged against the tr1Isr
as 70 take the esige off the feeling OF
puhic Indignation.
Speaker Cannon's friends declare ern
Pnaucaliy that he has at no time com
mltted himself 70 the legislation His
1rlendS on the other hand take the no
sition that il would be very unfair to
insist on legislation without q fair
showing for all interests. They admit
mat business Of slaughtering animals
by the hundreds of thousands and drese
ing and preparing them can hardly he
made ladylike affair There is apt
10 De some bloOdletting connected with
II; phases will be calculated to shock
delicate sensibilities. But on the whole
Illinois people are not getting panickv
over the situation. They propose tS,
have legislation carefully framed before
II passes, and 10 know Just what thev
are aiming al before they pull the trig-
ger. -
Stockmen Not Aroused.
Western stockmen have not begun TO
manifest much Interest in behalf OF the
packers, Senators and Consressmen
from the big livestock States have not
begun to receive the flood OF teIegrams
that the packers representatives. prom
lsed. and they say without hesitation
that the packers are reckoning without
their host II they expect to get anv-
thing OF the kind from them for the
stock men are the bitterest opponents
of the trust. The livestock exchanges
OF number Of the Western packing
cities are interested. and have SEMI
some kilograms. but these are chiefly
requests for information as to what
is to be shown in the NoflI- -pc