New-York tribune., 1906-06-21
rFrom The Tribune Bureau.I

Washington. June 2O-The Chicago meat
packers received in the Senate to-day the sever
est denunciation 10 which they have. probably.
ever been subjected The speaker was Senator
Lodge, and the occasion the calling up Of the
Agricultural BILL Of which the meat inspection
provision is an amendment Speaking to full
chamber and galleries we'll filed, despite the
heat, Senator Lodge delivered his remarks quiet
Iy and forcefulIy, weighing every word
Mr.. Lodge declared himself in accord with the
chairman of the Senate Agricultural Committee.
Mr.. Proctor, and with the author of the original
inspection amendment, Mr.. Beveridge. in their
conviction that the cost of inspection should be-
paid by the packers, and that the inspection tags
which the government is to affix 10 canned meat
products should be dated.
People do not like to see their food tampered
with in order to increase profits already huge.
and to be made the sport of mere insensate greed
for money" said Mr.. Lodge The people be-
lieve. and believe rightly, that these men should
be made TO obey the law. declare now that
the one thing more important than who pays the
tax is that these men should be put on the same
basis as other American citizens who have their
goods inspected and sent out 10 the whole world
with the government stamp upon them. I am
not asking that they be prosecuted or hunted
down. I am asking that they have the justics
which they would deny TO others. but which We
in Congress are bound to give to all Americans
alike"
Referring to conditions attending the presens
agitation Mr.. Lodge said:
What has been the history of that group Of
men who run these packing establishments? II
has been history of utter defiance of law and
public opinion II is only the other day thar
they were convicted of violating the Elkins law
II connection with the Burlington & Quincy
under the immunity decision II is less than a
year since Sulzberger. if that is the name. was
nneo SZo.OUU Tor VOCATION or tne law They
have been going on for years in that way. with
law, L wars O''''s % pD0''' OPINION ana OF the
Mr.. Lodge expressed some trepidation about
suggesting that the amendment passed by tho
House be changed, because he had learned from
the press that it had been passed by the House
and approved by the President" but said ne
would take advantage of that much discussed
instrument. the Constitution. which provides
that measures must have the approval OF both
House and Senate. as we'll as of the Execu-
tive. He declared thar he hoped the House
amendment was substantially sound but that
as ne had learned on excellent authority that
the measure first reported by the House Com
mittee was worthless TO accomplish the purposes
sought, and had been informed on excellent au-
thorty in the House that the amendments pus
in by the committee had been added merely 20
satisfy the President and 10 ~sveeten" the sub
Sutule' ne was IN grave doubt. Representative
Wadsworth. who had used in the House tn,
words quoted by Mr.. Lodge. was in the Senate
chamber throughout the Senator's speech
SAYS LABELS SHOULD BE DATED.
With regard TO the necessity Of dating ths
government labels, Mr.. Lodge said:
The packers say that canned articles OF food
are just as good five years after they are canned
as they were at the moment OF canning II thay,
like them that way, let them eat them that wav
nobody OBJECTS; bur do contend, and this is the
spirit OF all our pure food legislation. that ths
public has right TO know exactly what IL ia
buying II canned meat FIVE years old is iuse
as good as meat which has been canned fve
months, II cannot hurt the business OF these
tender creatures who are doing this packing for
US 70 have the fact known. People win be lust
as ready TO buy their excellent five-year-oId cana