Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-06-21
MEAT INSPECTION
100000 TO PAY EXPENSE
Provides for Rigid Oversight Dur
ing All Stages Of Preparation and
Provides Penalty for Failing
to Comply with Rules.

. ~ OUhARAy WAAM ASNAGDs
washington, June IA meat in
spection provision was completed by
the house committee on agriculture
Monday and will be presented to the
house probably Thursday. 1t 10 de-
clared by the committee that the pro-
vision will insure that American
meats and meat products are healthful
clean, and in every respect wholesome
and fit for food.
The important features Of the legis.
lation are that it places the cost of the
inspection on the government and
makes an annual automatic appropria-
ton Of $2,O0O,00O to pay the expenses.
1t requires rigid post norton and
ante mortem inspection Of all animals
killed for food. 1t requires govern
ment label as a passport for all meat
and meat products which enter inter-
state commerce, and in addition to this
label certificate Of purity to the car.
rier and to the secretary of agriculture
for such products which enter foreign
commerce.
To secure this label, the product
must be handled in accordance with
sanitary regulations to be prescribed
by the secretary Of agriculture, who Is
authorized to employ, without regard
to the civil service law for the first
year, an adequate corps Of efficient
inspectors to supervise the enforce
ment Of his regulations.
1t prohibits the use Of preservatives
or chemicals deleterious to health in
the preparation of meat foods and
leaves the determination Of this Ques-
ton to the secretary Of agriculture.
The label on the product is to indicate
the ingredients, but the date Of manu-.
facture is not required.
The sanitary requirements which the
secretary is to prescribe and enforce
must insure complete sanitation as to
all buildings, whether slaughter houses
or canning establishments.
Many penalties are provided for vio-
lations of these provisions. The COM
mon carrier is subject to heavy pen. !
atty If he accepts for transportation
any goods not bearing the government
label, or in case of foreign shipments,
in addition to the label, the required
certificate. The packers are subject to
a heavy penalty for false labelling as to
contents of packages. Trade names
are to be allowed In some cases, in the
discretion of the secretary, but in all
cases the contents Of the package must
be stated.
The violation of any of the regula-
tons is made misdemeanor punish
able by fine not to exceed $4,000, or
imprisonment not to exceed two years.
There is a special penalty for bribery
Of inspectors, this being imprisonment
for from one to three years and fine
Of from $1,000 to $4,000. the same pun.
ishment being provided for the accept
ance of a bride by an inspector.
Farmers and small butchers are ex-
copied from the operation Of the reg
uIations. 4,
These conclusions of the committee
were reached after three days Of con-
sideration, following the exhaustive
hearings held in connection with the
Official reports regarding conditions in
the packing houses at Chicago and the
statements of the packers and repre-
sentatives Of the livestock raisers.
A new measure represents the judg-
ment Of nine members Of the commit
tee as against seven who preferred the
Beverage amendment, slightly altered,
A minority report will be made to the
house by some Of the dissenting mem
bers.
Representative Cromer of Indiana Leo
the forces favoring the Beveridge
amendment. He offered four amend
ments to the Beveridge measure and
then moved its adoption by the com
The American PEOPLE The answer o.
the first is that the packers are well
able to take care Of themselves and
should expect to pay the expenses In
cident to the preservation Of their bus
Iness. As to the second, IL the pack.
srs have been the faulty ones in bring
Ing about conditions requiring drastic
remedies, they should be willing to.
bear the cost Of the remedy.
The court review amendment, ac.
,ording to the minority. gives the right
II review to the packers, but gives no
Such right to the government, thereby
treating dangerous precedent.
The waving Of the civil regulations
( is contsnded, win III the packing
houses with inspectors appointed b.
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