New-York tribune., 1906-06-20
THE MEAT BILL AGREEMENT.

The turmoil raised by the Meat Inspection
hin ternnates with the sl1ddenness character
istic of legislative storms when the hight is
seen to be really over. The fight was reaiiy
over when the President took his stand against
any weakening of the inspection and the pun
lie with one accord approved his course. From
the moment he put plainly before the people
the danger Of the provisions which nave peeh
eliminated from the House bill there was little
possibility of their being accepted by congress-
and no possibility, even If they were, that they
would restore the public confidence which is
absolutely essential to the business success or
the packers Some Congressman were little
slow in discovering this fact. They were going
30 stand firmly for what they had written. But
it did not take them long to comprehend the
drift-rather the sweeping tde-of public op1n-
ion Perhaps even sooner the packers under
stood it and gave the word for peace. At any
rate when the lawmakers got together again in
Washington on Monday the rainbow was to
be seen in the sky, and yesterday those who
would neer consent consented so that the Dill
went through the House with q rush
The measure is in some details a compromise,
but not so far as we can discover on essentials.
Every vital safeguard Of the food supply which
the President undertook to secure is in the
bill and there is no reason TO doubt that the
powers conferred by it will be effective to end
The cost of inspection will be borne by the
Treasury. but, as The Tribune said several days
ago this is purely a matter of e1pediency and
those who prefer TO see the cost of this work
borne by the industry whose product IT makes
salable can afford TO be content with the con-
tinuing appropriation of an amount which the
Secretary of Agriculture considers adequate to
all demands since he approves the bill and !
says IL will enable him to prevent the sale 'of
unsound- unwholesome and unclean meats.
Some details of the House bill which, owing |
to changes in phraseology from the Senate bill.
elected criticism seem ON thorough eXamina- |
ton to be In essence if not in form as strong |
as the Senate provisions. The omission of the |
requirement that cans be dated is, we think |
wise. The suggestion WAS attractive to con-
sumers. but experts seem TO agree that prop
erly canned goods keep indefinitely, and the |
dating would have hurt trade without substan- |
tally ben, ling the consumer.
The g.. ..ta feature Of the original House |
bill which the controversy really turned was |
the court review provision The inspection will |
remain an administrative function in the hands |
of men with real executive power. The defeat |
of the packers plans in this respect is impor-
tant not only to secure thorough regulation OF
packing, but to preserve the proper balance |
of government and avoid throwing upon the |
courts administrative work With which they are
already overburdened. Courts should protect |
the personal and property rights of citizens, but |
the growing tendency to subject to their re-
view the Judgment and discretion of admins |
trative officers in the exercise of their legal |
powers is not one TO be encouraged. The elm |
ination OF the provision excepting the inspect |
ors from the requirements of the Civil Ser
vice law is scarcely less important than the |
elimination Of court review. Competent inspect /
ors are thus assured, and their appointment |
through the influence Of the packers or any |
body else is prevented. The Presidents sue
cess respecting these two items overshadows |
everything else in connection with the meas
ure. for they We're the two vitality important |
mutiladons of the Senate bill
Now that this problem has been solved and |
the country is assured that it's beef. pork and |
mutton will be properly inspected. the next duty |
Of the House is to relieve suspicion of pOtted !
chicken. and goose pate, and olive oil and all |
such products by passing the Pure Food bill |
Such foods are probably adulterated more. and |
more harmfully. than any Of the canned meats |
subjected to inspection by the meat bill. Op- |
position TO the Pure Food bill amounts to moth |
Ing but demand for the continuation of fraud !
1t Is fraud TO sell pork chicken, or cOttonseed
oil as olive oil. or apple and hayseed as straw
berry jam; and no amount of trade custom" /
can make ii anything but fraud to be prevented
by law in land Of honest dealing.