The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-15
INSPECTION BILL
 FAILS TO PLEASE
(continued from First Paee)


  disposal of an executive officer to be drawn upon at his discretion, without leg islative enactment, seems to your commit tee to be an abdcation on the part of Congress of one of its important func- tions.
 Practically all of the precedents touch ing the payment of government officials are in line with the recommendation your committee has made in this case.
 There seems to be good reason why this practice should be changed now. The pure-food bill now pending before Congress. if enacted into law, will entail for It's enforcement a very considerable expense.
 "Onc of the most important results which it is hoped will follow this legisla- ton will be the restoration of public con fidence not only in our own country but in other countries, in the purity and wholesomeness of American meat and meat food products.
 Your committee does not believe that this object would be attained by legfsa- ton which requires those who are to be inspected to pay the cost of the inspection. On the contrary, we believe that the knowledge of this fact would discredit the inspection and cast suspicion upon it.
 Favors Payment By Government.
 'In his recent message to Congress, transmitting the Reynolds report, the President of the United States recom- mended that the cost of the proposed in spection be borne by the packers, but stated plainly that he would favor the governments paying it were it not for the danger of an insufficient appropria- ton. Your committee believe they have met this objection by the provision in corporated in the substitute This provi- ui faII ha Ion rrn nf a nr0WiaiOn for a similar purpose which has been satisfactory for many years In supplying the requirements of the customs ser vice"
 A minority report Is in course of prepa- ration by Representatives Lamb Of Vir- ginia and Bowie of Alabama. and will be filed with the House tomorrow. The Minority Report. The minority report of the House com mittee on agriculture tomorrow will con- ] tain three main points of difference with the majority provision. These are: 1. That the cost should not be put on the government.
 2. The court review B. The waiving of the civil service reg ulations for one year in the appointment ] of inspectors
 As to the cost provision the report will state that the appropriation of 2000Oo0 ! can be justified only on two grounds: l. As a. means of preserving the busi- ness of the packers. 3. The protection of the health Of the American people.
 The answer of the minority to the first is that the packers are well able to take care of themselves. and should expect to pay the expenses incident to the preser- vation of their business. As to the second, if the packers have been the faulty ones in bringing about the conditions requiring drastic remedies. they should be willing to bear the cost of the remedy.
 The court review amendment accord ing to the minority report gives the right of review to the packers, but gives no such right to the government, thereby creating dangerous precedent. The waiving of the civil service regula- tions, 1t is cortended, will fill, the pack ing houses with inspectors appointed by political influence which would handicap them as free agents