Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-05-31
HISTORY Of MEAT
Inspection BILL
HOW IT WAS ADDED TO THE
AGRICULTURAL APPRo-
PRIATION BILL.
ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT
MEASURES IN IS YEARS
After the victory of the Packers Ia
Court, the President Caused n
Quiet investigation of Packing
Plants to be Made.

Washington-Before adding the meat
inspection bill to the agricultural ap-
preparation bin in the senate, as ar
amendment, it is understood that SEN
ator Beverage, who originally intro
duced the bill, had an understanding
with the leaders on both sides of the
capitol that it would not be disturbed
in conference. There was the greatest
surprise and astonishment when it was
learned that the Beveridge bill had
been incorporated into the agricultural
bill.
How the Coup Was Planned.
1t is also worth while to remember
that this is perhaps the most important
legislation Of the past quarter of a cen
tury, barring only the rate bill and
the original legislation which launched
us in the canal-building business. In
the first place, President Roosevelt
took very much to heart his defeat in
the courts Of Chicago in his prosecu-
ton Of the Beef trust. He took less
kindly to the patroniz.ng way in which
the Beef trust magnates treated him
in the matter and the i%ndulgent attitude
they showed toward him.
sent Agents to Investigate.
The upshot of the planning was to
appoint Mr.. Neil and Mr.. Reynolds a
committee to make a quiet and exhaus-
tive investigation as to the facts and,
thus fortified, to go after the Beef trust
with a Legislative weapon, and not
through the courts. The result of the
investigation thus planned was all that
the president had been given to under
stand it would be. The report which
was prepared for him was the most
sensational in it's conclusions and find
ings Of fact.
With this report, metaphoricallly, up
his sleeve, the president had his officials
of the department of agriculture draw
up a bill which was NEST drastic and
~far-reaching in its provisions, and in
effect practically placed every beef
packing establishment in the country
under governmental supervision.
Packers Crusade in Vain.
The packers had started a crusade
against the measure ana against the
further publicity in connection with
the sanitary conditions Of the packing
plants. 1t was urged that the packers
were depressing the price Of beef and
that the foreign market would be
ruined. 1t was told to the president
that the producers of cattle alone were
suffering. But all this awaited moth
ing. The president stood by Beveridge.
Now the administration blandly says
to the packers that they can make the
best sort of capital out of the measure
They will be in a position to say tc
their foreign as well as domestic GUS
toners that their plants are under gov
eminent supervision, and that they will
have the approval of government san
itary experts. The administration says
nothing about the change that will
have TO come in the packing-houst
business, and how thousands of dollars
will have to be spent in complying witt
the rigid regulations which the passage
of the Beverage bill will bring int
existence.
Neither does the government sa!
anything about the effect On the future
rebating and arrangement with rail
roads and other trade practices of th'
Beef trust when every detail of its bust
ness is being watched by government
agents.