Middletown transcript., 1906-06-09
WASHNGTONLETTER

good many Tllo do not know by this time
t at the Beveridge Amendment is the
proposed legislation which let loose such
q storm when it was suggested to place
government inspectors in all of the pack
ing and interstate slaughter houses owing
to the disgraceful filth and unsanitarv
conditions recently discovered in Chicago.
The most deplorabIe state OF affairs was
discovered through personal commission
sent out by the President. The Beyer-
idge Amendment in consequence was put
as rider On the Agricultural Appropria-
tion Bill. The President threatened to
publish the whole report that had been
made to him If there was an attempt to
block the Legislation, but the story got
out and the papers of the country COM
tnencea to print columns about the mat
ter SO that the packers, feeling that al
most the worst had been done already,
have tried their best to block the Bill in
the House. The excuses for holding up
this nationally important piece of legisla-
tion are manifold. 1t is hard to say how
many of them come from the friends Of
the measure and how many from the
enemies in disguise. The packers have
not had the nerve to fight the legislation
openly, but have tried to make the cattle
producers fight their battle, by assuring
p IL
them that If the cost of the inspection is
saddied on.the packers, they will take it
out Of the price Of cattle. Although tile
aggregate cost of the inspection would be
something like $2,0O0,O00 it would
amount to only about five cents per head
Of cattle slaughtered so that it is plain to
see that the desire to shift the cost of the
inspection is only cloak to the killing of
the bill altogether. If this inspection
we're paid for by an annual appropriation,
the inspecting force would be fixed
quantity. After just so many inspectors
had been assigned to duty, there would
be no more available. This is what the
Meat Trusts want. A certain number of
inspectors are necessary for their interests,
as they cannot sell meat abroad unless it
.bearsethe official stamp Of this govern-
ment. But if anyone could haze the
government inspection who was willing to
pay for it, the force of inspectors would
be flexible quantity. All of the inde-
pendents who are now kept ont OF the
export meat business by the Trusts,
would be able to break in and there
would be enough inspectors to thoroughly
safeguard the interests of the public in all
sections Of the packing houses and pre-
vent the lawbreaking that according to all
accounts, the Trust has engaged in for
years. The legislation in question is in a
very perilous state, and it is doubtful if
the bill win finally get through Congress
material notifications likely to
IMPAIR its usefulness and leave just the
oophole that the Meat Trust wants
through which to escape any inconven-
ence or diminution of its profits.
~
One of the most surprising and shock
ng events that has happened in public
life recently was the suicide this week of
"Bertie" Adams of PhiIa.
lelpliia Mr.. Adams was known through
,ut the country as the famous author of |
be Whipping Post Bill SO crushingly de. |
eated some weeks ago. Now whatever
nay be ones personal convictions on the |
ubject Of the whipping post as apunish-
lent for crime of any sort, no one can
eny that wife beating, for which it was
> be the punishment is worthy of al
1ost any penalty that can be devised for
!. The bill had the serious endorsement
1 great many serious minded people,
nd the President in his impulsiye fashion, /
ad given it his hearty support and said
hat il was a good thing and ought to be
hoyed along. But for some reason or
ther, the House did not take kindly to
!, possibly because more men vote than
Tomen, and the bill was laughed ont OF
ourt. Mr.. Adams felt this very keenIy,
hough it is not supposed that it had
1uch bearing on his suicide. But SO SEN
tive was he about it that one risked the
oss Of his friendship ever after who men
oned the whipping post in his presence.
he real cause OF his death Basexplained
y him in note to Speaker Cannon. He
ad become involved financially, and
ihile lie was generally regarded as rich
nan, he was in reality on the rocks in
money matters. He was a great society
nan, well known club man, regent OF
he Smithsonian Institution, and his
cath was not only great surprise to
yeryone but will be cause Of genuine
egret. There were plenty of people
bnndantIy able to help him and who
sonld have helped him ifthey had known
e needed it.
It has been reported that tbs House
4
nd Senate Conferees were on the verge
1 an agreement as to the Rate Bill. But
his is not true. Two of the members of
be conference committee are going out of
avn and will be away for some days.
Ieantime the remaining members will do
he best they can TO come to an agree
aent Some of the features still in dis
ute and likely to cause prolonged |
fraDgle are the provisions respecting ex-
ress companies, bringing them within
he scope Of the bill, the Lodge Amend
aent declaring pipe lines common car
iers an Z tiisss, referri
ngs and switch connections The House
as acceeded to SO Of the Senate Amend
nents while the Senate has receeded from
My three. But there is enough material
b tie remaining questions to keep the
onferees in session several days more.
silver Service for Cruiser
Tie fine silver service. the gift by sub
cription Of residents Of the State to the
United States cruiser Maryland was
presented to the officers Of the ship on