Mexico Missouri message., 1906-05-31
HISTORY OF MEAT
Inspection BILL
HOW 1T WAS ADDED TO THE
AGRICULTURAL APPRo-
PRIATIoN BILL.
ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT
MEASURES IN rs YEARS
AFTER the Victory of the Packers In
Court, the President Caused n
Quiet InvestIsatiOP of Packing
Plants to be Made.

Neutrality-suspicious. adding the meat
inspection bill to the agricultural ap-
preparation bill in the senate, as an
amendment, it is understood that Sen
ator Beverldge, 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 establishment when 1t was
learned that the Beverage bill had
been incorporated into the agricultural
bill.
How tho Coup Was Planned.
It is also worth while to remember
that this is perhaps the most important
legislation Of the past quarter Of CEN
fury, 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-
tion Of. the Beef trust He took less
kindly to the patToniz!ng way in which
the Beef trust magnates treated him
in the matter and the indulgent 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 quiet and exhaus-
tive investigation as to the facts and,
thus fortified, to go after the Beef trust
with 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 its conclusions and find
ings of fact.
With this report, metaphoricalfly, up
his sleeve, the president had his officials
of the department of agriculture draw
up bill which was most drastic and
far-reaching in it's provisions, and in
effect practically placed every beef
packing establishment in the country
under governmental supervision.
raeISers' Crusade tR Vain.
The packers had started a crusade
against the measure and 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 BIZ
ruined It was told to the president
that the producers Of cattle alone wer,
suffering. But all this aVailed moth,
ing. The president stood by Beyeridge
Now the administration blandly says
TO the packers that they can make tht
best sort of capital out Of the measure
They will be in a position to say Il
their foreign as well as domestic Gus
toners that Their plants are under gov
eminent supervision, and that they viii
have the approval of government san
itary experts The administration say
nothing about the change that viii
have TO come in the packing house
business, and how thousands Of dollars
will have to be spent in complying will
the rigid regulations which the passag,
of the Beveridge bill will bring int
! existence.
Neither does the government sa!
anything about the effect on the futur,
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 goyernmen
agents.