The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-15
TEXAS CATTLE WAIT
ON INSPECTION BILL
Representative Garner Urges
Haste, Saying People Re-
fuse to Buy.
A OF
Hausen, Of Iowa, Asserts the Belief
That the Packers Are Responsible
for This Agitation-Who
Will Pay?

Washington, June 12.-The beef in
spection hearing before the house COM
mittee on agriculture began today by
listening to Representative Garner of
Texas. who made a plea for speedy
action.
Since this matter came up" he said.
t people who have contracted to
take our Texas steers have become
alarmed and say they don't know
whether or not they are going to take
Dur cattle, and the result is We are
In a state of uncertainty. Every day
this thing is continued the stockman
is losing money!"
is not the packer responsible for
this condition." asked Representative
Haugen of Iowa, and continuing, he
said:
II believe he is. Last week in my
office l saw a number of kilograms
from the stock yards banks to banks
in my section of the country, asking
them to telegraph Immediately all their
members of congress-. l believe they
are responsible for this agitation"
Stockmen Would Be Taxed.
Davis, of Minnesota, read a telegram
from the South ST. Paul Live Stock
exchange and live stock board voicing
unalterable opposition to having the
expense placed ON the packers, be-
cause it would inevitably come out of
the stock raiSers.
Mr.. Wilson. who represented the
packers. corroborated this conclusion.
Haugen said every member of the
committee, so FAR rs he knew. was in
favor of the government paying the
cost. This cost has been estimated at
from $4,000, 000 to S20,000,0 600 annually,
and congress-, he said, at most WOULD
probably not appropriate more than
$4,000, 900. In view of this he believed
it might be better to assess the S
to the packers.
Mrs. Isabel Worrell-Ball, formerly
of Kansas, gave the committee her
experience With canned goods TO de-
velop the fact that canned goods did
not deteriorate with age.
Do Anything to Hurry 1t.
F. p. johnson, secretary of the Colo
RADIO Horse and Stock Raisers' associa-
ton. urged the committee to expedite
legislation for inspection. He wanted
something to stop this interminable
racket" Beef men, he said We're bear
ing all the cost.
The raisers want the government to
pay the cost, but if there is to be trou-
bic about 1t we will pay the cost"
He said for several years the industry
has been working hard to build up the
export demand. This matter has set
US right back where we We're at the be-
ginning" The price of beef to the pro-
Queer, he said, has dropped Csc to 81
per 100 pounds during the past few
weeks. Any bill tina did not suit the
president would not relieve the public
mind.
DIR. A. d. Melvin. chief of the bureau
of animal industry, department of agri-
culture, was next heard. He first read
n statement showing increased vigilance
in the inspection at Chicago. Moral
suasion and withdrawal of government
inspection was the only way the DEPART
ment had to enforce its regulations. In
view of the fact that the product of the
abbatoir is not under inspection before
it went into interstate omlnerc made
the department loath to withdraw in
Spection.
Cost Of Inspection.
The cost to the government of in
spection last year was 2 cents for cat
tie, IA cents for hogs and 1A cents for
sheep.
The proposed sanitary inspection
would increase the cose in his estima-
ton to 5 cents per head, for cattle and
calves. and 8 cents for hogs and sheep.
The total annual cost on this basis
would be less than $1,000. 600. In addi-
ton he saw the need for an emergency
appropriations to meet extensions.
Melvin was asked what he thought
of the presidents estimate OF s cents
per head and replied it was q very
hard matter to estimate, but that the
president might be right.
The hearings closed with today's tes-
-timony. The committee decided to take
up the inspection amendment Monday
for consideration with a view to re-
porting it to the house as soon as pos
sible.
Call for information.
Representative Fulkerson of Missouri
has introduced a resolution calling on
the president and secretary of agri-
culture to Immediately make public any
or all information they secure from tho
great army of meat inspectors en-
ployed by the government or from any
other source that will tend to credit OF
discredit the product of any plant
where meat products are prepared. The
resolution calls upon the secretary Of
agriculture Immediately to give to the
public his opinion of the sanitary con-
dition Of plants and the healthfulness
Of products.
CONDEMN 8.HOUR BILL.