New-York tribune., 1906-06-15
OPPOSES NEW MEAT. BILL
PRESIDENT SPEAKS OUT
Measure Inadequate, He Tells Chars
man WadszcOrtb.
[From rhs Tribune Rureau.l

Agriculture as "a packers. victory and thas he
thoroughly disapproves the House substitute for
the Senate amendment. The President has also
written another letter TO Representative Wads-
worth. who reported the House substitute. ex-
pressing in emphatic terms his dissatisfaction
with the provisions of that measure Among
numerous other things, he critic1ses the onis-
sion Of the provision contained in the Senate
amendment that federal inspectors must have
free access 10 the packing houses at all hours
Of the day and night.
The President is emphatic in his assertion that
he thoroughly dIsapproves the House measures
and has assured inquirers that while he may not
deem IT wise 10 veto the Agricultural ApprOpria-
ton bill should it come to him with the Wads-
worth substitute attached or the Beveridge
amendment emasculated. he Win attach TO it
when he signs it a memorandum declaring that
the Inspection provided for is in his opinion In
adequate insure sound and healthful food
products. By this means the President believes
that the agitation be kept up for the time
which must elapse before Congress can again
deal with the question. The President will seri-
ously regret the necessity OF dealing with the
subject In this drastic manner. as he apPre-
ciates that such an amendment would practically
destroy the trade in timed meat products. etc-s
but he will feel il his duty TO take such course
If the packers do not call OF their friends in the
House and permit thorough and coInprehen-
sive bill to become law. the Beveridge amend
naent if the House can frame no better+bil as 10
apparently cannot,
PRESIDENT STATES HIS OBJECTIONS
Mr. Wadsworth had conference later this
afternoon with President Roosevelt regarding
the action OF the House committee. He submit
ted the substitute for the Beveridge amendment
agreed on by the committee and sought the
Presidents opinion OF IT. The President told
btr,, hat ra Il.
fact after reading the substitute carefully, the
President told Mr.. Wadsworth that he disap-
proved Of it absolutely.
The President discussed the subject with
Chairman Wadsworth for a time. indicating TO
him the specific points on which he disagreed
with the majority of the House committee He
pointed out that the failure of the committee
10 provide for inspection at all hours either OF
the day or Of the night was defect which he
could not pass. and he urgently disapproved the
court review clause Of the substitute. The Pres
ident did not lay special stress on the prOpOsi-
ton Of the committee that the government
should pay the expense of the inspection. al
| though he feels that. If the government is re-
| quired to pay the inspection charges. the pro-
vision will render the law less effective than it
/ otherwise would be.
After his conference with Chairman Wads-
worth President Roosevelt wrote a letter TO
| him. stating. in definite and formal way. his
objections to the substitute. 1t did not differ
| in any essential way from the statements made
| by the President to Mr. Wadsworth personally
! The President wrote the letter, however. in
| order that his position might be distinctly
| derstOod and be OF record No copy of the
/ letter was made public at the White House.
! the President preferring that. for the present
at least. 1t should be In the hands of Mr..
| Wadsworth and his committee.
After careful reflection Mr. Wadsworth has
decided that he will not discuss the objections
! Of President Roosevelt to the substitute. He
| will however. refer the question to his
mittee a meeting 10 be called without delay.
| when the details OF the objections which the
President pointed out will be considered.
ARGUMENT FOR THE NEW BILL
| In the majority report which Chairman Wads-
| worth filed IN the House just before adjourn
| rnent to-day. the statement is made that the
public interest IN the subject Is fully appre-
ciated. also it's great Importance 10 the business
| interests Of the country. well as TO the
| health OF the people. These are also stated to
| he the reasons why the committee has given
| the subject most painstaking ana thoughtful
| consideration"
! Any seeming delay" the report continues
| has been due solely to the desire Of the com
| mittee TO give this important subject full con-
| sideration. so that the measure which they may
present would merit the approval Of the House
| and meet the expectations Of the country
! An account of the hearings Is given in the
| renort and the manner OF considering the Bev-
| eridre amendment stated TO be mot only para
graph by paragraph. but line by line and word
nv, word The committee find themselves IN en-
tire accord with the general purpose OF this
| amendment there being no disagreement what
aver either among members OF the COMMITTEES
or among the different interests affected, upon
the proposition that the most rigid inspection
Of the meat and meat food products which con-
stttute so large part OF the food OF the country.
must be insured. But while concurTins heartily
| in the general purpose of the amendment. your
COMMITTEES found themselves disagreeing TO such
an extent with it's requirements and phraseOI-
ogy that substitute seemed 10 be the simplest
wav in which TO present their views
| The report next gives the substance OF every
| raragraph Of the substitute. the provisions OF
which we're made public last night. Comment
ing on placing the cost OF inspection the
| government. the report says;
=, recommending that the cost OF the inspection
provided for in this measure oe met by an appro-
| priatOr from the public treasury Your COMMITTEES
has followed what 1t believes to be sound govern
mental policy ana WISE % S "a s7s PrscIfe tS % Inc
visions OF this act will be government officials. and
tneI[ R TedertI ofhcers bv All the psopIe ana
not by a special levied against given Interest
single 11dsCli 1iti 20 % .y,,11ti,.a ot,, 4i , ~, ,
Tnon AT his discretion without legislative enact
ment seeras your committee 10 be abdication
on the part OF Congress OF one OF its most tmpOr-
Practicaliy all Of the pEecedents touching the
payment OF government officials in line with
| the recommendation your COMMITTEES has made i'm
this The existing meat Inspection law. FOR
example which has been ia effect for nearly Hfteen
| years has been enforced from the beginning al
the public expense. There seems be no good
The Pure Food BIN. now pending before Congress.