The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-06-21
THEY AGREE ON
A COMPROMISE
Meat Inspection Bill to Suit Both
Sides.
SPEAKER CANNON AS INTERMEDIARY.
The President Had 3 Conference With
"Uueie Joe" Cannon. Representing tue
House Ccmm 'ttee-Each Made Concessions
The Government VIII Pay the Cost OF
Inspection.

Washington (SpeciaD The basis of
4 complete agreement on the meat-in-
spection legislation between President
Roosevelt and the House Committee on
Agriculture was arrived at Monday at
the White House. Speaker Canon rep
resented the committee in this instance,
and subsequently spent sometime ex-
p,dining the situation to the committee
in its room at the Capitol. The bill
was practically completed when the co,u-
mittee adjourned
1t will authorize an annual appropria-
ton of $1,000, 900 to pay the cost OF in
spection and will contain no provision
for the levy of an assessment to make up
any deficiency in the amount available
for this work, as suggested By Mr..
Cowan, representing the Texas cattle
growers, and later urged by the Presi-
dent
The Court-rcview provision will not
be contained in the measure. This ac-
ton meets the suggestion of the Presi-
dent. The words "in the judgment of
the secretary OF agriculture" will not be
inserted as suggested by the President.
and this conclusion now meets MIR.
Roosevelt's approval
The section waving the Civil Service
Law for one year in the selection Of in
spectOrs will go out of the provision;
also one of the Presidents rccommcnda
tions
There is to be no date on the label
OF the packing OF meat food products In
this the President yields TO the COM
mittee The language which gives the
inspectors the right to the packing plants
at all times is amplifed by the words
whether the same be in operation or
not"
With these changes made the Prcsi-
dent has indicated his entire satisfaction
with the measure. which was reported
from the committee as 4 substitute for
the Beveridgc amendment. and was re-
committed 10 the committee that the
changes might be made
Ordinarily Speaker Cannon docs not
take such active part in legislation as
he has in the present instance 1t has
been explained, however that he regards
the passage of an adequate mcat-msDcc-
lion ball with all possible speed as Vi
tliy essential TO the welfare of many
important industries throughout the
country
lhe objection which was urged to the
President rs reason why he should not
insist on giving authority TO the Secre-
tary of Agriculture 10 levy tax 10 make
up any deficiency was .hc constitutional
provision that Congress shall levy all
taxes. a head tax on animals, it was
pointed out, would be an exceedingly
unequal one. rs the value of 4 fine beef
steer would be much greater than 4
Steer of inferior weight and condition.
vet the tax would have to be the same.
The same condition would prevail as to
all other animals killed for food.
The guarantee of the Constitution of
every mans right TO have his grievances
heard before court was also presented
to the President forcefully as a reason
why the decision of The Secretary of Ap-
ricuture should not be made final. as
would be the case should the words "in
the discretion of the Secretary OF Agri-
culture" be inserted throughout the
measure. In this argument, it is under
stood, the President acquicsccd. on the
ground of its containing Il fundamental
principle of guaranteed rights.