The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-16
PRESIDENT WONT
YIELD AN inch
Will Call Congress in Extra ses.
sion, if Need Be, to Get Thoro
Meat Inspection.
Member Of Agricultural Commit
tee Gives Hope that Senate
Plan Will Succeed.
By w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
president S letter to Mr.. Wadsworth
disappearing house substitute for Bev-
eridge meat inspection plan and WadS-
worth S reply will be found on page 3.)
Washington, June 16.-It looks as if
the house were in a frame Of mind to
adopt the Wadsworth substitute for the
Beveridge meat inspection amendment.
As showing something Of the situation
I am informed reliably that the greater
number Of the representatives from
Minnesota favor this substitute, and
will vote for it, unless something in
The way of pressure can be brought to
bear before the vote is ordered. And
what is true of Minnesota is true of
numerous other states. If the president
has anything like following in the
house, it appears that it is on the demo-
cratic side Of the chamber.
Of course there is to be serious con-
sideration of the question on the floor
and when the test vote finally comes
many republicans now inclined to stand
with the majority of the Wadsworth
committee may change front. But if
the test vote were to come now it is
lndorsed and the agricultural appropria-
ton bill sent to conference with the
substitute as part of it.
Just what the president will do, in
case the house plan should be adopted is
net authoritatively known, but it is
known that he has convictions regard
ing the inspection question: and that,
rather than surrender them at the be-,
hest of the packers, he will either try
to keep congress in session, or failing
in that, will call an extra session imme,
diate l!y upon adjournment. .......
1t is the presidents belief that he is
contending for something that affects
Of H.
country. and that it is his duty to leave
no stone unturned that will help Sc
cure victory for what he considers the
right. His letter to Chairman Wads-
worth. in which he discusses the substi-
tute bill, conveys his opinions forcibly.
Court Review Obnoxious. :.s.
The president fads~the court review
obnoxious, menacing the effectiveness
of the entire inspection system. He re-
CARDS that provision as forcing the sec
retary of agriculture into a subordinate
courts and hampered at every turn by
the objections of the packers.
He points out also that the Wads
worth amendment adroitly leaves a
loophole for the improper labelling of
cans by omitting the words, "undel
the supervision Of an Inspector sc
that the packer may have the labels
pasted upon the containers without in
spection and the law will provide nc
adequate means of checking a gross
fraud upon the public.
Furthermore, the word "unclean' is
omitted from a paragraph in such a
connection that the secretary of agri
culture, under the Wadsworth bill
would have to prove positively in court
the unsoundness of meat products
against which the chief objection mi ght
be that they We're prepared in the most
unsanitary conditions, without oppor
tunity to prove the existence of those
conditions.
Again, the president notes that, BY
the omission Of other words, the righ
to inspect all parts Of the packing
houses is not extended to the govern
ment representatives, the packers being
vested with the privilege of debating
the portions open to them.
A Loophole
In addition, it is discovered, upo1
scrutiny, that the bill, which permit
packers to ship their old stocks O.
goods on hand at the time of enact
ment, gives the packers an opportunity
to include in these stocks indefinite ad
- ditions, the government being com
PEELED, if suspicious are aroused, to e
into court and prove affrmatively tha
old goods are being shipped withou
inspection.
Finally, in the opinion of the presi
dent, the appropriation language itsel
is defective. SO that there is reason t
fear that the treasury officials, upo
the first examination of the statute
- might declare that not penny wa
available for the service.
1t is pointed out by the president
supporters that the objections alIude
to in the letter to Chairman Wads
worth are not mere technicalities. bu
are based upon practical, tangible facts
The Wadsworth substitute is a con
cession to the packers, and has bee
hailed by them as victory. If rushe
- thru the house and its acceptanc
forced upon the conferees, it woul
stand as the answer OF congress to tn
public demand for reform, and do
in a way savoring of contempt for tn
popular wish t~. ...
If in the light of the itemized obie,
tion to the substitute bill, that bill
still forced upon the house, those i
charge of the legislative program wi
with the lightning of public condemns
tlon. That is the view of the presiden
and his friends.
The speaker has given assurance ths
the question is to be threshed out
the house, possibly without any linn
of debate: If this is done, then tn
country will have no difficulty in pla'
my IeSponoiDlllty ana Ill knowing WneI
~ to visit punishment.
Senate Still Firm
Fortunately for the country, there
as yet no Indication that the senat
has swerved from loyalty to the Be,
eridge~ amendment. That amendmen
in the light of the discussion of til
past days, may need changing in ce
a tain unimportant particulars. Eve
= Beveridge is said to admit this Br
if the senate stands out for that ament
mcnt in substantially it's present forr
deadlock will result, and the linn
light will be turned on the house
a way that will make good many
It's members feel very uncomfortabl
The president, unless he shou1
change his mind, will favor the CO.
Continued on I'd Page, I'd Column.