Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-15
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Opposition to the Proposed Meat In
spection Substitute.

The minority members of the House agrI-
cultural committee this afternoon made
public their views in opposition to the
committee substitute for the Beverage
provision for meat inspection.
First, says the report, which was put
out by Representative Bowie of Alabama
1.-THE net result OF the committee amend
ment is to add an appropriation of 81, 0OO,-
90 year to the cost of inspection of
meats and of meat food products to the
burden already borne by the federal gov
eminent
ITO this we earnestly and emphatically
disagree. The necessity for the increas d
cost of inspection is due to two causes
first, to protect the commercial interests in
volved. to secure to those interests home
and foreign market, which they stand In
imminent danger of losing or finding to be
curtailed. and. second. 10 protect the public
health against practices which we hold to
be indefenslble, the fault ofwhich lies GER
tainly not at the doors of the American
people. up within 1t is proposed TO levy
this additional burden.
THE imposition OF this sum upon the
Treasury seems to us indefensible' -
The report says that il is well known
that the packing industry needs govern
ment inspection and csrtifcation in order
TO find market at home and abroad
considered in this light alone" SAYS the
report. lit seems to us to be an injustice
10 saddle the whole burden of extending
the business OF this particular industry
upon the pockets OF the taxpayers of this
country. Considered from the standpoint
OF the preservation of public health alone
the argument is the same.
Can II be tolerated that those whose acts
have endangered the public health and I'M
dermined the public confidence shall es-
cape from the condition which they have
created without penalty of ANY kind and
with the added premium OF two million
dollars annually from the treasury to pay
the expense OF correcting their own wrongs?
That conditions have existed in the pack
ing houses that require correction Is proven
indisputably by the evidence.
The only contradiction from any source
whatever OF the statement In the Neili-
Reynolds report was the statement OF the
general manager of one of the packing
houses. who undertook to testify not only
as TO the condition in his own establish
ment, but In that of all the other estab-
lshments in Chicago, and who not only un-
dertook to testify in rebuttal of statements
made by Messrs Neill and Reynolds as to
the facts within their knowledge about
conditions In other establishments than his
own. but actually made statements upon
conditions that have transpired when he
was not in Chicago al ALL and therefore
could not possibly have had personal
knowledge of the matter ABOUT which he
assumed to enlighten the committee.
I'VE might be willing that that part OF
the cost OF inspection which has heretofore
been paid by the government. amounting TO
about $4,000 annually, shall be continued.
though even as to that there are objections
upon principle. but we are opposed to an
addition OF $1,000. 900 for the inspection OF
canned goods and meat food products gem
orally. the sole benefit of which operates for
particular industry and to correct a wrong
done by them
This is class legislation OF an indefen-
sible character. For the payment OF in
spectfon fees there Is abundant precedent
The national banks are required to pay
tho cost OF their own examinations. The
same Is true or oleomargarine. renovated
butter steamboat inspection. the immig ra-
taN and ,tls .f.~t,s
be mentioned"
The minority report then calls attention
10 the broad court review provided by the
committee measure and says that this is
a now departure in legislation and IS not
justified by single fact
Under the operation of this review II is
pointed out a federal circuit judge can re-
view the finding OF any inspector and the
Secretary of Agriculture upon the heaithful-
ness OF dyes and other alleged preserva-
tives. whether on point OF sanitation or
or meat food products. de novo, upon the
facts and thereby have the inspection sys-
TEN intended TO protect the public health
tried and controlled by the federal circuit
court.
I'VE assert" says the report. "that It is
not a proper judicial function which they
have attempted TO put upon the court We
believe that this Is dangerous and I'M
necessary departure from the policy and
practice OF the government In the past, the
effect OF which will be TO hold a sword
over the heads or inspectors engaged In
the discharge OF their duties. and to Grip
pie materially the efficiency of the service. 1"
The committee then criticises the
provision In the substitute which repeats
the civil service law far the appoint
ment OF meat inspectors Is concerned,
characterizing this as IAN unsound and
vicious policy. which It Is proposed to in
corporate In this BILL"
The minority report closes with the state
ment that "the Beveridge amendment after
correcting certain minor provisions win be
q far better blu and viii accomplish the
purpose Intended moro satisfactorily than
u possible under the conditions OF the
AouSe Sul s'i.uie"