The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-06-15

used in dragging the publc's atten-
tlon through slaughter houses, whore
II Is none too pleasant TO look at best,
and to make nauscating suggestions
in regard to the food that goes on our
tables. He regrets the fact that the
president has attempted by this means
to force legislation which will pro
vide more efficient meat inspection,
As matter OF fact, President Roose.
welt regrets perhaps as much as any
one, the fact that IL became necessary
to use this sort OF publicity in forcing
legislation, for he said In advance that
the publishing of the report would in
jure the live stock industry of the
country, but after all the packers are
themselves to blame for the publish.
ing of the report, and nobody else.
President Roosevelt gave the pack.
ers warning that he would print the
report in case they attempted to block
the measure which provides for great.
er meat inspection. They did try to
block II, right here In Nebraska, by
declaring TO the live stock growers
that II the bill passed the burden OF
inspecting the stock would be thrown
upon the cattle raisers and the hog
raisers. They forced the hand OF Mr..
Roosevelt and he played his trumps
The whole case resolves itself into
the question OF whether the conditions
in packing houses are bad or not. II
they are as bad as reported, then the
country will be only too glad to have
the force Of inspectors increased, thus
giving greater protection to local eat.
ers Of meat. And whether the condi.
tions have been exaggerated or not,
we all know that meat that is sold by
the packers In this country is not sub.
jected to the rigid inspection that is
given to meats which are sent to for.
eign countries, so that Americans real.
ly have a right to demand as good
protection in this line as do the for.
eigners.
II Is no doubt true that the percent
age Of diseased stock chopped up into
meat and sold, is very small as COM
pared with the good but there is no
reason why the country should be
sold any diseased meats at all.
And some is sold, that is certain.
Not long ago there were some lumpy
iawed cattle in yard not far from
Norfolk. Now they are gone. Local
butchers dare not use this sort OF
stock, for the whole community in a
small town would know it in day.
But the diseased stock has gone, and
1t is evident that it has gone to South
Omaha. Made into meat, it has been
later sold and eaten. Last week a
man at Tilden sold lumpy jawed
steer in South Omaha, which was
thrown out of foreign meat purchases
by inspectors, for $4S. The packers
bought 1t for less money than a good
animal would have brought.
1t is true, as Mr.. Days sermon says,
that not many people die as the result
of poisoned meat, for the reason that
the small percentage that Is diseased
| is not enough to create a reign of ia.
tality, but it is anything but desirable
nevertheless, and we might as well
improve the condition as much as
possible.
The live stock industry may suffer
for time through a lack Of demand
for American meats. but the prices
rose yesterday on live stock and, al
all events, the market will recover
within a comparatively short space OF
time, provided the increased force OF
inspectors is put on, so that in ter
years from now the people will have
forgotten all about the incident, will
be eating American meats again as
they formerly did, and will be getting
better meats than they have gotten IL
the past.
1t is all right to protect our indus
tries in all legitimate ways, but the
packers have brought this publicit,
on themselves by trying to blocl
much-needed legislation which, II the.
are trying to do the square thing, cal
not damage them in any way except
ing to tax them few pennies on eacl
animal that goes through the mill.
GOING AWAY TO SCHOOL.
Despite the figures given by Prot
Bessey of the state university, an,
: quoted at the alumni banquet the 9th