Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-07
DIRT IN ABUNDANCE
Commissioner NeiII Reiterates
His Charges.
MANAGER WILSON HEARD
Beveridge Amendment to the Agri-
cultural Bill.
COMMITTEE RESUMES SESSION
Discussing the Neill-Reynolds Report
on Alleged Practices in the
Packing Houses.
COMMITTEE RESUMES SESSION

sumed its hearing ON the Nell-Re nolds
meat inspection report today. Thomas e.
Wilson, manager for Nelson Morris & Co.,
and representing the large Chicago packing
houses, continued his remarks on the Bev-
eridge amendment providing for meat in
specton.
Aside from the objections he had pointed
out yesterday. Mr.. Wilson said the only
other serious objection was the provision
placing the cost of inspection the pack
ers
Before discussing this objection Mr. Will
son was questioned closely by Representa-
tives Henry Comm and Haskins (Vt)
about the sections intervening between
those he found fault with last night and
that regarding the cost of inspection
Have you been advised since we adjourn
ed yesterday" asked Mr.. Haskins, mot to
make further objections?'
No, SIR replied Mr.. Wilson; ''itso hap
pens that most OF the objections are in the
first sections"
AS to cost, Mr. Wilson said the packers
had very serious objections to having this
expense placed on them.
We are now under an expense aggregat-
Ing $1.OOo,O0O year for condemnations of
animals. Neither the raisers nor producers
bear any of the loss on condemned stock.
1t all falls on the packers" asserted Mr..
Wilson.
Representative Scott Oxan.l suggested
that it was generally understood the pack
ers so controlled the meat market that they
would be able to recoup themselves for the
cost of inspection.
we could not" replied Mr.. Wilson. THE
large packers kill only 90 per cent of the
meat supply of the country and 90 not con-
troll the market"
Representative Henry suggested that the
delinquencies of the packers had placed
them in the present position and inquired
why should the hackers object wing if
the government is to pull you out of the
hole"
Loss on English Market.
Mr.. Wilson objected to this view of the
case. It was not the fault of the packers.
The packers had sent men into every ham
let oe the world to create market. The
packers were willing to comply with any
new requirements, but they were now los
Ing money on their English market. but
were carrying it TO develop trade.
But we feel this to be an unjust burden
and one We ought not to be called on to
bear he added.
Chairman Wadsworth asked if any COM
plant had ever been made as to the quail
ity of the goods shipped abroad.
Well replied Mr. Wilson. 4 could not
say no to that question. Occasionally we
have case of goods sent back but we
always try to get hold of the goods that
are the subject of complaint
What is the result on your foreign mar
ket of the present agitation?" asked Mr..
Wadsworth
THE result is very disastrous replied
the witness "Our foreign demand for
fresh meats and manufactured product has
been practically cut in two. Our foreign
competitors are all making the most of this
and are getting the benefit of agitation and
we are standing the loss.
Naturally" suggested Mr.. Wadsworth,
''if your foreign demand falls off your pur-
chases Of live stock will be less
II do not see where we are to find mar
kets IL our foreign trade is cut off, ans
wered Mr.. Wilson.
Well" continued Mr.. Wadsworth, you
will not have to buy the stock
mo, but cattle raisers are accustomed
to ship their stock to Chicago and get their
don't see how we are to avoid a terrible
calamity In the west" responded Mr.. Will
son.
II. he said, the packers are required to
pay for this inspection 1t would be a reas-
enable position for the packers to take that
they would not buy the stock that has been
condemned
Possible Cost Imposed.
Under the Beveridge amendment Mr.. VIII
son said 1t would be possible for the Secre-
tary of Agriculture to put an inspector at
the elbow of every workman and charge the
cost to the packer.
Representative Haugen Uowa) said it was
wells known that Congress in the past had
not made adequate appropriation for the
inspection, and he wanted to know II 1t
would not be better for the raisers and
packers to pay. say, four cents a head for
the inspection of cattle and two cents for
the inspection of hogs.
ut would be better for US to divide up
all we have got, suppose, rather than go
out of business" replied Mr.. Wilson. in
all reasonableness and fairness we are pay
ing all that we should be asked to pay--1
do think II fair reasonable to attach
any additional expense to the packers"
Representative Lorimer Qll) suggested
that the Beveridge amendment would put
out of business thousand of slaughterers
doing an Interstate business and would re-
suit in creating beef trust in reality.
Present Number Of Inspectors.
DIR. Melvin. chief of the bureau of animal
industry. was asked incidentally to state
the number of government inspectors in
Chicago. He answered n veterinarians 90
stock examiners and IS taggers. making 1S1
In ALL In the whole service. he said, there
are 7s3.
Solicitor McCabe of the Department OF
Agriculture, brought out the fact that un-
der the law no person could take even
beefsteak across state line IL 1t had not
been inspected.
After a somewhat unsatisfactory effort by
Representative Davis of Minnesota to get
the number OF cattle slaughtered in the
United States for home consumption, Rep
resentative Henry Comm. took Mf. Wilson
over the amendment again for the recapitu-
lation of his objections.
Mr.. Wilson closed with a renewal of his
invitation to the committee to visit Chi
cago and bring Mr. Nell with them.
"But don't legislate through Mr. NeilYs
eyes or my eyes. but through your own"
he said.
Representative Henry of Connecticut
Se haa mad saying ao DON'T ns think snpvhs Ing
Chicago packers made any mistake In the
selection OF the representative they dld to
plausibly present somewhat dubious
case"
Commissioner Neiu On The 5tand.
Commissioner Nell was then put on the
stand. He said be wished first to make q
statement. Before this Chairman Wade
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