Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-19
INSPECTION Law VIZ
GIT DROP THOUGHT PROBABLE

CHICAGO. oct. 1s.-No hope Of perma-
nently lower prices for meat was held out
by the delegates TO the fourth annual con-
veution OF the American Packers associa-
ton. the first session Of which was held
here today.
Michael Ryan. president OF the associa-
ton. said that prices might drop slightly
for a short time, as there has been some
increase in the number OF cattle raised
recently. but this boon 70 American house
wives would be short lived.
At the same time letter from Secretary
Wilson was read TO the convention thank
ing the packers for the assistance they had
given the Department Of Agriculture in
the execution OF the meat inspection law
aS declaring that the outside world was
s aed with American meats. Secretary
whson in his letter says:
I'VE have inspectors now in over 100
packing houses. which win give an idea
Of the comprehensiveness OF our work.
with few exceptions we have cordial CO.
operation from the packers in the rigid
execution OF the law.
Il am convinced that the outside world
receiving our meats is satisfied with re-
gard to their purity and cleanliness. and ]
know from correspondence within the
United States that there IL very little fault
found with the meats that enter into inter
state commerce. might remark that in
the execution Of the meat law and OF tbs
pure food law we have very little friction
There Is difference Of opinion with regard
to few things only. and entire harmony
with regard to the great bulk Of meats
and foods put upon the American market.
I'VE are having trouble with imports
from foreign countries where people pre-
pairing goods for shipment to the UniteC
States evidently do not have a tithe o
the supervision that is exercised in tn,
United states"
Price of Cattle Up.
IN considering the high cost OF meat. tht
executive comuzlttee said
The past fiscal year has been a verS
unsatisfactory one TO the meat packers u
the country. The prices OF live stock, oui
raw material. have been abnormally higl
and the products have had TO be sold a
comparatively low figures The prices o
live stock foodstuffs have been extremel!
high throughout the year. and this has re
suited IN a consequently increased cost o
production to the feeders and raisers. /
naturally follows that where our raw ma
terial Is high priced that the products mus
go up in proportion, and we think it is ou
duty 10 the public TO explain this situation
There seems to be but little prospect a
this time Of a decrease In the cost OF liv
stock. which We win be compelled to buy
and. II the prices OF our raw materia
continues upon high plane. It win, there
fore, be necessary for US to maintain
proportionate price upon our products"
The committee referred TO the tariff Law
declaring that the schedules while plaC
ing many packing house products ON IN
free list would not materially affect IA
business, the main Importance of the la,
TO the packers being found In the max
mum and minimum provision. the con
EIH1se declaring that II IL is properi
fapalied the restrictive regulations and vi
reasonable tariffs Of some OF the large
countries OF the world will have to B
30 modified as TO permit the entry {
American meat food products The sui
jeet win be cared for by the associate
with s view TO opening foreign marksi
that are now closed 70 US. and should
be successful there viii be an increase
demand for American packing house pro-
ucts.
InapeettOn Laws Approved.
we give our unqualified approval 10 n
meat inspection and pure food laws. "
believe these laws have come 20 stay; thu
they are in line with the progressivenei
OF the age and are calculated TO eleva
our commercial standard. to give an adds
moral tone 20 business. 10 promote hol
esty and fair dealing and 70 greatly col
serve the public welfare"
The committee 10 confer with COVER
ment officials devoted considerable spa
q a discussion Of the eradication OF disesl
An animals, declaring that the matter hi
been taken up at length with the Depar
ment Of Agriculture
Ham curing by electricity was discuss
and declared TO be practicable. The Id
OF electricity as cure TO meat ori
mated in Ohio and Is said 70 have be-
In practical operation for over three yea
on a small scale as q commercial process
The electric curing was hailed as a DO
sible means OF reducing the cost OF ma
ing ham and bacon which with the prese
high price Of hogs II was declared was
sirabIe both from the Polnt Of view
the meat consumer and the packer.
The mos remarkable thing about ele
trically cured meat was said 10 be
keeping qualities. The method employed
an electric curing plant is only slight
different from the ordinary curing pr
cess The meat is placed in large va
filled with a pickle composed OF suga
salt and saltpetre and an electric cure
Is then passed through the vat II - on
in the use Of the electric current that q
process differs from that long in use.