Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-04-18
MEAT INSPECTION
BY GOVERNMENT
SECRETARY OF W0OLGRONERS
FINDS LAWS INADEQUATE
UNDER FREE TRADE.

\ Washington, d. G., April i6.-The
| free meat clause Of the Under
| wood bill will make America the
! dumping ground for the diseas-
al meats Of The world unless our
meat inspection law Is radically
amended, according TO Secretary
/ Mcclure of the National WOOlgrOW-
ers' association. who calls atten-
ton TO the fact that as the law
stands the American people can
II not be protected in the impOrta-
/ ton of meats. Our present efflc-
lent meat inspection law does not
/ reach the imported product. which
comes in under the pure food act,
and is therefore passed by the
bureau of chemistry and not the
/ bureau Of animal industry.
Sees Danger to People
'Ihe free meat clause presents
a grave danger to The health Of
the American people, said Sec
Rotary Mcclure, for no country
from which we might import meat
in any quantity has an adequate
system of meat inspection. Under
free trade in meats these pro-
ducts would come from Mexico, |
South America, Australia, China
and Canada. Canada alone of the
countries mentioned has anything
like a meat inspection law, and
its system is but three years old. |
No country in the world has |
meat inspection system to COM /
pare with ours. This system COSTS
the government in direct apprOpri-l
atiOns So, 100000 a year, and anOth-
er Si,000000 is appropriated by the /
cities and States. We annually :
condemn S3,0O0,O00 worth Of do
nestle meats, making a total Of
more than 100000 Our meat in
spection costs us.
South American Meats.
Our largest supply Of foreign
meats under the Underwood bill
would come from the South Amer
lean countries. Most of these have
no meat inspection whatever, and
those which do maintain an in
spectiOn do so merely for the pur-
pose Of facilitating the export bus
mess and the inspection is a
farce. We already import Meats
from China, which has no meat in
spectiOn whatever.
imDOrted Meats Not Covered.
Contrary to general belief. the !,
meat inspection act of 1906 does !
not cover the imported product. :
which comes under the pure food =,
lct. and is inspected by the bu- =
eau of chemistry. The bureau Of
chemistry Of course requires an IN
pectiOn certificate to accompany .
III imported meat. but as it accepts :
hese certificates from countries
which do not maintain a decent
ystem of inspection, imported
meats offer a serious menace TO
'ur public healthier will if
rought here in any quantity. D
leafs inspected under the pure y
God law can only determine the L
tate of preservation Of the pro- ,
uet. while the animal bureau in Ia
pectlon is made on the hOOf and L
I The chilling rooms. Unless our u
resent law Is changed to have i'm u
orted meat thus inspected by u
ne bureau of animal industry. II
merica will become the dumping
round for diseased meats of the
Grid. We could only insure such
spectlOn by placing United States tv
spectors in the killing plants of ri
/ foreign countries sending us lie
Gals. With the Underwood bill Gl
acmg meat on the free list should fe
as an amendment to the inspee- 81,
)n law to meet this situation, al We
ough thus far it has been entire lat
overlooked |