The San Francisco call., 1913-08-24
CUMM|NS BLOCKS
FREE MEAT ENTRY;
ASKS INSPECTION
Tariff Bill Section Goes Over
When Senator Offers an
Amendment Requiring
Ante1nortem Test
DECLARES MEASURE
LACKS HEALTH GUARD
Plan Would Compel Foreign
Exporters to Equal the
United States System

WASHINGTON, Aug %. Rapid
progress on the tarin bill Was made
today in the senate. The wool schedule
was disposed Of so far as 1t will be
considered in COMMITTEES Of the whole.
and deep inroad was made to the
free list.
Though no vote was taken on free
raw wool the finance committee rates
on wool manufactures were agreed to
without amendment. and there was
every indication that raw wool would
remain free. The Penrcse, La Toilette.
Smoot and Catron substitutes tor the
schedule viii come up when the bill
appears In the senate proper.
With only part OF the free list
a portion OF the paper schedule and
the sundries schedule remaining to be
considered in committee. democratic
leaders expressed confidence that the
income tax would be disposed Of next
week. It Is their hope to have the
bill ready for the final vote In the
senate within two weeks.
Among the articles on the free list
ratified today were agricultural fmple-
ments. beet and sugar cane. machinery,
alcohol. horses and mules and animals
bibles. bread and biscuits.
CUMMINS DEMANDS MEAT TEST
An inspection system for foreign
meat imports more rigid than that in
the tariff was proposed In an amend
ment introduced and urged by Senator
Cummins, ana the free meat section
went over without action. The pend
Ing bill provides for the acceptance
OF certificates Of inspection from ex-
porting countries.
Senator Cummins' amendment would
demand an ante-mortem examination
of meats in the country's expectation,
and would authorize American inspect
ors to reinspect the meat after 1t enters
the United States.
There can be no reason why we
should permit the foreigner to supply
us with diseased meat. and deny the
privilege to our own packers" said
Senator Cummins.
The present bill, he declared. would
give Americans no protection against
beef of diseased cattle from countries
that had no system of antemortem In
spection He demanded an inspection
system on all meats imported as rigid
as our own.
Does the senator SO Ak 1t so meats
can not come here from MexicoT asked
Senator Williams.
1 40 not PdFttculafize, 8alQ AT.
CummiHs. II simply want to protest
our consumers, no matter where the
meats come FROM"
Senator Norris also said he believed
the bill, II not changed, would give the
foreign meat producer an advantage
over the American packer.
LEFT TO AGRICULTURE HEAD
Senator Williams. In charge of the
bill, said the committee Intended to
admit foreign meats from countries
with inspection laws inferior to Ameri-
can laws, provided the secretary OF
agriculture should define the original
inspection was good enough" He
said the United States had no power to
compel other countries to adopt definite
inspection systems
.Other countries have compelled us
to adopt certain rules" suggested Sem
ator Lodge. by excluding our meats"
Senator Williams replied that the
democrats were mot trying to make
the law impossible of admission" but
were trying to obtain cheap meats for
the American people"
Senator McCumber offered an amend
ment proposing countervaiiing OF 90
per cent ad valorem on meat against
countries that levy tariff on Ameri-
can meats.