Chairman Allen J. Ellender of the Senate Agriculture Committee today cited Jewish Orthodox religious opposition to a House-approved humane slaughter bill when an attempt was made on the Senate floor to substitute the House bill for one recommended by Sen. Ellender’s committee.
The Senate took up the committee’s milder bill which calls for a two-year study. Advocates of the House bill moved to substitute the stronger measure. This is the bill opposed by Orthodox Jewry.
Speaking against the House-approved bill urged by Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, Minnesota Democrat, and 18 others, Sen. Ellender said an opinion was expressed before his committee by religious Jews that the House bill would “invade” Jewish religious rites.
In response, Sen. Humphrey and Sen. Richard Neuberger, Oregon Democrat, cited provisions they saidaiequately protected Jewish religious slaughtering methods.
A Louisiana Democrat, Sen. Ellender, said the House bill is inefficient and undesirable. He urged adoption of his committee’s bill providing a long study to decide on humane slaughter legislation.
By a roll call vote of 43 to 40, the Senate rejected the Agriculture Committee’s study bill. The Senate then started to discuss amendments to the controversial House bill.
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