The Evening critic., 1882-05-15
Is,
THE ABATToIR BILL.
The butchers Petition Congress 90
Protect Their Property and Busi-


meas.
To-day 200 butchers presented petition
to the Senate and tho House stating why the
Abattoir bill Is iniqultous and should not be-
come law, as follows;
Tirst-Tho score and intent of this bill are
at one stroke to prOstrate, In cnect, tho busi-
ness OF your petitioners, and render useless
the property that by years Of toll they secured
for special business, and make 1t subject TO
the VIII and disposal OF n corporation.
Second-That tho provisions OF said bill not
only affect injuriously the interests OF your
petitioners IN The matter above stated, but also
take from them tho orral portions of animals,
which Is great proportion OF their profits,
and thereby enhance the price Of animal food
70 the consumers TO the predjudice of all the
Thlrd-That should this bill become law
the stockralsers and farmers of Maryland and
Virginia, who heretofore furnished the market
here to a great extent, would, on account Of the
Inconvenience, embarrassment trouble and
expense attending their bringing live animals
TO this District under the restrictions and pom
alties imposed thereby, seek market else
where; and tho same might be said Of stock
raisers in more distant places.
Fourth-Your petitioners further state that
they have an equal interest with other Citizens
OF the District OF Columbia In the taxes to be
paid, and they say that the passage and en-
evitably diminish the revenue of q community
oppressed already with debt.
Eifth-The small dealers who buy much OF
their provisions I'm slaughtered animals from
farmers, who bring the best of meat to the mar
kct, VIII be deprived OF this supply, and tho
neighborhood customers VIII have to pay the
penalty.
sixtn-That the committing OF such vast and
vital interests TO corporation which In no
wise can be made responsible to private con-
sumers would be not only dangerous but ex-
pcnsive, in that 1t would create monopoly
which could not be controlled by competition.
The meat OF the bill referred to in the fore
going petition Is In the third section, which
not only forbids the landing or slaughterlng
OF any food animals I'm this District. excent by
the Abattoir Company established by the bill,
but IL also forblds the selling altering for sale
any meat derived from animals not inspected
dad slaughtered by-said company. This shuts
of tho supply OF food meats now obtained at
Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Baltimore and else
where, and compels every pound OF meat to
be used in tho District to pay n tax to this
monopoly. No Congress having any regard
whatever for the interests of the people of this
District Will pass this bill, or anything like It.
Following Is the full text of the Objectionable
third section
''That from and after the 1st day Of October,
A. d. 1884, it shall not be lawful to land for
food purposes, keep, or slaughter any cattle,
beeves, calves, sheep, or swine, or to have,
keep, or establish any drovers' rest, stock
landings, yards, pens, slaughter,houses, or
abattoirs at any point or place within the Dis
trict Of Columbia, except that the Washington
| Stockyard, Abattoir g. Rendering Company
may establish itself at such points or places
| within said District, first having obtained the
approval of such location by the existing
| health authorities OF the District. And any
| person or persons, or corporation or company,
carrying on any business or doing any act in
| controvention Of this act, OF landing for food
purposes, slaughterlng, or keeping any such
animal OF animals in violation Of this act, or
selling or oQeftn9Jor sale dny meat dertCed from
animals not inspected and Stoaqhtered IN accord
| 01ce 2vih Lle p1OUisiOnS Of his act, excepting
swine shall belidble TO a fne of tiU0 hundred and
| ffty dollars for each and euery UaoLati0n, the
same 10 be recoverable, with costs of suit,
| before any court OF competent Jurisd iction.