The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-08
BAD MEAT AND BAD BUTTER.
Both Said To Be Sold in the City Markets
Charge Against Health officers.
Meeting of the Council-A New Telephone
Ordinance Reported bnt Nothing Done
Report of Treasurer Miller.

Cass Byfeld, trustee, paid $3.50 on account of
the Pattison deficit, and on July the further
sum of $14 212 Ga. The said amounts were cred
tied on the written guaranty of n. s. Byram
and others, and the money paid over to the
county treasurer for the use of the city and
credited to the additional City Hall fuEd
Hiram W. Miller, treasurer, submitted the
following receipts and disbursements on account
of the city of indianapolis for the month of june
1886:
Receipts-Bal June 1 1924. S0S.49
To collections tax
To collections, miscella-
neous funds. $3.50. 17,843 50-$25d ,3Sl.U
Balance ..---......-------.---- $ZOz, Ooo.9o
The foregoing is the apparent balance.
The real balance to the credit Of the city is
less 500, 264.25, on account of semi annual inter
est paid July l. in New York and for which the
treasurer will credit himself in July report
The city clerk submitted an itemized state
ment of orders drawn on the treasurer during
the month of June
The monthly report of the City Dispensary
showed expenditures amounting TO 1912. 20. The
Board of Health report showed deaths for the
last half of June amounting to sixty three.
The report of Chief Fire Engineer Webster
for the month of June showed disbursements for
supplies and repairs, amounting to $9,4l8.6L
The superintendent of the City Hospital re-
ported expenditures for June amounting to
SLOTS 46; one hundred and fifteen patients in
hospital during the month.
The following report was submitted:
Full
that they have examined a considerable number
of witnesses. and, Notwithstanding the report of
the Board of Health, are compelled to say that
the charges that bull meat boar meat, crippled
meat. and meats of poor quality, and unfit for
the best quality of food. butterine and oleomar-
garine sold and offered for sale upon the
markets in this city, and contrary to the ordi-
nances prohibiting and regulating the manner of
the sales thereof, are true that the rumors of
the sale of bad meats and oleomargarine for
butter, and without any distinguishing mark,
are well founded: and that meats far from being
first-class sold habitually upon the markets;
that, in fact, the sales of inferior meats have
reached such a point that butchers selling
first-cass meats have been driven entirely
off the markets and no longer try to compete
with those yet selling there; that the meats
now commonly sold upon the markets cost at
least 80 per cent. less than the best qualities of
meats
Your committee would further report that in
stances in which the health officers have allowed
unwholesome meats and bull meat to be sold and
pass uncondemned, well knowing its character,
have come to their knowledge; that competent
butchers all claim to be able to recognize bull
meat and to tell the same upon examination;
that the health officers alone claim to be unable
to detect this meat on sight upon the markets;
that in the light of the investigation, your COM
mittee ia compelled to say that the health
officer who has the inspection of meats
in his charge is either grossly incompetent
willfuly permits the ordinances of the city to be
iagrantly violated that this investigation has
shown that the markets have become an outlet
and escape for all the poor and unwholesome
meats in the city.
While your committee does not understand
that the motion of reference herein makes tpart
of its duty to provide and recommend ways and
means of improvement. it cannot refrain from
recommending that the amendment now pending
before this Council, by which the appointment of
health officers is placed in the hands of this
Council, should pass, in order that the Council
may thereby sec that hereafter acompetent man
fills the Office Of meat inspector upon the mar
kets. CORNELIUS McGRoARTY,
JOSEPH HowEs,
THEo. F. SMITHER,
NJ M. CUMMINGS, Committee.
The report gave rise to considerable discussion.
Mr.. Thalmap thought the offenders should be
filed against
Mr.. Cummings said the information had been
received under promise that names should
be divulged; otherwise it would not have been
able to obtain SO full and complete testimony.
Mr.. Edenharter thought the report Of the
committee an unwarrantable assault upon the
Health Board.
Mr. Cummings said no charge had been made
against the Health Board, though there was
reflection against the officers.
Mr.. Stuckmeyer (himself butcher said that,
to his own knowledge, the statements of the
committee were true Many butchers who
wished to sell good meats no longer went upon
the market, as they could not compete with those
who sold bad meats. Other butchers, to meet
competition on the market, now sold bad meat.
Mr.. Edenharter moved to refer the report
back to the committee, with instructions to pre-
pare charges against the Health Board and its
officers, and the marketmaster, based upon their
report. Carried.
This motion was passed, despite the protest of
Mr.. Cummings and others of the committee that
they were in no position to investigate, owing to
the action they had taken and the promises
made to those who had given their testimony to
them in confidence. The passage of the motion,
for this reason, was considered very shrewd
thing by those who voted to refer it to the same
committee, as they think that committee will
not press the matter, but let it drop.
The committee on streets and alleys, to which
was referred the Citizens Cooperative Telephone
Company matter, reported that John Caven,
president, and Jacob l.. Bieler, secretary of the
company, had informed them that they could not
accept the ordinance and its provisions, and de-
manded that the section providing for service
lines, the PROVISION Ior forfeiture OF properly IL
they sold Or assign to any other company, and
the provision prescribing ST.. 80 per month as the
charge for private families, be stricken out
This would require the passing of new ordi-
nance to meet the requirements of the Citizens
Cooperative Telephone Company. The report
was received
The committee reported new ordinance to
meet the requirements of the Citizens Co-opera-
tive Telephone Company, but it was in such
form that it could not be acted upon. though the
rules had been suspended for that purpose 1t
was referred back to the committee with instruc-
tons to report at the next meeting
Mr.. Pearson moved that, when the Council
adjourn, it be to meet on next Monday night in
special session. Carried
The usual appropriation ordinances were
passed
The committee on streets and alleys recon-
mended that Lincoln lane be opened and ex-
tended from its eastern terminus to Shelby
street. A resolution to that effect was passed.