The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-24
STEVENSON &JOHNSTONE
81 East Washington Street.
THE BUTCHERS CONVENTION.
Preliminary Steps for Making War Against
the Big Provision-Packing Companies.

PHILADELPHIA, May 23-The National
Butchers Protective Association reconvened
this morning. The Buttsrworth bill was In
dorsed and Congress was asked to pass it soon.
The question Of lard adulteration was then
taken rp and 1t was resolved to continue aeita-
ton OF the question before Congress until q law
is passed prohibiting Che sale Of adultsrated
lard. or If its sale be allowed, that it be branded
as such. Il was resolved to 50 amend the con-
stitution a. to permit the national body to issue
charterS to State organizations. and they. In
turn. to charter local associations. The follow
ing was adopted:
Resolved, That local associations of each State be
directed to see that bills are introduced in the Senates
and assemblies of their respective States to the end
that it shall be unlawful to expose, sell or offer for
sale any dressed beef or other fresh meats, unless the
said dressed beef or fresh meats shall have been in
spected alive within the limits of the State.
This appears to be intended az . death blow
to the Western dresssd-beef companies. The
local committee of three appo,nted to prepare o
paper against the beef monopoliss submitted .
lengthy and vehement report They recon-
mend the extension of the provisions Of the
local livestock bill to all cities Of the first class
sale of cattle for food which have not been
killed subject to the inspection Of the muni-
cipal sanitary authorities within whose
Jurisdiction the meat to be re-
tailed. The committee say that the
adoption Of q resolution to this effect by the ma
tional assembly would place the matter on an
entirely different footing. The committee style
the cattle pool of Chicago as ''the most Infamous
tyranny that ever existed in the United States.
They have got their collar on the cattle produc-
ers OF the entire West, and the only remedy is to
inspect livestock and dressed meats in all prom
inent localities The report goes on to
say: 1--WE think, also. THAI the worst
combination in the country il the pork and
adulterated lard packers. They have no equal
in the Standard Oil trust, the sugar trust. the
copper trust, or any other trust They have
had q powerful influence over our business for
years. The prices of cattle to the producer have
gone down so per cent, and the price to the
consumer has Increased. and every single dollar
of the difference has gone into the pockets of
the combination"
At this ~juncture the report was objected to a.
injurious 70 the cause OF the assembly. How
ever, the secretary was ordered to continue, and
the report went on in the same severe strain
against the combination" as tho report termed
IL. The report concluded with the injunction
to strive for the inspection bill Think of the
different diseases of cattle! There are sold in
the United States 700. 900 pounds Of diseased
beef every year; about 500. 900 pounds Of sheep
with smallpox and other scaly diseases. The
monkey veal would amount to 400, 600 pounds.
but the pork is most OF all, nearly 1000, 600
pounds"
After listening to this rather caustic report
Of the Philadelphia COMMITTEES, which was laid
on the table, q recess was taken.