Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-16
SANITATION SMOTHERED.
Cities Are Not Allowed to Proper
ly Inspeat Meat.
ThiB Is the Substance OF the supreme
Courts ituiIng In the Abattoir Case
"a Decision Against the City.


Telegraphic information reached Roc
Island from Ottawa this morning that tn
supreme court had reversed the decision
Of the appellate court in the Huesing
abattoir suit and decided against the cit
in Its efforts to promote the sanitary wei
fare Of the people with proper meat in
speclion. The decision is received will
great surprise, and regret and disappolnt
ment that is almoft general.
The case is one that has attracted at
tention all over the country because of it
peculiar nature and the immense impor
lance from sanitary standpoint that at
taches to it. The facts are we'll known,
but il will be of interest to briefly recit.
them at this time. During the fall Of
| 1885 a number of cases of serious poi
soning were developed IN the city through
lack Of proper sanitary precaution and
care in the governing of meat slaugh-
tered, sold and consumed in the city
This state of affairs led the city to take
steps to preserve and protect the sanitary
condition of the city. A city sbattoir
was devised, at which meat should be
inspeC ted on the hoof and after slaughter.
MIR. Bailey Davenport donated two acres
of land on the old distillery road below
town, on condition that the city use it
for the worthy purpose suggested. The
proffer was accepted and a we'll
adapted building put up at COM
raratiVely light expense, the material
used being that employed in the sban-
doned waterworks building. The city
butchers were agreed to the plan and
were mutually interested in the project
until {, citizen who had spite against
the health commissioner of the city led
them 10 revolt, and finally when all was
in readiness and the building open for
use, an injunction was filed in the circuit
court by August Huesing, preventing the
city either using the abattoir, or from
paying Mr.. John Volk the amount due
him for putting in the machinery and
interior arrangements. Huesipg had en-
gagged as counsel, Judge Ira o. Wilkin-
son and VIM. jackson, of this city, and
Hon. Chas Durham. of Geneseo. The
city retained Hon. W. II. Gest, Sweeney s.
Walker and NJ. M. Sturgeon and entered
a motion to dissolve the injunction
This was. after exhaustive arguments on
both sides, overruled by Judge Glenn
and the case went to the appellate
court, where a decision was rendered re-
versing the ruling of Judge Glenn and
deciding in favor of the city. Huesing
took an appeal to the supreme court with
the result as given at the head of this ar
ticle. The city now has but one chance,
and that is to enter within fifteen days, q
petition for rehesriDg in the supreme
court. Otherwise, or if this is refused.
the decision is final.
The decision is not looked upon
by the butchers with any great
degree of favor or happiness, though
they we're indirectly parties to the
suit. Now they regret their action
and would willingly conform to any such
regulations rather than be placed at the
mercy of the great meat men of the
country, such as Armour and others, as
they now are. The recent action of the
Moline butchers and the way they APP
proved the plans and purposes of the
Rock Island abattoir only last Sunday,
demons trated that fact. There has been
no more violent opponents of the abst-
toir plan anywhere, or men who contrib
uted more influence to have it defeated
than the great meat men such as Armour
who, under the validity of the law, would
be excluded from sending their packed
meats, killed and inspected elsewhere,
into such cities as Rock Island and COM
peting with the local butchers. The SUI
preme courts ruling is, therefore, great
victory for the millionaire meat packers
and the local butchers everywhere-and
especially the Rock Island butchers, who
in their revolt have been but tools to a
vindictIve purpose-will so realize.
The city has lost about So. 900 in its
gallant fight for this great sanitary prin-
cipal. How the abattoir thus shameful
ly made useless, will be disposed of, re-
mains to be seen. The land reverts back
to Mr.. Davenport as per stipulation that
the city fail to use i, as an abattoir. The
building must be disposed of by srbitra>
ton. The interior furnishings go back
to Mr.. Nolk as per contract with the city,
and that gentleman has been rewarded
for his enterprise and generosity in aid
ing the city in its good efforts by the loss
of the time and money expended in puts
ting them in.
The decision is great disappointment
to the ARGUS, but it has nothing to re-
greet in the course it has pursued. 1t has
upheld and struggled with all its strength
for principle involving the health Of
the community; there has been no other
consideration or aim, and it is willing to
abide By the consequences, feeling that the
responsible is not in its hands or the
city councils. but on the heads of the
highest legal tribunal of the state.