Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-19
The Other side OF the Question.
~ - = ~ y
To The Editor Of the Dispalch

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The proposed passage OF the ordinance by
the City Council to appoint can inspector OF
all fresh meats sold or offered for sale In the
city OF Richmond, and also 10 provide for the
inspection Of live stock" occasions Some
surprise i'm view OF the fact th,t The last
Legislature 10y an almost UNANIMOUS vote,
irrefpectye Of party lines aud affiliations,
swept from the statuie-bOOks Of Virginia
the compulsory inspection laws in regard 20
such staple commodities % -four and fish,
very properly regarding them ne
ureiess and unnecessary burden and tax
upon the people OF the Commonwealth.
Ths ordinance is seemingly gotten up az
the instance OF and in the interests OF toe
butchers Of our city 10 keep out The fresh
meat being sold here by Armour ( Go, and
swift < Co., Tor fresh meat and I've stock
have been sold here ever since the city was
chartered. and no occasion or necessity
seems 10 have heretofore arisen TO call for
An inspector until the Introduction OF West-
ern dressed meats. No complaints have
been made by the people generally, but The
butchers, who have bad TO reduce the price
OF their meats to compete successfully with
western meats, naturally complain aud are
dissatisfied, because IL has les'ened their pro-
its; but the people, especially the poor peo'
ple-the working cliss-have been and are be-
ingvcry materially belefledand adgantaged
by the Introduction and ssle OF western
meats in THIS market, which has occisioDed a
reduction in price Of at least - per cent. in
every pound Of fresh meat they buy, and
with the small wages some OF them get tins
i quite desidelatum, and II orr people
choose 10 Use western dressed meats they
should not be declared from so doing. They
should have that privilege accorded them
I'm this advanced age we do not want any
Chinese walls erected TO keep out western or
any other cattle. II Is true the citv has the
right through its Council 10 pass bygienic
laws for its inhabitants aud properly enforce
the same. bat we very much question
the necessity, justice, and policy OF this
proposed law. II Is well-known and estab-
lShed fact tlat you might inspect fresh
meat at 9 O'Clock A. NJ. at certain scasoos
Of the year. and at 3 L. ". the same met
might he uusOund. II would tale probably
= dozen inspector, TO carry QUIT proposed
ordinance. II properly enforced; II the IN
spectors are paid a salary II will entail an I'M
mense expense up0n the taxpayers OF our
cIiy; If they are paid by the sellers OF the
meat IT will DO added 10 the price Of the con
sumerf purchases. The best and safest
DIOLftllQU Anu ENAl ANU ilAN NUuTAtN'A III
po,siblv have Il the fact that competition is
20 great ihat If dealers were Inclined
and we do not think they are 30 inclined
10 Offer for sale unhealthy and unsound
meats TO their customers. policy and seiI'in
lercst, Leaving ont problty and principle.
would keep them from 50 doing, knowing
and recognizing the fact that II they once
sold bad or uusound meat to customer
thew would in all likelihood lose the custom
Of that patron The dealer in fresh meat IL
presumed to be IS good Judge Of H. quality
a. an inspector would be. Most any one
with two eyes and good naNAl organ can
tell good from spoilt meat, but II II should
he bought by bliut man aud
one affected with cltarrh he would
have an infallible guide aud inspector
in bic palate" Weregard this proposed law IS
useless, unnecessary, expensive, burdentome.
II YOU once revive the laws Of inspection "e
DO not know where they will end. After
awhile you will wsut an inspector OF butter
and cheese. lard, &c., &c. We are pleased.
however. 10 see that the sense OF the comml'-
tee /. evidently IN favor OF no unjust dis
elimination. and Of making the law gene
raj one, applying to meats and livestock,
domestic as we'll sc foreign, to the butcher
s. well ~ the green.groeer. The difficulty
~ Identification OF the meats would, II
strikes us, be an insuperaOls obstacle 10
the enforcement OF the law. II would
have 10 be inspected At certain seasons
u the year twice day and would occasion
a good deal Of labor and trouble. Let our
city fathers let well enough alone; let the
poor Of our city, who have been immensely
benefited nv the introduction OF the western
meats, continue 10 DO benefited thereby, I'M
trAmmelled by new laws; le. Them have the
privilege accorded them Of buying What they
choose, from whom they choose, and At -
low price rs competition Will give them,
aud let the butchers understand that the
western dressed nests are here and are
here to STAY. II the Council IN it, Wis
dom thinks there IL danger OF uusound
meat being old lei them pass law not only
lning aud imUrlsonlng the seller OF the
same but prohibiting him from selling meat
sga.n-fOrielt his licenSr. In conclusion, We
would state that ne have never bought or
eaten pound Of western dressed meats auj
have no interest either direct or indirect in
Tie fgesh-mcat business, and what We have
said is simply what we conceive 10 be for the
interests our Re low.citizens irrespective OF
Glass mr. eGudiflop Plus.