Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-21
Local Meat Dealers Who Do
Their Own Slaughtering
DON'T LIKE THE DECISION
Of the Supreme Court, Which Pre-
vents State Inspection.
WHAT TIE FARMER THINKS OF 1T

dered by the supreme Court, Monday, de
claring the State inspection laws unconsti
tutionsl, is a blow at the Pennsylvania
meat industry"
Mr.. Beilstein is President of the ALLIE
gheny County Butchers Association, anG
one of the most thoroughly posted men in
his line of business in~the city. He is in
direct communication with the leading
butchers Of this county, and his views on
the inspection question are important, as
representing the general feeling among the
meat men.
Gas matters stand" he continued, ''the
dressed beef of Chicago holds the fort and
controls nearly the whole market, but since
the decision of the Supreme Court 1t will
have full swing and be master Of the situa-
ton. The butchers of Pittsburg and ALLIE
gheny are now so situated that they are
compelled to buy the Chicago dressed beef
MEAT HAS GONE UP.
lice is at premium this season, and they
cannot buy enough stock at home because
the Western shippers have glutted our
markets and knocked out the Pennsylvania
stock raisers. The Chicago dressed beef
people know that they have the 'cIinch' on
us, and consequently have raised the price
of meat 81 hundred.
ave don't like il, but what are YOU going
to do? We have to take their stock, be-
cause they've killed cattle raising in this
State. That is the reason why inspection
laws should be enforced in Pennsylvania,
which will require animals to be inspected
within "a hours previous to being slaugh-
tered. With that law in force, shippers
from distance would be required to send
live stock instead of consignments of dressed
beef.
"Jobbers in town are constantly in doubt
as to what they are buying, when they pur-
chase meat already prepared. They are
liable to get beef from cattle that have had
lumpjaw, pneumonia, or Texas fever, and
when the inner membrane lis torn out, even
an expert fails to detect diseased meat,
This question is one of the uppermost
topics in the minds of meat men throughout
the country, and the general sentiment
favors inspection laws. The Butchers
National Association will meet at Clncip-
natl, on May 27, and Pennsylvania delegates
will be present. We will consider the
decision of the Supreme Court, and take
steps toward protecting ourselves in some
way If possible, because the business of the
AlSoe
HOW PRICES ARE AFFECTED.
''This law affects prices to the extent of
lowering them so far that home stock-rais-
ers cannot afford to compete with the cheap
Western dressed beef, and they drop out.
while the Chicagoans control the market,
and then raise prices to suit themselves,
after all competition is destroyed. 1 am an
advocate for the home market, and we will
forc af
Opinion of leading stockmen favor the
purchase of live stock, particularly the
home article, and oppose patronizing the
dressed beef firms Butchers want live
stock inspection, +" said Mr.. Louis Roth
schild, of the East Liberty yards. cat
present over half of our meat men are buy-
ing Western dressed beef, but thev are
totally dissatisfied, and want to get their
beef fresh. Nobody wants to take chances
on anything of that kind, and it is to THEN
interests that they secure the best meat, free
from all taint.
Without the State inspection laws the
dressed beef people can ship freely, and at
present they practically have everything
their own way. 1t is true that there are
heavy dive stock shipments made to Pitts
burg, but this, combined with the Chicago
prepared meat, has completely DESTROYED the
cattle-raising business in PENNSYLVANIA.
Where there were 800 bullocks brought to
this market from our own State. not lone
ago. there is but one now. This shows the
tremendous decrease in the stock raising of
Pennsylvania.
BUTCHERS ALL KICKING.
Some well-known butchers of Allegheny
expressed themselves as decidedly opposed
TO the rulings of the Supreme Judges. 81
sell higher than dealers who keep dressed
beef in stock, but nv customers know thev
are getting pure, healthy meat" said T. I.
Young. Il buy the live stock and do nv
own slaughtering. All butchers would do
the same. but they are forced to invest in
cheap stuff on account of the heavy ice
expenses. 1t would be better and cheaper
in the end il we had cattle inspection, and
think the public, as we'll as the trade, will
demand it. Before l would sell Chicago
dressed beef L would quit the business"
The representatives of Armour q Co, OF
Chicago, at 514 Liberty avenue, were inter-
viewed on the subject of the decision. One
of them said "Of course the decision is an
excellent one for us. If the right of State
TO make laws such as that Just squelched
by the SuDreme Court were allowed, Armour
Il Co. would be very seriously damaged.
II vas q ridiculous law, anyhow. II eH.
animation Of meat is desired let the States
pass proper examination laws. Then ali |
meat about 10 be exported can be certified |
60. The butchers and farmers of Pennsyl. |
yauia admit that they insligated the bill dc. |
feated here not 40 long ago. which closely |
fesenbled That Hnt upon by the Supreme |
Court They claim. however, that they |
wore altogether disinterested in The matter, |
aud looked more 10 the improvement in |
meat than 10 their own BFodtH by the |
monopoly, Perhaps such diainiaFautedness |
eSirls ~ the worlds perhaps II doesn't. |
Anyhow, tho local yiotuallart are not going
" got a chance 10 practice H."
VIEWS on FARMEHA.
Several ihrmers we're asked their views on
thn probable effect Of the decision, County
CommihAionef George Y, Mckee was we'll |
satisfied with u, though he himself, IL q |
cattle feeder, lie thought that " tho people |
got good meat at reasonable prices, II made |
no difference whsthef IL were slaughtered In |
Chicago or PiltsDuTg. lie Ia also opposed |
10 the law excluding oleomnTgarIne, holding |
that II II be sold on iis merits the makers |
ought 10 be allowed the same privileges 10 |
manufacture ~ farmers The only condition |
be would Impose would be that oleo be sold |
on its merits, and the same should be eI- |
acted Of the manufacturers oi many other |
products.
The next encountered we're two stalwnrt |
Democrats Messrs, A, is. Stevenson, Esq,
OF Brnddock, (not the 'BrRddook farmer"
aud A. NJ, Stevenson, of Coraopo-
liz. Both we're satisfied 10 see the barriers |
against dressed beef knocked down, and for
reasons very similar 10 those given by Mr.. |
McKee, except that they went further. Net
ther is at present personally engaged In farm
ing though their lntereSts lie In that direction
A. Il. Stevenson. though lawyer, has a warm /
side for the farmer. " said no was opposed TO
the protection OF any interest AZ the expense OF
Others, especially when the others embraced n
larna mari Of the DODulaIian lie inelinad N the