Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-14
ONLY CHOICE BEEF IS USED
Chicago Packers Make Their Defense of
Rotten or Bmbalmed Meat,
BEST PART OF FoREQUARTER IS CHOSEN
Government Inspectors Describe the
Standard Which Animals Must
Meet ana Methods of Dis
posing. of cattle.

/ examined, three Of them being inspectors
I Of the government bureau OF animal in
| dustry and the rest Of them employees in
various capacities at several Chicago pack
| ing houses. Colonel Davis. recorder Of the
court, stated tonight that he was unable 10
approximate the length of time 1t would
take to exhaust the list Of Chicago WIZ
| nesses, but it seems likely that two or three
days will be required and possibly the en-
tire week before the members Of the court
can leave for Kansas City.
Edward Tilden, who is treasurer and one
of the directors of the Libby. Mcneil &
Libby Packing company, was the first wit
ness called.
Referring to the grade Of stock reported
in the newspapers as Gamers" he said; 81
understand that 1t refers to cheap grade Of
cattle, but so far as the packing houses are
concerned 1t is misnomer and does not
signify anything" Tue witness said the
aim is to get uniform class of beef Cor
canning of about 900 pounds live weight.
Generally the forequarters are used for
canning.
Major Lee asked: "Is 1t not matter of
fact that you can what might be termed the
inferior part of the forequarters?"
INC, sir; it is matter of fact that we
can the best part of the forequarters, the
chuck"
rs il not fact that chucks were sold to
the troops at Watertown, n. Y. and other
points for cents a pound?"
"If they were somebody must have been
very anxious to dispose of them. The mar
ket price would be about cents. The chuck
Is not by any means the worst part of the
carcass; we look upon it as one of the
choicest parts In fact, the forequarter of
the carcass is the only part eaten by an
orthodox Jew
Major Lee asked: "Then the price would
depend upon the number of Jews in the
cOmmunity?"
"No, sir, not at all"
"How many grades of canned beef do you
prepare?"
Two grades of roast beef one grade Of
corned beef
You sold considerable of this low grade
to the government, did you not?"
"a very small amount. We sold about
250O,000 pounds Of canned roast beef to
the government in all
Colonel Gillespie: "Where was that Sec
ond grade deivered?"
Il think it was delivered at Camp Alger."
The difference in price between the two
grades, witness said, was l cent a pound.
Inspectors Make Careful Test.
DR.. George Little an assistant inspector
of the Bureau of Animal Industry, who had
been on duty at various packing houses in
the stock yards, testified that about one in
500 cattle was condemned. II the animal is
to be entirely condemned the inspector fol-
lows it to the rendering tank and sees it
put in. lie made no inspection of the tank
itself, nor did he inspect the refuse when 1t
came out In the case of bruises the bruised
portions are cut off and condemned. Meat
withdrawn from the tank would not be
suitable for food.
Have you any knowledge of any being
withdrawn from the tanks?"
mo, sir
ANY reason for suspectng it?"
"No, sir"
Have you ever had any occasion to be-
leve or suspect that chemicals were used
for the preservation of beef?"
"No, sir
Have you any jurisdiction as to chem
icals?'
mo, SIR
IF beef were rubbed down with cloths |
boric acids it would not be a !
matter within your jurisdicton?'
"No, sir"
In reply to General Davis the witness !
told how the meat was cut up prior to |
~ ihIo Inc leIlutllllB LdHk, saying |
1t would be possible for small quarter to |
be put in whole
In reply to Major Lee the witness stated !
that some of the houses kill cattle the
same day they arrive at the yards while
others held them for day or two days.
Some kill them right away"
Yes, sir"
After they have been shipped long dis
ance?"
Yes sir"
Regarding Meat Thrown in Tank
DR.. o. E. Dyson, who has been an inspec-
or at the stock yards since 1893, was next
'alled. He said his duties were to look after
he other inspectors and see that they do
heir duty. He has twenty-five or thirty
men TO look after and had reported only two
n year fer negligence. One came late and
he other was intoxicated. An interval, he
aid, might elapse between the going off
md the coming on CT an inspector, but I'VE
ire supposed to be very strict in regard to
hat"
From your observation, would it be pos
ible to take out meat from the tank when
nee thrown in?"
1T would be possible, but don't think it
cry probable"
What would be the condition Of the
,eef?"
1T would not be very inviting"
After once being thrown into the tank,
What would be the possibility of its being
lsed for food?"
Il don't think it could be-
"Where would it have to be taken to be
worked up?"
1T would have to be taken TO the sausage
Dom or to the canning room
what would be the chances of detection (
n your Opinion?"
THE chances of detection would be in
ONE of the employees being around and l
eeing the meat in that condition. / think
would be easily recognized"
Have you ever had occasion to believe :
r suspect that that practice existed in any
egistered packing houses?"
mot within the last four or five years"
How was 1t prior to that time?" I
II never had any positive evidence of I
nything occurring at that time, but | was {
tationed at a house whore there were
umors or reports that probably such a thing t
'as done"
What steps, if any, were taken to pre-
ent 1t? Did you make any investigation G
r report on the NATTER"
This was merely rumor. | had no oc- d
aston myself to suspect anything of the |
ort After it was reported l used all the I
igilanCe l could"
DR.. Dyson said that cattle condemned at
he antemortem examination in the yards,
variQlg 10 ba, IL, 4