New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-14
THE BEEF INVESTIGATION.
METHODS OF CHICAGO PACKING HOUSES
FURTHER PROBED.
EMPLOYEES OF THE BIG FIRMS AND GOV
ERNMENT INSPECTORS GIVE TESii-
MoNy BEFORE THE COURT.


,0, noooraor ~ the court said tonight that ne
90. unable 70 give the length OF time IL wo'u
,aLo 20 exhaust the list Of Witnesses h''o' "' "
seems ligely that two or three Gays W., -.
ou,red and possibly the entire week oeIoIe '''
members Of the court can go 10 ha"S"s a.
rdwors Tuden treasurer OF ana one Oh VI"
ractors Of the Libby. Mcneil Lhppy Az,
rr,,orv was the first witness. Referring 10 INC
rode NJ stock reported in the newspaPers
banners" ne said: II understand 'ha' - -,
20 a cheap grade OF cattle, out 20 ii -
hacking houses are concerned II IS "'''' -,
and docs not signify anything he sa'' Wv
was 10 get uniform class Of beer ior .''., rni,
aho,, a thousand pounds live weight ''e"e'"''
enc foreouarters are used for canning 49,.
Major Lee asked: rs II not matt sn,o-
that YOU can what might he termed 'n'
mart OF the foreQuarters! ~, tho
.,>-o cir. n is a matter of fact that We
- NO no 81 Of = the fore quarters. the chuck
rs Il not a fact that chucks were SOFA .n' "o ,-.
AZ WATERFOWL y. Y and other points '0
a pound?" x,.a beon very
,,a 20 d,snose Of them. The market price
,a ho about six cents The chuck IL not ny any
means the worst part OF the carcass We loo" up"
II as one OF the choicest parts IN 'a'' - a.
quarter Of the carcass is the only part e"'e" -
orthodox Jew - .,o r,,,ober Of
Then the price would depend upo" '"'
Jews in the community"
NO sir. not at all 1000 hoae do
How many different grades OF canned pee w
you prepare?' .so % cornod
Two grades Of roast beef one grade OF coi"'D
beef" -. .Ao
You sold considerable OF TINS lower e'""0 " ~
Government. did you not? -.,,,,o,
"A very small amount We sold about TWO ni''ioh
and a half pounds of canned roast beef TO the OoF
eminent in all -. oos
colonel Gillespie asked Where was that second
grade delivered| ,,o-" Tho
m
difference in price between the TWO sra"eN "'
said was cent pound.
AS TO CONDEMNED CATTLE
DR. George Little an assistant inspector Oh INC
Bureau of Animal Industry. who had been on DUTY
o, various packing houses in the stockyaros' tes-
tilted that about in five hundred oa',le ""s
condemned II the animal is TO be entirely con-
demned the inspector follows IT TO the rehueii'e
tank and sees II put in. He made no inspecuon u
the tank itself nor did he inspect the refuse "hen
:, ooroe ont In the case Of bruises. the bruised
port,ons are cut off and condemned Meat WIZ"
drawn from the tank would not be su''""'e '''
food IL.
Have YOU any knowledge Of any being with
drawn from the tanks
NO sir"
ANY reason for suspecting IT.
"No sir"
Have YOU ever had any occasion TO believe or
ton Of the beef?"
mo sir"
Have you any Jurisdiction as to chemicaisT'
NO sir"
"'If beef were rubbed down with cloths contain
ing boric acid It would he matter within your
jurisdicton?"
NO. SIR"
IN reply 70 General Davis the witness told how
me meat was cut up before putting II into the
rendering-tank. saying II would he possible TOT
small quarter TO be put IN whole
Are cows that have recently given birth to
calves condcmned?"
Yes within a certain length or time
What Is the limit"
.'Nin. days after delivery, or up to within
month prior TO delivery
Major Lee asked: Then COW carrying calf
seven months would 20 in and not be condemned%'
Yes"
Are not cows hahituany used IN the canning
establishment?'
yes. the larger part Of Gamers are COWS"
Colonel Davis asked What is the purpose of
your Inspection"
ITO guard against diseased meats"
You consider a seven months with calf Just
as good and wholesome one that is not with calf
seven months?'
"An things considered. yes"
In reply to Major Lee the witness said that
some Of the houses killed cattle the same day
they arrive AT tn, yards while others held them
for dav two DAYS.
Some Kill them right away"
Yves. sir"
After they have been shipped long distance
yes. sir"
AN INSPECTORS EVIDENCE.
Dr n F Dv4son who has been inspector AZ
the stockyards since 1898, was next called He said
his duties were to look after the other inspectors
and see that they do their duty He has twenty
five or thirty men TO look after, and had reported
only two IN a year for negligence. One came late
and the other was intoxicated. An interval, he
said might elapse between the going off and the
coming OF an Inspector, but we are supposed
20 be very strict in regard TO that"
From your observation. would IT be possible TO
take meat from the tank when once thrown in?'
1T would be possible. but don't think it very
probable"
What would he the condition Of the beef?'
1T would not he very inviting"
After once being thrown into the tank, what
would he the possibility of It's being used for
food"
Il don't think IL could be-"
Where would It have 10 be taken 10 be worked
up"
81, would have 20 he taken 10 the sausaee-room
or 70 the canning-room
what would be the chances Of detection. in your
opinion"
THE chances Of detection would be in some Of
the employees being around and seeing the meat in
tina, condition. l think it would be easily recog
nized"
Have you ever had occasion to believe or sus-
poet that that practice existed I'm any registered
pac king house"
How II prior 10 that time
Il never had any positive evidence of anything
occurring at that time. but stationed al
house where there were rumors or reports that
probably such a thing was done.
What steps. II any, were taken 10 prevent IL
| Did YOU make any investigation or report on the
matter
This was merely rumor. ! had no reason my
SCI 10 suspect anything Of the sort After IT was
reported / used all the vigilance | could
did you make any investigation or report with
reference 10 the matter?
NO sir
who did
ct was reported to me- II got around 10 the in
spectOrs IN charge or 10 me.
'"But YOU made no investigation or participated
I'm any Investigation
NO II was outside Of my duty. Some cattle