The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-14
RAPID PROGRESS MADE
Inspectors and Employees of the
Packing Houses Examined.
THE USE OF BORACIC ACID
Inspectors Have no Way OF Telling
Whether It Is Used or Not-Cows
With Calves Would Not
Be Condemned.

SHlCdSU, MdItl lo.-A Adplu progress
was made to-day by the government
court of inquiry investigating the beef
controversy. Nearly a dozen witnesses
We're examined, three of them being in
spectors of the government bureau of
animal industry, and the rest of them
employed in various capacities 1T sew
eral Chicago packing houses. Colonel
Davis, recorder of the court, tated TO-
night that he was unable to appr3X-
innate the length of time it would take
to exhaust the list of Chicago wit
nesses, but it seems likely that two
or three days will be required before
the members of the court can leave
for Kansas City.
Edward Tilden, who is treasurer and
one Of the directors of the Libby. Nc
Neill & Libby Packing company, was
the first witness called to-day in the
army beef inquiry. Referring to the
grade of the stock reported in the
newspapers as "canners," he said:
Il understand that it refers to
cheap grade of cattle. but so far as the
packing houses are concerned is a mis-
Aiel'Ni anu tloOS ilot slSllllN dHylllnS,
Witness said that the aim is to get a
uniform class of beef for canning, about
a thousand pounds, live weight. Gen
orally the forequartcrs are used for
canning. Tilden said the company nut
up two grades of roast beef. but very
little of the lower grade was sold to
the government. He thought that his
company had delivered the amount sold
at Camp Alger.
DIR. CIeOrga 7 vtt1e oseic,a,t ;,rnr1.o
OF the bureau of animal industry. " no
had been on duty at various packing
houses in the stock yards. testified that
about one in 500 cattle was condemn
ed. Ii the animal is to be entirely con
demned the inspector follows it to the
rendering tank and sees it Dut in. He
made no inspection of the tank itself
nor did he inspect the refuse when if
came out In the case of bruises the
bruised portions are cut off and con-
demned. Meat withdrawn from the
tank Would-not be suitable for food.
Have you any Jurisdiction as to
chemicals?"
mo, sir"
IF beef Were rubbed down with
cloths containing boracic acid it would
not be matter within your jurisdc-
tion?"
mo, sir"
In reply to General Davis. witness
told how the meat was cut prior to
being placed i'll the rendering tank,
saying that it would be possible for a
small quarter to be put in whole.
Are animals that have given birth
to calves condemned?'
Yes. SIR
Then COW carrying a calf seven
months would go in and not be con-
demned?' queried Major Lee.
Yes. SIR
Are cows habitually used in the can
ming establishments"
Yes; the larger portion are cows"
Colonel Davis-What is the n,lrposa
of your inspection?
Witness-To guard against diseased
meats.
You consider a cow seven months
with calf just as good and wholesome
as one that is nOt?"
Yes. SIR
In reply to Major Lee, the witness
stated that some of the houses kill cat
Tie the same day they arrive at the
yards while others held them for ,lav
or two.
Some kin them right away?'
Yes, sir
After they have been shipped long
distance?"
Yes, sir"
DR.. Q. e. Dyson. who has been an in
spector at the stock yards since 1898,
was next called. He said his duties
were to look after the other inspectors
and see that they do their duty. He
had 20 or 30 men to lock after, and had
reported only two in year for negli-
Sence. One came late and the other
was intoxicated An interval. he said
might elapse between the going off and
the coming on of an inspector.
From your observation, would it be
Ia to fEl- an
when once thrown in?''
1T would be possible, but I don't
think it very probable"
What would be the condition of the
beef?"
1T would not be very inviting"
After once being thrown into the
tank, what would be the possibility of
its being used for food?"
Il do not think it could be-
"Where would it have to be taken to
be worked up?"
1T would have to be taken to the
sausage room or to the canning room"
What would be the chances of detec-
ton in your opinion?'
THE chances of detection would ba
in some of the employees being around
and seeing the meat in that condition
I think it could easily be recognized"
Have you ever had occasion to be-
lieve or suspect that that practice ex-
listed in any registered packing
houses?"
Not for five years"
''How was ii them"
81 never had any positive evidence of
anything occurring at that time, but |
was stationed at a house where there
We're rumors or reports that probably
such thing was done
what steps. if any. We're taken to
prevent ii Did you make any investi-
cation or report on the matter"
This was merely a rumor, I had no
occasion myself to suspect anything of
the sort. After it was reported I used
all the vigilance I could"
Did you make any investigation or
report on the matter?'
mo. sir
"Who did,
"It was reported to me- It got around
to the inspectors in charge, or to me-"
but You made no investigation or
participated in any Investigations"
mo, it was outside of my duty. Some
cattle thrown out at the yards were
driven to what are known as little
that hni inc