The evening times., 1899-03-11
Power of Agents of the Agri-
cultural department.
Diseased Beef May Be Put on the
Market.
Inspectors Have Arbitrary Author
fty in the Matter Of CGRden:ning
Cattle and Abattoi= Products.

ment OF Agriculture may be both negli-
gent and criminal. As the inspectors are
but men. II held that they are fallible and
that they are liable to err.
The attention OF the Department of Ag-
riculture has been called several times to
The acts of dishonest inspectors. 1t is in
the power of the agents of the Department
OF Agriculture TO permit the sale and
slaughter OF diseased and defective ami
mails. They may also condemn animals Co
insist that they be ''tanked." which is the
technical term for reducing the carcass SO
that it is useful only for fertilizer and
grease for soap and oils. In an inspector
be dishonest he may be persuaded by the
packers with whom he is associated to let
pass bad meat. He may be negligent and
may not inspect the stock al all. In view
OF this, the regulations prescribed by the
Secretary of Agriculture for the inspection
of live stock and its products, are of pub
lie interest
Rules and regulations are prescribed for
the inspection Of live cattle, sheep, hogs.
and their carcasses by virtue Of authority
conferred upon the Secretary of Agricul-
under the provisions of the act of
Congress approved March 8, 1891, entitled
An act TO provide for the inspection OF
products thereof which are the subjects of
interstate commerce. and for other par
poses" and amendments thereto approved
March ,, 1895.
Application for Inspection.
Proprietors OF slaughterhouses. canning,
sailing, packing. or rendering establish
ments. engaged in the slaughter OF cattle,
sheep or swine. the carcasses or products
Of which are to become subjects of inter
state or foreign commerce must make ap-
plication 10 the Secretary cf Agriculture
for the inspection OF these animals and
their products.
The application must be in writing ad
dressed 10 the Secretary of Agriculture,
and must state the location and address Of
The slaughterhouse or other establishment.
he kind Of animals slaughtered. the esti-
mated number CT animals slaughtered per
week and the character and quantity Of
The products TO go into interstate or foreign
commerce from the establishment; and the
applicant in his application must agree 10
conform strictly with all lawful regulations
or orders that may be made for carrying
on the work CT inspection at his estab-
lishment.
The Secretary Of Agriculture is TO desig-
nate an inspector II take charge OF the e-l-
animation and inspection Of animals and
their products for each establishment, an
is 10 detail TO such inspector such assist
ants or other employees as may be neces-
sary. The inspector and all employees
under his direction must have full and free
access to all parts of the building or build
ings used in the slaughter OF animals AMI
the conversion Of their carcasses into food
products.
Examination Before Slaughter.
An ante-mortem examination of all ami
mails arriving at the stockyards for s'augh-
ter must be made when they are weighed
or II not weighed, this inspection may he
made in the pens. Any animal found to
he diseased or unfit for human food must
be marked by placing in the ear metal
tag bearing u. s. Condemned" ani 4
serial number The condemned animals
must be placed in pens set apart for this
purpose and removed only by numbered
permit. signed by the inspector, 30 an
abattoir or rendering works des. gnated by
the inspector where they must be killed
under the supervision Of an employe of th
Bureau Of Animal Industry and rendered
in such manner that their products Will be
made unfit for human food.
Animals rejected on account of their
pregnant or parturient condition, must be
held In the pens during CESSATION and for
ten days thereafter, unless removed by
permit. II is the duty Of the inspector in
charge Of the establishment to carefully
inspect all animals in the pens and about
To be slaughtered, and TO allow no animal
10 pass 10 the slaughtering room until it
has been inspected. He must examine each
animal after slaughter and MAKE a post
mortem report to the department. The
head of each animal must be held until
the inspection Of the carcass is completed
in order that it may be identified in case OF
condemnation Of the carcass.
Condemned Carcasses
The carcass of a condemned animal must
be marked with yellow condemnation tag
and the diseased parts Immediately at
tached to the same.
The entire carcass shall be at once re-
moved. under the supervision of the in
spcctCr or that of some other reliable en-
ploye Of the Department of Agriculture, TO
tanks on the premises, and deposited there
in, and rendered in such manner as TO
prevent its Withdrawal as a food product
Carcasses may be taken to the cooling
rooms after marking with the yellow con-
demnation tag, in cases where only a pOr-
iion Of the carcass is condemned and when
such portion cannot be removed without
damage TO the carcass, until il is properly
chilled.
The firm or corporation shall forward
through the inspector, to the Secretary OF
Agriculture a sworn statement, monthly
giving in detail the disposition OF the car
casses condemned, and, il the same have
consumption as food or otherwise. with
what knowledge, If any, by the purchas-
ers, Of their condemnation by the depart
ment, and whether or not before such sale
said carcssses have been cooked or their
condition al the time OF inspection by the
department altered.
The inspectors shall, when authorized by
the Secretary of Agriculture give notice
by publication to the express companies
and common carriers at the place of con
demnation of the fact of condemnation
giving the name OF the owner of such car
casses the time and place of slaughter
the reason for rejection, and description
OF the carcasses, and warning them not 10
transport them out of the State.
The Matter OF Tags.
All persons are warned against removing
the tags attached TO condemned carcasses
and are notified that they viii be prosecut-
ed for any attempt to tamper with the de-
vice.
Carcasses or parts of carcasses which
leave the establishment for interstate OF
export trade are to be tagged by the in
spector with 4 numbered tag issued by the
Tf HaTne f6a liz