The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-13
Much Light Thrown on the
Beef Packing Business.
In Course of TOday's Session of
the Court of Inquiry.
THEPEOPLE MAYGAIN
Some Idea of What They Eat
From Tin Cans.
A Packing Company Director on
the Stand.

ton. Referring to the grade of stock
reported in the newspapers as can
ners.'' he said:
Il understand that it refers to a cheap
grade of cattle. but so far as the pack
ing houses are concerned it is mis-
nomer and does not signify anything.
Witness said the aim is to get uni
form class of beef for canning, about
thousand pounds live weight. Generally
the fore quarters are used for canning.
Major Lee asked: rs it not matter
of fact that you can what might be
termed the inferior part of the fore
quarters"
mo, sir; il is a matter of fact that
we can best part of the fore quarters,
the chuck"
1T is not a fact that chucks were
sold to the troops at WATERFOWL, n. Y.
and other points for 4 cents a pound?"
If they were, somebody must have
been very anxious to dispose of them.
The market price would be about g
cents. The chuck is not by any means
the worst part of the carcass. We look
upon it one of the choicest parts In
fact, the fore quarter of the carcass is
the only part eaten by an orthodox
Major Lee: Then the price would
depend upon the number of Jews in the
community
No, sir; not at all"
Major Lee: How many different
grades of canned beef do you prepare?'
Mr.. Tilden: Two grades Of roast
beef: one grade of corned beef"
grade to the government, did you nOt?'
"A very small amount We sold about
two million and a half pounds of canned
roast beef TO the government in ALL"
Col. Gillespie: Where was that sec
ond grade delivered?'
4 think it was delivered at Camp
Alger."
The difference in price between the
two grades, witness said, was L cent
pound.
DR.. George Little, an assistant inspec-
tor of the bureau of animal industry,
who had been on duty at various pack
ing houses in the stock yards, testified
that about one in five hundred cattle
was condemned. If the animal is to be
entirely condemned the inspector fol-
lows it to the rendering tank and sees
ii put in. He made no inspection of the
tank itself nor did he inspect the refuse
when 1t came out. In case of bruises.
the bruised portions are cut off and
condemned. Meat withdrawn from the
tank would not be suita BILE for food.
Have you any knowledge of any be-
tng withdraw from the tanks?"
NO. sir"
ANY reason for suspecting it?"
mo, sir
Have you ever had any occasion to
believe or suspect that chemicals were
used for the preservation of beef?"
NO, sir
Have you any jurisdiction as to
Chemicals?'
No, sir"
IF beef were rubbed down with
cloths containing boric acids it would
not be a matter within your turisdic-
tion2"
NO, sir''
in reply to Gen. Davis, the witness
told how the meat was cut up prior to
putting into rendering tank, saying it
would be possible for a small quarter to
be put in whole.
Are cows that recently have given
birth to calves condemned?"
Yes. within a certain length Of time"
What is the limit %
Mine days after delivery, or up to
within a month prior to delivery"
Major Lee: Then a COW carrying a
calf seven months would go in and not
be cOndemned?"
Yes"
Are not cows habitually used IN the
canning establishments"
Yes. the larger portion of Gamers
are cows
Col. Davis: What Is the purpose of
your Inspection"
You consider COW seven months
with calf just good and wholesome
one that is not with calf seven
nonths?"
''An things being considered, yes"
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 day
Some kin them right away?"
Yes. sir"
AFTER Ihey nave Deen shipped lonS
distance?"
Yes. sir"
DR.. o. E. Dyson, who has been an in
spectOr at the stockyards since 1893 was
next called. He said his duties were to
look after the other inspectors and see
that they do their duty. He has % or so
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 on of an
inspector, but we are supposed to be
very strict in regard to that.
From your observation would 1t be
possible to take out meat from the tank
when once thrown imp
1T would be possible but don't think
1t 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 ?"
I don't think 1T could be-"
Where would it have to be taken to
be worked up?"
1T would have 70 be taken to the
What would be the chances of de-
lection in your opinion?"
The chances of detection would be in
some Of the employees being around and
seeing the meat in that condition. /
think 1t would be easily recognized"
Have you ever had occasion to be
ueve or suspect that that practice exist
ed in any registered packing house?"
NOT within the last four or five
years"
How was it prior to that time? %
i never had any positive evidence of
anything occurring at that time. but 1
was stationed at a house where there