Evening star., 1900-08-10
METAL HOOKS IN MEATS
COMMISSIONERS HAVE POWER TO
PROHIBIT THEIR USE.
Draft of Proposed Regulation on
Subject Submitted by Assistant
-- s Attorney Brandenburg.

The attention Of the District Commission
ers was invited several weeks ago by Mr.
Herbert l. Davis to the metal hooks or
tags which are at times found in meats sold
here. with the request that measures be
adopted TO prevent their use. The matter
was referred by the Commissioners to their
attorney for an opinion as to their author
fty to make a regulation concerning the
use Of the tags or hooks. and today his
first assistant, Mr.. Clarence \. Branden-
burg. advised them that they are author
lied to make the proposed regulation, and
he transmitted the following draft of one:
1T shall be unlawful for any person to
tag mark meat intended for sale by
metal staples or similar devices inserted
therein less than two inches in length or
breadth, or to sell or offer for sale any
meat so tagged Any person who shall
violate any of the provisions of this regula-
ton shall upon conviction thereof in the
Police Court. be punished by fine of not
less than s. nor more than so"
1T appears says Mr.. Brandenburg in
his opinion, that metal staples such as
that inciosed by Mr.. Davis are now in ex-
tensfye use in this city. The one trans
mitted is meat hook composed of a single
piece OF sum spring wire sharpened at both
ends and bent to " or staple shape
with Its legs converging slightly toward
their free ends and provided near each ex-
lFciIllly with a SflArDened barb.
They seem to have originated in the large
abattoirs OF the west, and designed to
facilitate the tagging of meat for the pur-
pose of designating the establishment from
which II comes Recently they have been
adopted by some local butchers, who use
one for every quarter Of beef and one for
every sheep. calf and hog
Internationally Dangerous.
The presence of such staples in meat as
It comes TO the consumer is. in the opinion
Of the health officer, unquestionably danger
Gus. and the only protection which the con-
sumer has is in the care exercised by the
retail butcher As shown in the case of
Mr.. Davis, this safeguard is not always
Sufrcient Moreover, 1t appears from the
papers herewith that the use Of such sta
pies Is not necessary and should be pro-
hibited. IL the authority to do so is vested
in the Commissioned
Mr.. Brandenburg then quotes the law ap-
plicable in the case referring to a decision
OF the Court Of Appeals that Congress has
increased the authority Of the CommisSion-
ers 70 make and enforce police regulations
TO the full extent of those frequently il NOT
generally intrusted to municipal cornora
tons He quotes Tiedeman. Limitation of
Police Power. 1yI, as follows: whenever
therefore. the prosecution Of partfcuIar r
calling threatens damage to the public or
10 other individuals. II is a Legitimate sub
1ect FOR police regulation to the extent of
preventing the evil
In view OF the authorities referred to. Mr.
BrandrnbuTs 10 therefore of the opinion
that the Commissioners are authorized 10
make valid police regulation prohibiting
the use OF such dangerous means in mark
ing meat This opinion the Commissioners
are expected to approve and IL is believed
that they VIII make the regulation suggest
ed by Mr.. Brandenburg