Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-16
SARcASTIcALLY TRUTHFUL
Citizen Magiil Dishes Up Some An
cient History on the Board of
Health and Its Treatment
of the Butchers-The
Big Four, Etc

DA& AVANs A'ANs
Editor Sunday Globe
Having plenty Of time to spare since my
inning Of thirty .days" last summer
thought | would devote some OF il to visit
ing lin my mind one Of those Philan-
thropic Dairy Farms we read so much about
in our daily papers.
Before giving you a description Of the
dairy farms, I will carry you back some
twenty odd years, to conditions which ex-
listed in the District OF Columbia at that
time; which was proven then by the Health
Department assisted by the Police Court !;
just the same as is being now proven by
our present humane officials, and like the
present time il called for heroic action
In the West were several gentlemen who
were overfowing with philanthropy"
Being possessed of abundant funds and
not desirOus Of accumulatiug more, plying
the condition Of the subjects of the District
they, commonly called the big four" de-
cided to expend their surplus philanthropy
in the said District of Columbia for the
welfare aud health of the city No thought
of profit ever entered their minds-pure
unadulterated philanthropy Monuments
should be erected 10 them for the noble
service they rendered in saving this Capt.
meat" al cost. The conditions az that time
existing viz, dirty greasy butchers, dirty,
unwashed wagons, filthy slaughter houses,
loud smelling hogs, low.bred cattle from the
Valley of Virginia, Montgomery county and
Howard county, Maryland, and sundry
other charges, well quoted by the daily
papers and Health Department Influenced
Congress (no lobbyist) to pass laws getting
rid of this dirty nasty set Of butchers but
It generously allowed them to cut and sell
the meat Finished at cost by the "philan-
thropic big four"
II is true that these butchers, about 500
of theu, did own considerable property
did pay taxes on il; did fll all the benches
in the city markets and pay the city rent
for them, but then although they as a
class" are the healthiest people in the
world they contaminated the 'air" which
blew into the health department and the
police court, and this revenue was wisely
abandoned in the interest Of the "Philan-
thropic Big Four"
The citizens Of the District can afford to
overlook the fact that these purely philan-
thropic enterprises, in the interest Of health
aloue, not for profit such a thought as
profit never finds room IN their philan-
thrOpc brain), do invest all their money to
carry on such business in the States. By
paying extraordinary large taxes in States,
employing a great many men in the States,
the pure philanthropist can, did and does
now command great influence " when he
exeIts himself in the non selfish interest o
nearly 100000 uurepresented people, conse-
quently the low prices of meats equaizes
the loss of revenue, and the elimination
of the word knowingly in District Milk
oil fha- Dee
revenue philanthropy" such as we are now
about to receive from inst outside Of tax
alton limits. "
But we have one consolation. Two mill
ion dollars per year from the earnings of
the Washington taxpayers by the milk
philanthropists, who came from the great
Far West; solely to look out for our health
by having that word knowingly" elimi-
mated is not to be noticed; that one word
knowingly" has caused great anxiety of
mind to our oath bound officials" il has
caused great loss of time in accomplishing
a good thing"
knowingly" has been the bugaboo, and
when the new milk law of 1907" is passed
the eliminated knowingly" will never
more cause anxiety or loss of sleep to the
rank and file" who have fought 80 nobly
for the last eight months. So two million
dollars of business to outsiders per year
counts for nothing, comparatively speaking.
in such a cause. Certainly not why the
taxes, etc, paid by the butchers has never
been missed by the Treasury. The presen
deficit can easily be raised by personal tax
on Washingtonians. Philanthropy must be
encouraged and taken care Of this is how
we do it,
Personal tax, average daily stock
Boston House, SIOo, 600
Palais Royal 100 900
Saks Store, 100000
Kahn & Co., 100000
Hecht Il Co., 100000
Swift & Co., 5000
Armour & Co.. 5000
Morris Co, 5000
Armour Packing Co, 5000
Milk (to be) Trust 5000
II is true that the gross receipts of these
phianthropists far exceed those of our
merchants or city railroads. that at least
FIVE or six millions OF dollars" that for
merly stayed in or around Washington per
year, now go West" But don't kick; this
is reciprocity" they give us philanthropy
and the best governed city in the United
States reciprocates Getting rid Of dirty,
greasy butchers and lactaie milk men is GER
tainly the equivalent" there is nothing
else al stake. Evil minded (ike mel per
sons might think otherwise just because de-
ductions prove true, but they don't count
when they kick and call 1t oppression; send