The Washington times., 1906-06-08
President Sends House
Committee Result of
Department In
veStigation.
BACKS UP CHARGES
OF NEILL-REYNOLDS
President Not Yet Ready to
Discuss Charges Made
Against Animal
Bureau.

me PRESIDENT today sent to the House
Committee on Agriculture copies Of two
reports Of inspection Of the Chicago
packing houses, conducted by the aari-
/ cultural Department before the NeiII-
Reynolds investigation The Presidents
letter OF transmission follows:
The White House, Washington.
June s. 1906
NY Dear Mr. WadswOrtE. In accord
ance with your request I send You here
with the two resports Of inspection bv
the committee appointed by the Depart-
nent Of Agriculture Of April ard IL
This committee had already been an
pointed Wien L notified the Secretary
that desired that such a commission
should be appointed in order 10 make
the investigation. Subsequent complaints
10 me and the consideration OF com
plants already made showed that the
charges were not only against the pack
ing houses, but also 10 q certain extent
reflected upon the action of the &C rern-
ment inspectors. and came to the con
clusion that it was best 10 have an in
vestigation by outside individuals who
could not be charged with being in any
way Interested in the matter
Inc Aeill-ReynoldS Report.
Accordingly before the completion Of
the investigation by the Department OF
Agriculture directed Mr.. NeiII and NJ.
Reynolds 70 make Al Investigation. the
FIRST report Of which has been laid be-
fore Congress Much testimony has been
offered 10 Us which has not been consid-
Grad in this report. for Messrs. Neiu
and Reynolds IN this report confne
~E-
summary way the facts as 10 which
they had been eyevitnesses; and what
they have said cannot be successfully
controverted- Some Of the ground ira
versed by Messrs. Neil and Reynolds
IS not touched upon in the report Of the
committee Of the Agricultural Depart
menL- As TO the ground covered in com
mon BY -he reports Of che two investi-
eating committees there is no conflict
IN substance as 10 the important mat
ters. although there is a marked differ
ence in emphasis. this being partially
due TO the greater length and detail
OF the report OF the commit < Of the
Department OF Agriculture. IN my judg-
ment the emphasis Of the report OF
Messrs. Neiu and Reynolds is abund-
antly justified by. the facts
Rapid Change for Better.
To show the immediate and extraor
nary change for the better which the
mere fact OF their investigation is al
ready bringing about IN the condition OF
the packing houses IN Chicago. Il is only
necessary 20 instance the following por-
UOns Of a letter received from a most
competent and trustworthy witness in
Chicago, whose name I viii give the
committee If Il so desires:
'Cnicago. Friday. June /
"On MOnday-I began a tour Of all the
great packing hOuseS-gOing first TO Lib
by's then Swifts-
Tuesday all the morning discussed
changes changes that ought TO be made and
caught glimpse Of the awakening a
Armour's- In the afternoon visited the
plant with the superintendent.
W ednesoay / rested and contemplated
the awakening of PackinErovvD' II is
miraculous. Thursday did Nelson Nor
Tis- with the superintendent Nelson
MOTIFS has done much to make things
better By the time the next inspecting
party arrives they viii have still more
new lavatories, toilet rooms. dressing
rooms. etc. CCSpidorS everywhere. and
signs prohibiting splitting In most the
awakening seemed 10 come by force
from without. There was the slightest
indication that the still small voice was
at woEk also
Haste Almost Humorous
at Armour's. at my suggestion, I
made no preLenSe OF making an lnVeSrl-
cation. but frankly announced my desire
to see things for myself. and 10 get a
fresh impression of conditions. as had
not seen the plants since before the
strike On every hand there was indi-
cation Of an almost humorous haste TO
clean up.-repave. and even 20 plan for
future changes. Brand neW toilet rooms.
new dressing rooms new towels. etc.
etc Swift's and Armour's were both
so cleaned up that I was compelled 10
cheer them on their way by expressing
my pleasure at the changes. The saus-
age girls we're moved upstairs, where
they could get sun and light they 10
have dressing rooms. etc I asked for
showers and lockers for the casing
workers at ArmOur's, and got a promise
that they would put them in The can
ming and stufhng room, chip beef. and
beef extract at ArmOur'S seemed really
quite good. In all Of these rooms the
girls work. At Libby's the girls are %
be put into blue calico uniform. which
they VIII buy at One-half price They
are putting IN toilet rooms, which they
say are temporary, and that when the
building is rensOdeled they will have
these put in better place. The haste
toward reform would have been amusing
II II were not so nearly tragic
They tried to win my help on the
ground that loss Of foreign trade would
mean hardship for the workers in my
neighbOrhood. and must say do share