The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-06-08
NEIL REPORT
asnt In Special Message Sends to
Ffs.'1l ass Labor Commissioners
Exposure of Revolving Con-
i dtions In Chicago
Stockyards.

:. sonate aud House of Representa-
.,nsmit herewith the report of
bronson Reynolds and Commits
's- charles p Neill, the special
49, .,ittee whom l appointed to in
s'.. ,ta into the conditions in the
.erards of Chicago and report
TO me. This report is of a
'l s.,,roiparv nature. | submit it to
P's ov because it shows the urgent
~ of immediate action by the con-
49, in the direction of providing a
ssstic and thoroughgoing inspection
"a federal government of all stock
- and packing houses and of their
s.s,,cts so far us the latter enter into
ksss.-stlte or foreign commerce. The
s.ssitions shown by even this short
ss..action 10 exist in the Chicago
-sostvorts are revolving. 1t is i'm
-srstivelv necessary in the interest of
s.olth and of decency that they should
Z hdcally changed. Under the eX-
sting law it is wholly impossible to
soeure satisfactory results.
Wben my attention was first direct
Il Al this matter an investigation was
r.ede undpl the bureau of animal in
duosry of the department of agricul-
surp When The preliminary statements
= Ais Investigation were brought to
nc Intention they showed such defects
a ia law aud such wholly unexpected
aonaitions that | deemed it best to
have 4 further immediate investiga-
tion by men not connected with the
bnreau. and accordingly appointed
Nessrs. Reynolds and Neill. 1t was
mnossiblc under the existing law that
saiisfactoly work should be done by
ne bureau of animal industry. l am
NON. however, examining the way in
which the work actually was done.
Before had received the report of
Messrs Reynolds and Neill l had di-
rected that labels placed upon any
nack AGE Of meat food products should
state only that the carcass of the an
lmal from which the meat was taken
had been inspected at the time of
slaiehtcr If inspection of meat food
products at all stages of preparation
. Is moi secured by the passage of the
egisatiou recommended l shall feel
conpeled TO order that inspection la
4 bells and certificates on canned prod
uets shall not be used hereafter.
The report shows that the stockyards
and packing houses are not kept even
.reasonally clean and that the method
\ Of haudng and preparing food prod
/. ucis is uurlcanly and dangerous to
health nder existing law the ma
ti0Bal government has no power to en-
4 f0rce Inspection of the many forms of
PREPARED meat food products that are
daily going from the packing houses
Z into interstate commerce. Owing to an
'nadcqua.y appropriation the depart
|ment Of agriculture is not even able
'io place inspectors in all establish
mem d'- rHg them. The present law
'pfohi 1.ts t.e Shipment of uninspectel
meal ID ion countries, but there is
mo pr y f)rbidding the shipment
'of phi ted melts in interstate
eoml trr and thus the avenues of
intel state commerce are left open to
lrallic in diseased or spoiled meats. If,
Lag has been alleged on seemingly good
'auDorlty, further evils exist, such as
'ue improper use of chemicals and
ayes the government lacks power to
|nmedy them. \ law is needed which
|Nill enable the inspectors of the gen.
elal government to inspect and super
fse from the hoof to the can the prep
arapon OF the meat food product. The
|eR3 seems to be much less in the sale
|4 QeSSed carcasSes than in the sale of
eaped and other prepared products, and
'9e4 much less as regards products sent
|euipad than as regards those used at
a9Qe u my judgment the expense of
me Inspection should be paid by fee
''ef'ed on each animal slaughtered. If
shla Is not done the whole purpose of
sae law can at any time be defeated
alEQugh IN insufficient appropriation,
eaa Whenever there was no particular
papllc interest in the subject it would
'pe POI only easy but natural thus to
inake the appropriation insufficient. If it
lNefe not Tor this consideration l should
Aafpf the government paying for the in
speeton.
DC alarm expressed in certain quar-
l'efa concerning this feature should be
'aaaNeu br realization of the fact
saaf in Do case, under such law, will
lsAe cost Of inspection exceed 8 cents
per head
caII special attention to the fact
|a'As This report is preliminary and that
.''s lnye>ilgation is still unfinished. 1t
~ ". possible to report on the al
l'sSeu abuses in the use of deeterious
s1Fa llca. compounds in connection with
sa'''l llls md preserving meat products
,.' OIL he alleged d6ctoring in this
ION ~ tainted meat and of prod
's' retaned TO the packers as having
ssyN Il Unstable or unusable from age
X rom other reasons. Grave allega-
~ are made in reference to abuses
Ct ibis nature.
NE repeat that under the present
ll'efa is practically no method of
''"- these abuses if they should be
V'ei'I to exist. Legislation is
S.. leu ~ order to prevent the POSSIBLE
"!i abuses in the future. If no leg
ron IS passed, then the excellent re-
accomplished by the work of this
idI committee will endure only 50