Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-09
RESIDENT SENDS ANOTHER REPORT
INVESTIGATION by Department Of Agriculture
Supports Specialists,
UIcK CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
New Toilet and Dressing Rooms Provided
for Employees.
iIRLs MOVED TO LIGHTER QUARTERS
Haste Toward Reform Would ne
Amusing. says Report, ~ Il
Were Not So Nearly
Tragic.


WASHINGTON. June SIN response to
a request from the house committee on
agriculture, President Roosevelt today for
warded TO Representative Wadsworth, the
chairman of that committee. the report
made to him by a committee of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture regarding conditions
| in the Chicago meat packing houses. Ac-
oompanying the report was a letter from
the president in which he points out that
there is no conflict in substance between
| the Neill-Reynolds report and that OF the
| agriculture department experts.
| The president quotes a letter saying that
the packing house proprietors are manifest
ing almost "a humorous haste to clean UP,
repave and even to plan for future
| changes. New toilet rooms are being
| provided with additional dressing rooms
and clean towels. Grhe presidents corre-
| spondent says that "the haste toward re-
form would have been amusing If it were
| not so nearly tragio'
The president says his Investigations
! have not been completed. but enough has
been developed in my judgment to call for
| immediate, thorough going and radical en-
| largement of the powers OF the govern
ment in inspecting all meats which enter
|
Text of Letter.
| Following is the text of the letter Of the
president to Chairman Wadsworth.
| The White House, Washington June S.
| MY dear Mr. Wadsworth In accord with
| your request l send you herewith the two
reports of inspection by the committee ap-
| on April and IL. This committee had
| already been appointed when l notified
the secretary that 1 desired that such a
! commission should be appointed In order 10
| make the investigation. Subsequent COM
plants to me and the consideration Of com
| paints already made showed that the
| charges were not only against the pack
| ing houses, but also 20 a certain extent
| ment inspectors and l came TO the con-
clusion that 1t was best to have an in.
| vcsugation by outside individuals, who
couio not be charged with being in any way
| Interested in the matter Accordingly be-
fore the completion Of the Investigation
directed Mr.. Neil and Mr.. Reynolds to
make an investigation, the first report OF
which has been laid before congress. Much
testimony has been offered 10 us which
has not been considered in this report, for
Mr. Neill and Reynolds Ia TINS report con.
line themselves to stating in more or less
summary way the facts as TO which they
mad been eye witnesses; and what they
troverted. ..s
No Conflict in Reports.
Some of the ground traversed by Messrs.
Neil and Reynolds rs not toucned upon In
| Nne report OF tne committee OF the Bkrlcul-
turai department; AS TO the ground COW
cred i'm common by the reports of the two
investigating committees there Is no con-
iict in substance as to the important mat
ters, although. tnere Is marked dinerence
IN emphasis, this being partially due TO
the greater length and detail of the report
. OF the committee OF the Department Of
Agriculture, In my Judgment the emphasis
OF the report of Messrs. Neili and Reynolds
is abunuantly justined by the facts
To show the immediate and extraordinary
change tor the better which the mere fact
| of nair nQf tVa q "a
about in the condition of the packing houses
in Cnlcago,Fit is only necessary to instance
the fonowing portions of a letter received
! from a most competent and trustworthy
p witness in Chicago, whose name will give
! the committee II 1t so desires:
: Letter from Chicago.
, CHICAGO, Friday. June lon Monday
, | began tour Of all the great packlils
houses, going first 10 Libby S, then SWltt 3
TUESDAY All ths ,tlo, h,is niscuseeu
changes that ought to be made and caught
a glimpse OF the awakening at Armour 5
/, IN the afternoon visited the plant with the
Z "wednesday rested and contemplated the
awakening OF PacklngJown. IL is miracu
lous Thursday l did Nelson Morris, witt
{ has done much TO make things better. BS
p the time the next Inspecting party afrlVe'
they will have stili more new isVatorles G
toilet rooms, dressing rooms, etc; Cuspl
doris everywhere, and signs prohibiting spit
: ting in most the awakening seemed e
the slightest indication that the still
small voice was at work also.
"At Armours, at my suggestion ! made
| no pretense OF making an investigation
but frankly announced my desire TO SCI
things for myself and TO get fresh i'm
a he h plants since before the strike. on evsrI
: | hand there was indication OF an almos
: humorous haste TO clean up ,repave onC
: toilet rooms new dressing rooms. new
: towels, etc. swift's and Armours We're botl
so cleaned up that was compelled TO chee
: them on their way by expressing my pleas
ure at the changes.
s Sausage Girls Moved.
d THE sausage girls were moved upstairs
. where they could get sun and light, they Il
! | have dressing rooms, etc.
o 81 asked for showers and lockers for tn
q casing workers at Armour's and got
. Canning aud stufhng room. chipped bee
. and beef extract at Armours seemed reall
j. quite good In all OF these rooms the girl
"At IAbby's tho girls are to be put into
/, blue calico uniform when they will buy "A
j half price. They are putting IN toilet rooms
which they say are temporary, and tina
= when the building is remodeled they WI
have these put in a better place. Z he hast
toward reform would have been amusing
Il were not so nearly tragic,
They tried 10 win my help on the groun
that loss of foreign trace would mean hard
ship for the workers In my neighborhoo
u and / must say l do share this fear, but
= cannot see the wisdom OF my coming ou
n OF an awakening, for l want the change
u to be radical and permanent. even thoug
70 we all have TO suffer for the present"
5. Investigate 90 Continue.
?, / wish TO repeat that my Investigation
s. are not yet through ! am not prepared &
: make a final statement, either az 10 >
. much OF the complaints as concern th
:. ma cement OF the Bureau OF Animal IN
q dustry or as to certain OF the grave
"a charges in connection with the adulteratio
Of meat products as well other matters
g But enough has been developed ia my judg
le ment 10 call for immediate thorough -goin
l., I and radical enlargement NOl the powers q
. the government in inspecting all meat
't which enter into interstate and foreig
I commerce.
Unfortunately the misdeeds OF those VIII
are responsible for tho abuses we design I
- cure will bring disCredit and damage nc
!" only upon them. but upon the innocen
l. stock growers the rsnchmeu and farmer
OF the country. The only way permanent
% / 70 protect ana benefit these innocent stoc
= growers the farmers and ranohmen, Is I
" secure hy Law the thorough and adeuuat
Z {nsnacfion for which have aaked afr