Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-06

Neill-Reynolds report regarding conditions
In the Chicago packing houses. The re-
quest was made by Thomas e. Wilson,
manager for the Nelson Morris Company,
but In this instance was authorized TO
speak for all the Chicago packers. Before
bearing Mr.. Wilson the committee notified
the Department of Agriculture and Mr..
Neill. Secretary Wilson, DR.. A. D. Melvin
of the department and Mr. Neill at once
came to the Capitol and the hearing began
shortly before noon.
General Denial of Charges.
Mr.. Wilson made general denial of the
existence of conditions in the packing
houses as set forth In the Neill-Reynolds
report He began by inviting the commit
tee to go to Chicago and spend week in
personal investigation of conditions. That.
he said, would be the only way for MEM
bers to gain proper idea of what the con.
ditions really were
Some of the suggestions made in the re-
port, he said. had already been complied
with by the packers, such as additional
sanitary facilities.
AS to the charge that canned meats were
boiled In water to "freshen them up" Mr..
Wilson said there was absolutely nothing
in this. Canned meat, he said, was as good
five years after 1t had been put up as 1t
was five minutes afterwards. providing no
air had got to it. If air had reached the
freshened up. What the cans were put in
hot water for was to soak off the old label,
which he said. was injury to the APP
pearance of the goods on sale.
As to Diseased Cattle and Hogs.
He desed absolutely that there were any
diseased cattle or hogs butchered for food.
In every carload Of cattle or hogs. he said,
some were likely to be dead and some
The dead or diseased hogs and cattle
N no I'd dorir Cav
pany. which was a very different institution
from the Standard Strengthening Company,
although the two We're likely to be con-
fused in the mind. The rendering company
turned the dead and diseased meat into
grease. which was co-product in the
manufacture of soap.
Mr.. Wilson described In detail the opera
ton of preparing canned meats, and when
a member of the committee, How about
the rope and other foreign matter found
with the scraps on the floor, Mr.. Wilson
explained that what was probably seen In
this instance was the string on the knuckle
end of what had been dried beef.
This string was used with which to hang
the beef in the smoke house, and when the
beef had been sliced off this knuckle end
was left. There was a bone in it, and he
said It was impossible to use 1t. The bone
would smash the machine IL attempt
were made to use it.
Il do not believe Mr.. NeiH got any state
ment from any one that they were going to
chop these pieces up. If he did 1t was from
some one who did not know, or he did not
get the whole statement"
Representative HaSkins asked about the
dirty floors.
THESE floors" replied Mr. Wilson, ARE
scrubbed every night as clean wood can
be scrubbed. They are as clean as any
kitchen"
Wilson Flatly Contradicted by Neill.
At one time there came near being a
warm personal clash between Mr.. Wilson
and Commissioner Neill, one of the investi-
gators who was present. Wilson had de-
MED an instance referred to in the Neill-
Reynolds report dealing with the alleged
slipping of the carcass of a hog from o
travelling overhead trolley into a privy. He
called upon Commissioner Neill to state
that 1t did not happen in one of the big
packing houses.
1T did happen in one of the big con-
Germs" NELL replied emphatic Al
though requested by members of the COM
mittee to state which one. NELL refused.
But some of the very things that Mr.
Wilson has just now Denied" he said,
happened at Nelson Morris & Co.'S place."
this afternoon.
Attitude of the Packers.
Taking up the recommendations of
Messrs, NELL and Reynolds, looking to the
Improvement of conditions, Mr. Wilson
said the packers did not object to govern
ment regulation of sanitary conditions
but they did object to the Secretary OF Ag-
riculture being made the judge of what is
sanitary
Why. he might call in outside talent.
which was inexperienced, as to packing
houses and the business of slaughtering
just as has been done recently" continued
Mr.. Wilson. Certainly we should object
to that There are experts on the question
of sanitation and we have no objection to
the closest scrutiny from these"
Supervision of every branch of the pack
Ing business was not objected to by the
packers, said Mr.. Wilson. The government
may put on as many inspectors as IT de-
sires, he added, so long as the packers do
not have to pay for them. He said the
packing business would be benefited by an
inspection OF the different branches from
the ''hoof to the can" Good inspection is
what the packers want. he declared.
Labels on the Cans.
In addition to the question of who shall
be the judge OF sanitation Mr.. Wilson said
that the only other suggestion made by the
Neiii-Reynolds report to which the packers
would have any objection is the require
ment that the date OF canning be placed on
all canned articles He said that would
serve no purpose except to injure the
canned meat business.
Naturally buyer will choose the arti-
Gle with the freshest appearing label" said
Mr. Wilson, when as matter OF fact the
canned meat does not deteriorate with
age"
In speaking of the return of goods, he
said that consignments are sometimes sent
back to the shippers because a nail has
been driven through a can in fastening up
box. This. he said, would cause that can
TO spoil and the consignee would imagine
that the whole shipment had spoiled Then
II is possible in rare instances for air 10
have got into the can and caused IL to swell
he described such cans as 'ssweilers'' but
said there is no danger of these ever being
eaten and added with laugh: Not the
slightestg'
No one asked him why
Would IL be possible to put In cans meat
which has begun to putrify?" asked Chair
man Wadsworth.
Not unless the meat was accompanied
by chemicals such as 1t would be suicide to
eat" replied Mr.. Wilson.
He declared that the use OF bad meat
had never been attempted by reputable