Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-06-14
PRESIDENT SENDS REPORT TO
CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE
CCMMITTEL
Confidential Agent of Executive Tells
of Improvements Being Made in the
Workrooms OF the Big Plants at
the Stockyards.

mlLIee, tne report made to MIN by a
committee OF the department of agri-
culture regarding conditions in TIE
Chicago meat packing houses. Ac-
eompanying the report was letter
from the president, in which he points
out that there is no conflict in SUBJ
stance between the Neill-Reynolds re-
port and that of the agricultural de-
partment experts.
The president quotes letter re-
ceived from most competent and
trustworthy witness in Chicago, to the
effect that the packing house pro-
prie.ors are manifesting almost "a hu-
morous 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. The report says that
"the haste towards reform would nave
been amusing if it were not so nearly
tragic
of the president to Chairman Wads-
worth:
Text Of Presidents Letter.
In accordance with your request
send you herewith the two reports of
inspection by the committee appointed
by the department of agriculture of
April 5 and Is. This committee had
already been appointed when l mott
fed The secretary that I desired that
such a commission should be appoint
ed in order to make the investigation.
Subsequent complaints to me and the
consideration Of complaints already
made showed that the charges were
not OILY against the packing houses,
but also to certain extent reflected
upon the action of the government in
spectOrs, and l came to the conclu-
sion that it was best to have an in
vestigAtion by outside individuals who
could rot be charged with being in
any way interested in the matter.
Some Of the ground traversed by
Messrs. Neill ond Reynolds is not
touched upon in the report OF the
committee OF the agricultural depart
ment. AS to the ground covered in
common by the reports Of the two in
vestigating committees, there is no
conflict in substance as to the impor-
tant ma tiers.
TO show the Immediate and ex-
which the mere fact of their investi-
CATION is already bringing about in
the condition Of the packing houses
in Chicago, it is only necessary to in
stance the following portions of a let
ter received from a most competent
and trustworthy witness in Chica go:
Awakening of Packingtown.
con Monday l began a tour of all
the great packing Housekeeping first
to Libby's, then to Swift's.
Tuesday, all the morning discussed
changes that ought to be made and
caught a glimpse Of the awakening at
Armours. In the afternoon visited
the plant with the superintendent.
Wednesday l rested and contem-
plated the awakening of Packing
town." 1t is miraculous. Thursday
did Nelson Morris, with the superin-
tendent. Nelson Morris has
done much to make things better. By
the time the next inspecting party ar
rives they will have still more new
lavatories, toilet rooms, dressing
rooms, etc. Cuspidors everywhere,
and signs prohibiting splitting. In
most, the awakening seemed to come
by force from without There was the
slightest indication that the still
small voice" was at work also.
Notices Improvements.
ION every hand there was indica-
ton OF an almost humorous haste to
clean up, repave and even to plan for
future changes. Brand new toilet
rooms, new dressing rooms, new tow
els, etc, etc.
'Swift's and Armours were both so
cleaned up that l was compelled to
cheer them Oh their way, by express
ing ny pleasure at the changes. The
sausage girls were moved upstairs,
where they could get sun and light,
they to have dressing rooms, etc.
asked for showers and lockers for the
casing workers at Armours, and got
a promise that they would put them
in.
1.-The canning and stuffing room,
chip teef and beef extract at Ar
mour's seemed really quite good. In
all of these rooms the girls work.
cat Libby's the girls are to be put
into d blue calico uniform, which they
will buy at half price. They are put
ting in toilet rooms which they say are
temporary, and that when the build
ing is remodeled they will have these
put in better place.
The haste towards reform would
have been amusing if it 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 Eeighborhood, and must say
i do share this fear, but 7 cannot see
the wisdom of my coming out publicly
and saying that saw indications of
an awakening, for want the changes
to be radical and permanent, even
ithouett we all have to suffer Tor the