New-York tribune., 1906-06-07
PACKERS SIDE HEARD
MANY CHARGES DENIED.
Some Changes Made after Report
Proposed Lac Criticised.
IF-Om The Tribune Bureau

Washington. June 6--In an effort to discredit
the Neill- Reynolds report regarding conditions
IN the packing houses of Chicago. and in op-
position to the legislation for proper meat in
spection proposed in the RexeriFes aulendnaene
a representative OF the Chicago paokin, houses.
Thomas z Wilson. manager Of the Nelson Nor
ris Company. appeared before the House Com
mittee on Agriculture to-day. He addressed the
committee for four hours. denying that many OF
the conditions reported by AIessrs. Neiu and
Reynolds existed, and asked for further time in
which to present objection provisions in
the Beveridge amendment.
Mr. Wilson's appearance before the commit
tee was surprise to many Of the members. who
had been informed that the packers did not
care to be heard. Before hearing Mr.. Wilson
the committee sent word TO the Department. OF
Agriculture, and Commissioner NeiII. Secretary
Wilson and DR.. A d. Melvin, Of the Departs
ment, at came TO the Capitol and wers
present at the hearing. There is an effort To-
have the hearings prolonged for some time and
TO get a committee to VISIT Chicago TO make a.
personal investigation before reporting on a bin
providing for efficient inspection of the packing
houses and their products.
WANTS COMMITTEE TO INSPECT.
Mr. Wilson. who said he was authorized to
speak for all the packers. made general deniak
of the existence Of the conditions set forth In
the Neill- Reynolds report he began by invfs-
ing the committee to go to Chicago and spend
a week in personal investigation Of conditionss
That he said, would be the only way for mem
bers to gain a proper idea Of what the conditions
really were. some OF the suggestions made IN
the report he said had already been complied
with by the packers. such as additional sanitary
facilities.
He denied absolutely that there were any dis
eesad cattle or hogs butchered for food In
ever1, carload Of cattle hogs. he said. sorne
were likely TO be dead and some diseased ms
dead or diseased hogs and cattle were sent To-
the Standard Rendering Company. which was a
different institution from the Standard Slansn-
tering Company although the two were AkeIy
70 be confused The rendering company turneo
the dead and diseased meat into grease which
was used in the manufacture Of soap
NJ wilson described IN detail the operation
os nrenaring canned meats. He was asked BY
REPRESENTATIVE Scott, Of Kansas. member or
the committee How about the rope and other
foreign matter found with the scraps on inc
Aoor?' Mr. Wilson explained that what was
probably seen in this instance was the string
on the knuckle end OF what had been dried DeeI-
Taking up the recommendations OF Messrs-
Neil and Reynolds looking to the improvements
Of conditions Mr.. Wilson said the packers did
not object to government regulation Of sanitary
conditions. but that they did object to having
the Secretary of Agriculture made the judge OF
what was sanitary.
Supervision of every branch OF the packing
business was not objected to by the packers.
said Mr. Wilson. The government might put on
as many inspectors as il desired he added 50
long as the packers did not have TO pay for
them He said the packing business would ee
benefited by the inspection OF the different
branches from the "hoOf TO the can" Good in
spection what the packers wanted, he de-
clared-
OBJECTS TO DATED LABELS.
Aside from the recommendation to who
should be the judge OF sanitation. Mr.. Wilson
said that the only suggestion made in the Neul-
Reynolds report TO which the packers would
have any objection was the requirement that ths
date OF canning be placed on all canned articles.
He said that would serve purpose except to
fnjure the canned meat business. Naturally a
buyer viii choose the article with the freshest