The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-06-09
CHICAGO PACKERS WORK OVER
TIME TO IMPROVE coND,.
TIoNs AT PLANTS.
LETTER TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT INCLUDES coMMU-
NIcATIoN FROM "TRUsT-
WORTHY WITNESS

,, 4
Washington, June 9.-In response
to a request from the house committee
on agriculture President Roosevelt has
forwarded to Representative Wads-
worth, the chairman of that commit
tee, the report made to him by com.
mittee of the department of agricul-
ture regarding conditions in the Chi
cago meat packinghouses. Accom-
panying the report was a letter from
the president in which he points out
that there is no conflict in substance
between the NeillReynolds report and
that of the agricultural department
experts. The president quotes letter
received from most competent
and trustworthy witness at Chicago"
that the packinghouse proprietors are
manifesting almost a humorous haste
to clean up, repave and even to plan
for future changes New toilet rooms
are being provided, with additional
dressingrooms and clean towels The
presidents correspondent says that
the haste toward reform would have
been amusing if itaWere not so nearly
tragic
The president says his investiga-
tions have not been completed, but
that enough has been developed in
my judgment to call for Immediate,
thorough going and radical enlarg-
ment of the powers of the government
in inspecting all meats which enter
into Interstate and foreign commerce"
Included in the presidents commune
cation was the following letter, dated
June l, from competent and most
trustworthy witness, whose name 1
will give to the committee If it so de-
sires:"
"On Monday began tour of all
The great packinghouses going first to
Libby's and then to Swift's.
Tuesday all the morning discussed
changes that ought to be made and
caught glimpse of the awakening at
Armour's. In the afternoon visited the
plant With the superintendent. z
Awakening Of Packingtown.
"wednesday I rested and contem-
plated the awakening of Packing.
town. It is miraculous. Thursday did
Nelson Morris with the superintend-
ent. Nelson Morris has done much to
make things better. BY the time the
next inspecting party arrives they will
have still more new lavatories, toilet
rooms, dressingrooms, etc. Cuspidors
everywhere and signs prohibiting spit
ting. 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.
II made no pretense of making an
Investigation, but frankly announced
my desire to see things for myself
and to get a fresh impression of con-
litions, as had not seen the plants
since before the strike. At Armour's
there was indication of an almost hui
morous haste to clean up, repave and
even to plan for future changes Brand
new tO1letrOoms, new dressingrooms,
new towels, ETC., etc. Swift's and Ar
mour's were both so cleaned up that L.
was compelled to cheer them on their
way by expressing my pleasure at the
changes. The sausage girls were
moved upstairs, where they could get
sun and light. They, too, have dress
lngrooms, etc. asked for showers
and lockers for the casing workers at
Armour's and got promise that they
would put them in At Libby's the
girls are to be put into a blue calico
uniform, which they will buy at half
price. They are putting in toiletrooms
which they say are temporary and
that when the building 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
neighborhood and must say I do
share this fear, bur cannot see the
wisdom of my coming out publicly
and saying that saw indications of
an awakening, for l want the changes
to be radical and permanent, even
though we all have to suffer for the
present"