Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-05

aging cleanliness on the part OF the
workers employed in the packing
houses. The whole situation as we saw
it in these huge establishments tends
necessarily and inevitably to the moral
degra dation of thousands of workers,
who are forced to spend their working
hours under conditions that are en-
tirely unnecessary and objectionable.
and which are constant menace not
only to their own health, but to the
health Of those who use the food prod
ucts prepared by them.
- Government Inspection.
We observed carefully the inspection
before slaughter, the inspection after
slaughter on the killing beds, the more
minute examination of animals tagged
on the killing floors and the micro
scopic examination for trichinosis.
Inspection before slaughter appears
to have little value in most cases.
That undue advantage of this inspec-
ton is taken by outside parties is
charged, and opportunities for such are
abundant. but no specific evidence was
presented to us. That this unimport-
ant and superficial examination should
be compulsory under the present law,
| whereas Tie lHOTe
ton after slaughter is only pelmissive,
indicates a serious defect in the law.
Inspection after slaughter appears
to be carefully and conscientiously
made. The government veterinarians
maintain that it Is adequate, insisting
| that passing examination of certain
| glands of the viscera, and Of the gen
eral condition of the carcass Is suf-
ficient to enable an expert engaged con-
| stantly on this work TO detect at once
| the presence OF disease, or of abnor-
NAL conditions. On the slightest in
dicatiOn of disease or abnormal con-
dition the carcass is tagged and set
aside for IL later and more carefnl eX-
| animation. There should. however, ne
more precautions taken to insure That
the instruments used be kept anti
septically clean.
The microscopic examination OF
hogs to be exported to Germany APP
pears to he made with great care, and
il may fairly be asked why the same
| insrection is not made of hogs killed
| for the American market. The state
nent that ham, pork, and sausage,
! that are frequently eaten raw in Ger
| MANY. are not so used in America, IS
not strictly true. Large numbers OF
our foreign born population eat ham
and pork comparatively raw, and
hence need this projections and fur
ther. much of this pork goes into
sausage to be eaten without being
cooked.
The present number Of inspectors Is
certainly inadequate, as the secretary
of agriculture has often complained.
We noted that some large establish
ments had an obviously insufficient
force. A few small concerns have no
inspectors at all, and may sell unin-
Spected meat wherever they please in
the United States.
Legislation.
/. Examination before slaughter is
of minor importance and should he
permissive instead of mandatory. tx
animation after slaughter is of SUI
preme importance and should be COM
pulsory.
.. Goats. now exempt from inspec-
ton. intended for foreign or interstate
commerce. should be included in the
list subject to the inspection Of the
bureau Of animal industry, and should
he equally controlled by the regula-
3. The examination of all meat prod
urtS intended for interstate commerce
at any stage of their care or trea tment
should be consigned to the bureau of
animal industry. and no mark or sign
declaring that inspection has been
made by government officials should be
allowed OH any can, box, or other |
receptacle or parcel containing food |
subject to government inspection at |
any and every stage of the process of |
preparation. and all such labels should |
contain the date of issuance, and it |
should be a misdemeanor to erase, |
alter or destroy meats, when sent from |
any packing or canning establishment, |
If returned to the same. should be |
subject to 81 oh further inspection, reg
ulat;on, and isolation from other meat |
products as the secretary of agri-
culture may prescribe.
A. Power should be given to the
secretary Of agriculture to make rules
and regulation regarding the santa
ton and construction of all buildings
used or intended TO be used for the
care OF food products for interstate or
foreign trade and to make such regJi-
lation as he T1ay deem necessary to
otherwise protect the cleanliness and
wholcsomenesS of animal products,
prepared and sold for foreign and in
terstate commerce.
=. 1t should be forbidden to any per-
son, firm, or corporation TO transport
or offer for transportation from one
state to another any meat or meat
food products not inspected and {
labeled ;
Increase OF Inspectors. IL
T. The number Of inspectors should
be largely increased. so that special IN
assignments may be made for night
for the examination of ami.
mais at the platforms Of stockyards
for the following of dead animals to