Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-09
QUALITY GUARANTEED.

The pharseology of these labels Is
wholly unwarrantcd rhe government
inspectors pass only upon the hcalthful-
ness OF the animals az the time Of kill
Ing. They know nothing OF the process
Is through which the meat has passed
since this inspection The legend "Quai.
tty guaranteed is wholly uniustinable
Il deceiNes and is plainly designed 90 de-
ceivc The average purchaser. who natur-
ally tnfers from the label that the gov
eminent guarantees the contents OF the
can 20 Doe what lt purports too be.
In another establishment piles OF saul
sage and dry moldy canned meats. admit.
tcdly several years old were found
which the superintendent stated Co us
would be- tankcd and converted into
grease The disposition 10 be made OF
us was wholly optional with the super
intcudeuts. az the government does not
concern Itself with the disposition OF
meats after they have passed inspection
On the killing floor. 70 might bc treateo
with chemicals. mixed with other meats.
turned out Ia any form 81 meat product
desired and yet the packages or rccep-
taclcs IN which 70 was 90 bo shipped out
20 the public would De marked with la
oel tnut their contents had been gov
ernmcnt inspected. 10 is not alleged
here that such use was 90 be- made Of
this stua The case g. pointed out as one
showing tho glarng opportunity for the
misuse 90 ca label bearing the name and
the implied guaranty OF the United States
government
Treatment Of Employees.
The lack OF consideration for the health
and comfort OF the laborcrs iu the Chi.
eago stock yards seems 10 be "a direct
consequence 81 the system OF admlnistra-
zion thut prevails Under this system
proper care OF the products and OF the
health and comfort OF the employees T.
impossible and the consumer suffers Bon
consequence The insauitary conditions
sn which the laaorers work and the feN.
crish pace which they are forced 90 main
tain Inevitably affect their health. PLY
siciaus state that tuberculosis is dispro
portionateiy prevalent Ga thc stock yards
and the victims OF this disease cNpector
ate on tho epongv wooden floors OF the
Dark work rooms from which fauinr
SCRAPS ot meat are later shoveled mp &c
be converted into food products.
Sven tho ordinary decencies OF life are
completely lruorcd IN practically all
eases thc doors of the toilet rooms oper
directly into the working rooms. ths
privics 90 men and women frequently All
Join. and the entrances are sometime nc
more than foot or two apart. In other
cases there are no privics FOR women ir
the rooms in which they work. and &C
reach the nearest Ia Is necessary 20 60
zap or down couple Of flights OF stairs
Tn one noticeable instance the privy TOT
the women working In several adjoining
rooms was in room in which men chiefly
were employed. and every girl going g.
use this had 10 pass by the worklns
places OF dozens OF male operatives and
enter the privy. the door OF which was
not six feet from the working place Of one
OF the men operatives. As previously
noted In the privies for men and women
alike there are no partitions. but simply
a long row OF open seats. Rest rooms
where tired women workers might go foI
q short rest. were found as rare eNcep-
lions. and in some establishments women
are even placed In charge OF privies
chiefly Tor the purpose. IL was stated. &c
see that the girls did not absent them
selves too long from their work under the
excuse OF visiting them. In some In
stances what was called "a rest room was
simply one end OF the privy partitiOned on
by a six-foot partition from the remain.
ing Enclosure. A few girls were found us
ing this. not only as a rest room. but al
the only available place In which to sit
20 eat their luncheon.
The report then urges compulsory
examination after slaughter: inspec
ton OF goats for foreign or interstate
commerce: increase of inspectors for
night inspection and special work;
legislation prohibiting declarations of
government inspection on food pro
ducts unless subject TO government in.
spection at every stage of prepare
ton; prohibiting interstate transpor
tation OF any meat or meat food pro
ducts not inspected and labeled; urges
considering the question of specific
labelling of all carcasses sold as fresh
meat which upon examination after
slaughtering show signs Of disease but
are still deemed suitable for food; and
recommends study OF inspection stand
ards of other countries