Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-06-15
PACKERS CLEANING UP.
PRESIDENT TELLS OF HUMOROUS
HASTE TO PUT THEIR PLANTS
IN DECENT CONDITION.
ACTION NEEDED AT ONCE.
Roosevelt Writes to Chairman of Con-
gressional Committee Assuring Him
Neill-Reynolds Report Is True.
MUST GIVE GOVERNMENT POWER


that committee. the report made to him
by committee of the department of ag-
rlculture regarding conditions i'll the Chi
caso meat packing houses. Accompany
ing the report was letter from the
PRESIDENT. in which he points out that
there is no conflict in substance between
the Nelll-Reynolds report and that of
the agricultural department experts.
Inc president quotes a letter received
from most competent and trustworthy
witness IN Chicago to the effect that the
packing house proprietors are manifest
ing almost "a humorous haste to clean
up, repaYe 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 have
been amusing if it were not 50 nearly
tragic"
Action Needed at Once
The President says his Investigations
have not been completed, but that
enough has been developed in my judg
ment to call for immediate, thorough go
ing and radical enlargement of the pow
ers OF the government in inspecting all
meats which enter into Interstate and
foreign commerce"
Following is the text of the Presidents
letter to Mr. Wadsworth:
In accordance with your request | send
you herewith the two reports of inspeC-
ton by the committee appointed 10y the de-
partment or agriculture of April ) and Is.
Ih1S committee had already been appoint
ed when notified the secretary that | de
sired such commission should be appoint
ed In order to make the investigation.
Subsequent complaints to me and the con
Slderation of complaints already made
showed that the charges were not only
against the packing houses, but also to Il
% Intln. tod MON in of
the government inspectors, and | came to
the conclusion that it was best to have an
i na3.; g by outside individuals who
way interested in the matter.
Report Not Complete.
Accordingly, before the completion of the
Investigation by the department of agricul-
ture, | directed Mr.. NELL and Mr.. Reyn-
olds to make an Investigation, the first
port of which has been laid before Congress.
Much testimony has been offered to us
which has not been considered in this re
port, for Messrs. Neill and Reynolds in
this report confine themselves to stating
in more or less summary way the facts as
to which they had been eye witnesses;
and what they have said cannot he sue
cessfully controverted. Some of the
Reynolds is not touched upon in the report
of the committee of the agricultural de-
partment.
AS to the ground covered In common by
the reports of the two Investigating com
mittees there Is no conflict in substance
as to the important matters, although
there is marked difference In emphasis.
this being, partially due to the greater 1S
committee OF the department of agricul-
ture. In my Judgment the emphasis OF the
report of Messrs. Neill and Reynolds Is
abundantly justified by the facts
Extraordinary Changes for Better.
To show the immediate and extraordi-
jpf, {lnr,
fact of their investigation is already
bringing about in the condition of the
packing houses In Chicago, 1t Is only neces-
sarv to instance the following portions of
and trustworthy witness in Chicago, whose
name 1 will give the committee II 1t so
CHICAGO, Friday, June lon Monday
began q tour of all the great packing
ho1ses-going first to Libby's and then
Iuesday all the morning discussed changes
that ought to be made and caught a
glimpse OF the awakening at Afm66rs In
the afternoon. visited the plant with the
superintendent.
Wednesday l rested and contemplated the
awakening of Packingtown." 1t is mir.
aculous Thursday did Nelson Mirris, with
the superintendent. Mel
son Morris has done much to make things
better By the time the next inspecting
party arrives they will have still more new
favatories, toilet rooms, dressing rooms, etc.
Cuspidors everywhere and signs prohibiting
splitting.
No "Still Small Voice"
In most the awakening seemed to come
by force from without. There was the
slightest indication that the still small
voice" was twOrk also. At Armour's, at
my suggestion-I made no pretense of MAX
ing an investigation, but frankly announced
my desire to see thinks for myself, and to
get q fresh impression of conditions, as |
BOD Ill rf, l,yf.,,,
strike.
On every hand there was indication of
an almost humorous haste to clean up, re-
pave and even to plan for future changes.
rooms, new towels, etc, etc. Swifts and
ArmOur's were both SO cleaned up that |
was compelled to cheer them on their way
by expressing my pleasure at the changes.
Amusing if Not Nearly Tragic.
The sausage girls were moved upstairs,
where they could get sun and light, they
to have dressing rooms, etc. l asked for
showers and lockers for the casing workers
at Armour,s, and got promise that they
would put them in. The canning and stuff
Armour's seemed really quite good In all
of these rooms the girls work At Libby's
the girls are to be put into q blue calico
uniform, which they will buy at half price
They are putting in toilet rooms, which
they say are temporary, and that when
the building Is remodeled they will have
these put III q better place. Inc haste
wards reform would have been amusing If
They tried to win my help on the
ground that loss. of foreign trade would
mean hardship for the workers in nv
neighborhOOd, and l must say / do share
this fear, but 1 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 per-
mancnt, even though we all have to suffer
fo- the present.
President Asks for Action.
1 wish to repeat that my Investigations
are not yet through. ] am not prepared TO
make a final statement either as 10 81
much of the complaints as concern tho
management of the bureau of animal indus
try or as to certain of the graver charges
In connection with the adulteratiOn Of meat
products as well other matters But
enough has been developed in my tudg-
ment to call for Immediate thOrough-goi:iC
and radical enlargement of the powers Of
the government III inspecting all meats
which enter into interstate and foreign
commerce. Unfortunately the misdeeds of
those who are responsible for the abuses we
design to cure will bring discredit and
damage not only upon them but upon the
innocent stock growers, the ranchmen and
farmers of the country. The only way per-
manently to protect and benefit these limo
cent stock growers, the farmers and ranch
men, is to secure by law the thorough and
adequate inspection for which l have asked.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
REBELS ACTIVE AT MOSCOW.