Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-04
MEAT INSPECTION
LAW IS ENFORCED
THREE HUNDRED MEN BEGIN
DUTIES IN CHICAGO STOCK
YARDS UNDER CHIEF
Government Now Assumes the, Respon.
sibility at the Packing Houses
Packers Are Glad and Government
Thinks. Results viii be Better.

Chicago, Oct 2-Three hundred In
spectors, some new and some old, en-
tered upon their duties at the Chicago
packing house yesterday. under the
new federal law Judging from the
first days experience, the inspection
VIII be thorough and systematic.
III there Is anything wrong now, it
IS up to the government" said one
packer, with apparent relief
That is the position of all the pack
ers. From statements made by Sec
rotary James Wilson Of the agricultur-
al department, the government is will
ing to assume the responsibility.
DIR. e. S. Bennett, chief of the fed
eral inspectors, was at the stockyards
few minutes before O'clock He
had been delayed by answering tele-
phone messages from railroad compan-
les, who wanted information as to the
stamping of all way bills by the gov
eminent inspectors. Some of the com
panies would not accept bills marked
with rubber stamp until DR.. Bennett
told them that answered all require
ments
All the inspectors were working
when their chief arrived. In fact, none
of the departments of the big industry
could begin operations before the in.
spectors had passed on the sanitary
condition of the machinery, utensils,
floors, posts and other parts of the
packing houses. This strict injunction
by the chief inspector will be insisted
on every morning If there is any un.
cleanliness, I've and water, the great.
est allies Of the inspectors, must lie
used until everything is clean.
Work of the Inspectors.
Don't let the workmen know when
you are coming. Move about quickly,
we're part of the secret instructions
to the inspectors.
This was illustrated by the manner
in which they worked in many Of the
houses. An inspector would appear
suddenly while workmen were curing
hams in the huge "tiernes." He would
grab out few hams, look them over,
and depart. Perhaps in half an hour
or so another inspector would appear
and go through the same swift but
thorough examination.
Particular attention was paid to the
cellar and pickle rooms AS fast as
the pickle watts were emptied they
were tagged by an inspector, and their
use, under his orders, was discontin
ued until they had been scrubbed thor
oughly.
Each inspector will be required te
report three times month upon con
ditions If the improvements ordered
are not attended to promptly the de
partment where they have been or
dered will be closed until they have
been made.
Packers Form An Association
Representatives of seventy-five pack
ing concerns in various parts Of the
United States met at the Grand Pa
cific hotel and formed national or
ganization "for discussion and con
certed action in all matters of common
interest to the packing industry Of
the country" Incidentally the pack
ers said several things about the pro
visions of the new meat inspection
law.
The sponsors of the new organiza
ton, which will be known as the
American Meat Packers Association
denied strenuously that the meeting
was one of the independents" exclu
sively, but none of the large Chicago
packing houses were represented witt
the exception of Morris & Co., WHOSE
representative, l.. M. Byles, said he
had not been authorized by his firm L
participate actively in the packers
| deliberations. An urgent invitation
however, has been extended to the
"big fellows" to send Representatives
to the session which will be held to
day.