The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-16
SAYS REPORTS we're
EXAGGERATED |
GREATLY
Committee Of National Associ-
alton Examins Chicago
Packing Houses,

Associated ;Press to The nveni.s Tfne.,
Chicago, June 16.-The committee
Of the National Association of Manu-
facturers appointed to make an exam
tnation Of the packing establishments
at the union stock yards, ON Friday
completed their work and will pre-
sent their report to the national asso-
citation today. The committee con-
sisted of p. r. Van Cleve of st. Louis,
president association; d. M. Parry,
vice president of the National associ-
alton of Indiana, and Elliott Durand
OF Chicago, vice president for Illinois.
All are practical business men and
familiar with the general conditions
of factory work. They say in their
report that with no announcement of
intention they presented themselves
before the packers and requested to
be allowed to make an investigation
on their own account. They were
given the freedom of the plant, single
or collectively, with guards or with
out as they might elect.
The work Of Inspection" the COM
mittee says, was not conducted in a
haphazard way, but was systematized.
laid out and followed, point by point,
to a final conclusion. DR.. Joseph
Hughes, president Of the Chicago
veterinarian college, accompanied the
committee and the assistance of the
chiefs Of the government inspectors
was invoked and they rendered valu-
able service in the way of expert tes-
timony and detailed description of
their part of the work. The committee
followed the government inspectors in
their regular routine from start to
finish and was convinced that SO per-
feet was the organization that no car
cass could escape the watchful eyes
of the Inspectors, and IL by any care
lessness on the part Of any individual,
an animal did escape, it would be de-
tected by some one of the three In
spectors. It was amply demonstrated
that II there was question of doubt
regarding the healthful condition of a
carcass the suspect from that moment
passed out Of the Jurisdiction of the
factory employees, was placed under
lock and key until 1t entered the
rendering tank.
The committee learned from the gov
eminent inspectors that SO per cent
of the business of the stock yards was
In fresh meats against which very
little complaint has been entered, the
principal charge being against the
canning and curing departments. The
committee did ind much to criticise
in the way Of sanitary conditions and
asked for conference with the prin-
cipals of all large packing houses,
which was cheerfully granted. To
these representatives the committee
presented every point, in which in the
opinion of the members an improve
ment might be made and the packers
unanimously agreed that these sug-
gestions' should be acted upon immed-
ately as far as practicable.
The committee in summing up, de-
cided that the reports which have
gone out regarding the packing estab-
lishments, had been greatly exagger-
ated and that great injustice had
been done, as we'll as an irreparable
damage to the greatest industry of the
country, Also that while many details
of trivial nature might be improved
upon, the general conditions, involv-
ing sanitary, general cleanliness and
a production of wholesome food, were
far better than the average hotel
kitchen, or even the kitchens of
large percentage of private residences
and largely superior to conditions
found in large percentage Of the
smaller markets in city and country.
"The sanitary conditions for work
men in the summer time, while not
perfect were all that could be expected
where SO many are congregated in
close proximity.
None of the factories is conducted
as show plant, but as a plain every
day business, where everything possi-
bleis turned to account, like all other
well coducted business enterprises"