The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-25
Roosevelt Tells Livestock Repre-
sentative that Sanitary Con-
ditions Must Rule.
MATTER REFERRED TO
- LABOR COMMISSIONER
Mr.. Neill Says Extensive Changes
by the Packers Will Be
Necessary.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
Chicago, May PA Washington
special to the Chicago Tribune says:
The condition of some Of the packing
houses at Chicago was severely criti-
cized by President Roosevelt yesterday
in an interview he had with William E.
Skinner and W. l.. Carlisle, represent
ing the livestock interests OF the coun-
try and Representatives Madden OF
Chicago, Cox of New York and Brooks
of Colorado.
Mr.. Skinner is the representative OF
the Union Stock Yards company at
Chicago and Mr.. Carlisle is dean of the
agricultural college at Denver. These
men, in accordance with the request
try, conferred with the packers on Mon
day and then. came to Washington to
see the president.
The president announced that be pro-
posed to see conditions of which COM
plants have been made in the packing
houses changed as promptly as possible;
that the buildings should be remodeled
more light and that ample toilet facil-
titles should be provided for employees,
far enough removed from the rooms in
which meat was prepared for food to
prevent contamination.
Speaking for the livestock interests
and for the packers, Mr.. Skinner as
sured the president that the packers
had authorized him to state that if the
president would appoint a commission
of high-grade scientific santa ton ex-
perts, including one practical man
versed in inspection and animal hus-
bandry, they would be glad to adopt
any suggestions the commission might
make for improvements or changes not
only in the method of Strengthening but
In the sanitary conditions of packing
houses.
National Board Suggested.
Mr.. Skinner went step farther than
the packing houses proposed. He
urged the president to appoint ma
tional sanitary commission which should
be authorized to deal with the whole
subject of food products He repre-
scented that it was unfair to single out
others and make it subject Of criti-
eism so as to injure it turnout the
world.
After the exploitation of the Gem.
balmed beef'' charges by General
Miles, following the Spanish war: the
packing houses, and, as Mr.. Skinner
termed the cattlemen, the instant by
slanderers, - suffered a considerable &C.
crease in the sale of their products.
Apprehension is expressed that the
same result will follow from the agita-
ton which now exists and which the
president, it is said, is aiding thru the
investigation he has made and is
making.
The PRESIDENT s concern, however, is
to secure fresh, clean, uncontamlnated
meat for the American people and to
abroad regarding our meat products,
and which necessarily affects the ex-
tent Of the sales. He assured his call
ers today he was most anxious that the
industry should not be disastrously af
fected. At the same time he said he in
tended to see that proper sanitary con
ditions existed and he wanted it to be
distinctly understood once those con
ditions were established he would not
permit any letup in their enforcement
The president stated he had not re-
ceived as yet the official report OF
Messrs Neill and Reynolds, who were
sent recently to Chicago to investigate
the packinghouses, but d desert ption OF
the conditions which had been given
him by those men confirmed the often
sive charges contained in the articles
printed by the London Lancet in 1905
The Lancet's Criticisms.
The Lancet declared there were NJ
glaughterhouses in Chicago that the in
dustry was handled in factories, which
were badly lighted, unsanitary, unclea1
and disease-breeding. Conditions were
far worse than those which existed a.
points in Europe where there is not by
eny means as much wealth as in Chi
eago.
The Lancet referred to the fact tina
condemned carcasses were disposed o.
pm the same floor and in close proximity
n 1I-hI 70 ,hN1o
some. 1t described the filthy condition
pf the floors upon which the men ex
perforated and along which the mea
was dragged: AS considerable tubercu
losls prevailed among the employees
Pthere was grave danger that the baccill
would attach themselves to the mea
ana IN this way consumption would b,
Ppread, not only over the United States
but to England and other countries
me Lancet also stated that many EN-
ployees work In Overheated and dam
atmosphere, and others in chilly an
cold storage rooms, with the result tina
tuberculosis, diseases of the respirator,
organs, rheumatism and heart diseas
had developed.
Among the improvements suggeste,
by the writer Of the article were an in
crease of toilet facilities, proper an
adequate lavatories, the building of ab
solutely watertight flooring and paving
the constant flushing with water an
steam and the erection of destructor
away from slaughterhouses where cal
cases condemned by the government in
spectors should be DESTROYED.
The president said to the delegatio
ne would like Representative Mann t
take Messrs. Skinner and Carlisle t
Charles z. Neill, commissioner Of labo,
~ No,4i,,oJ -, OIL D,,..os gu r.1..... 8. s.