Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-07

other OffaIH rceulLlnk WOulu NANN = NFNg
shocking effect on the nerves and senses
Of two men with the necessary fine sen
sibilities that such men as Messrs. NELL
and Reynolds must have, who have de-
voted their lives TO one line OF scientinc
or sociological work, but men such as
this committee Is made up with. broad
diately appreciate how the conditions re-
ported have been exaggerated and that
to handle the product in a clean and san
itary manner. We appreciate that Messrs.
eouip them to recommend Improvements
in social conditions and many OF the sug-
gestions made by them were found TO be
practical and have already been adopted
but we also feel that their two and one
half weeks experience I'm the packing
house does not equip them sutilciently to
TO intelligently legisiate on their observa-
tion alone.
For this reason he wanted the commit
tee to make personal inspection.
When the hearing. was resumed Dr. Mel
vim chief Of the bureau Of animal indus
try was asked number Of questions con-
cerning ante-morten examinations Of cat
tie bought by packing houses. He ex-
| planned that these examinations were all
conducted in the stock yards He was
asked II he believed any diseased meat was
| put on the market in any form, but he
| would not express an opinion. He ex-
| planned in detail the disposition of diseased
| cattle through the stock exchange. but
said no such precautions were taken con-
| cerninE other animals.
! Says Pens Are Clean.
Mr.. Wilson again took up the Neill-Rey-
nolds report, commenting on many of the
| criticisms. Concerning the condition Of
| the animals pens he showed that the floors
were properly drained to permit of flushing
as often as needed, and he asserted that
was done. The Neill- Reynolds report
| spoke Of ten dead hogs being found in one
place and fifteen to twenty in another. Mr..
| Wilson said some mornings from $1,000 TO
5000 hogs are received and that fire.
quently dead ones are found in the cars
He did not think there was anything re
voltng' about that.
In regard to the interior of the work
rooms, Mr.. Wilson said that any person
would be pleased with their cleanly ap-
pearance before the days killing and
! dressing is begun, and that persons not
used to packing houses might be dis
gusted with the condition of the same
rooms several hours later. He contended
that there was no unwholesome conditions
there. Every day he said, all rooms,
tables trucks and utensils OF all kinds
are washed as clean as water and scrub
brush can make them.
Report Discussed in Detail
Chairman Wadsworth read piecemeal
what may be termed the startling features
OF the report, and he pronounced each
indictment paused for answers. Mr.. Will
son did not attempt to deny that odors
arose from the entrails and offal of the
carcasses but he said they were removed
as promptly as possible He said he did
not think that even DIR. NeiIl would sug-
gest perfuming this material He secuted
the charge that there was any odors from
decayed wood or decayed meat as there
was none Of either in the operating rooms
TO give rise to any smell
, Inc charge that there were toilet rooms
on the work rooms was admitted and the
practice defended as not being moro un-
sanitary than toilet off a bed room in
hrst-class hotel, as the toilets were kent
In good condition.
suitable places were furnished workmen
TO wash, he said, and asserted that the
men all carried punches Of cheese cloth.
which was used as towels. The men nra-
ferred this. said Mr. Wilson.
Repeating his invitation to men,hers =,
the committee to visit the packing houses,
Mr.. Wilson said that the houses are al
ways open and that millions OF people
: passed through them every year
, III we should visit the packing houses
: would there be any changes made before
r we arrived?" asked Mr.. Wadsworth.
We always take advantage of good
: suggestions, and Messrs Neill and Rev.
nolds made some" replied Mr.. Wilson.
He thought the changes, however. would
not prevent the committee from getting
E at the facts.
' NeiII and Wilson Clash.
\ Mr.. Wilson questioned the charge made
in the Neill-Reynolds report that a car.
cass Of hog had slipped from a carrier
h into privy and had been picked up and
J. placed with clean carcasses He called
upon Dr. Neill to state that it did moi
!; happen in one of the big packing houses
K 1T did happen in one OF the big con
Il Germs" Dr. Neill replied emphatically Al
though questioned by members of the com
mittee to state which one Neill refused
But some of the very things that Mr.
Wilson has just now denied" he said, "hAp
pened at Nelson Morris & Co.'s place"
Mr.. Wilson took up the comparison wit
the model New York packing house whicl
. was made in the Neill-Reynolds report
and said that house was new and bull
under the strict building and sanitary reg
ulations OF the city. The new house o
his firm In Kansas City would compar
favorably with the New York house Their
6bSN
l. Chicago. and all the newer buildings wer
up TO date.
y Asked about the statement that employe
Is relieved themselves on the floor, Mr.. Wi
IS son was inclined to question themselves en-
T. tirely. II 1t seen it must have bee
d in one OF the smaller houses.
D "Mr Reynolds or DR.. Neil would have
I stand around a long time to see anythin
n Of that kind in large packing house." h
'a said. And any man doing II would be il
~ stantly discharged"
r Reading about the man with a dirt
9, apron and dirty clothes who had no NEAR
l. OF cleaning his hands except TO wipe thel
n on his dirty clothes and that there was
I. water in the room, he said II would be In
G. possible for an apron to look clean aft
n being worn for five minutes. The only dy,
a.. used were those 10 color the castings OF Il
or sausage, and not for meats
p Character of Employees.
n As to the character OF the employees. NJ
IN Wilson denied that they were the refu
OF Of humanity or that the recent strike h'
aavv made any change. Ninety-ive per cent
.ir those employed since that strike were unit
of men.