New-York tribune., 1906-06-05

of dozens of male operatives and enter the privy
the door Of which not six feet from the
working place of one of the men operatives. AS
/ previously noted, in the privies for men ana
women alike there are no partitions. but SIM
ply a long row of open seats Rest rooms, Whefe
tired women workers might go for a snort rest
were found as exceptions, and in some es-
n tablishments women even placed In charge
of privies chiefly for the purpose, it was stated
to that the girls did not absent themselves
too long from their work under the excuse OF
visiting them. In some instances what was
called a rest room was simply one end OF the
privy partitoned off by siX-foot partition from
the remaining inclosura. few girls were fouhd
using this. not only as a rest room, out as tne
only available place in which to sit TO eat their
luncheon.
Much of the work in connection with the ham
ding of meat has to be carried on in rooms or
a low temperature, but even here a callous uls.
regard was everywhere seen for the comfort or
those who worked in these rooms. Girls ana
found in rooms registering a tenn
peTature of 5S degrees F. without any ventila-
ton whatever. depending entirely upon artih-
cial light. The floors were wet ana sosgy, anu
in some cases covered with water, so that the
girls had stand in boxes of sawdust as a
protection for their feet In a few cases even
drfppings from the refrigerator rooms above
trickled through the ceiling upon the heads or
the workers and upon the food products oelhs
prepared. very slight expense would nave tur-
nished drier floors and protected them against
the trickngs from the ceiling. II was asserted
by the superintendent Of these rooms that tnls
low temperature was essential 10 the proper
keeping of the meat. but precisely similar work
was found in other establishments carried on
in rooms kept at a fair temperature In many
cases girls Of sixteen seventeen and eighteen
years stand hours a day at work, rnucn OF
which could be carried on while sitting down.
In several establishments well managed res
taurants were provided for the clerical force.
and in one instance a smoking room was pro-
vided for them but no provision was found any
where for place 10 eat for the male laporefs-
In pleasant weather they eat their luncheon sit
ting outdoors along the edge of the sidewalk or
any place where they find standing room
In winter, however and i'm inclement weather
their lunches have to be eaten in rooms that III
many cases sitting and nauseating. Eating
rooms are provided in a number of places for
women workers in the various departments. ana
I'm most of the large establishments coHee is
served them at penny cup. Beyond this
neagre consideration for their convenience at
meal times scarcely any evidence is found that
any one gave thought to their comfort
The neglect on the part of their employers TO
recognize or provide for the requirements OF
cleanliness and decency of the employees must
have an influence that cannot he exaggerated
in lowering the morals and dtscouraglng clean
illness on the part of the workers employed IN the
packing houses. The whole situation as we saw
II in these huge esta bliShments tends neces-
sarily and inevitably to the moral degradation
OF thousands of workers, who are forced TO spend
their working hours under conditions that are
entirely unnecessary and objectionable. and
which are constant menace not only to their
health. but to the health of those VINO use
the food products prepared by them
vI-GOvERNMENT INSPECTION. z
We observed carefully the inspection before
killing beds the more minute examination or
animals tagged on the killing hoors, and the
microscopic examination for trichnosis.
inspection before lauehter.-Irspecton be-
fore slaughter appears to have little value in
most cases. That undue advantage of this in
spection is taken by outside parties is charged.
and opportunities for such are abundant but no
specific evidence presented to That this
unimportant and superficial examination should
be compulsory under the present law whereas
the more scientific examination after slaughter
is only permissive indicates serious defect in
the law
Inspection after sIaughter.-Inspection after
slaughter appears TO be carefully and cOnscien-
maintain that il is adequate, insisting that a
passing examination of certain glands. of the
visceTa and of the general condition of the car
cass is sufficient to enable an expert, engaged
constantly on this work to detect at once the
presence of disea Sc or of abnormal conditions ON
the slightest indication of disease or abnormal
conditions the carcass is tagged and set aside for
a later and more careful examination There
should. however be more precautions taken to
insure that the instruments used be kept anti
septically clean.
Microscopic examination.-The microscopic
examination of hogs to ne exported to Germanys
appears TO be made with great care and IL may
fairly be asked why the same inspection is not
made of hogs killed for the American market
The statement that ham. pork and sausage that
are frequently eaten in Germany are not
so used in America is not strictly true Large
numbers of our foreign born population eat ham
and pork comparatively raw and hence need
this protection; and further much of this pork
cooked 'S
Number of inspectors.-The present number
or inspectors is certainly Inadequate as the Sec
retary of Agriculture has often complained We
noted that some large establishments had an oh
viously insufficient force A few small concerns
have no inspectors at all and NAV sell mir
States. " ''' O'eu
VII-LEGISLATION
l. Examination before slaughter is of minor
importance and should be permissive instead NJ
llnandatory. Examination after slaughter is OF
supreme Importance and should be compulsory
,o.,,oi 5oats. now exempt from inspection. in
should he included in the list subject to The
4lilspeGuon 4 OF the Bureau OF Animal Industry
t; Slouid ia be equally controlled by the regua-
tohS OF the Secretary of Agriculture
q. The examination of all meat products in
tShueu Ior interstate commerce at any stage of
i !heT care or treatment should be consigned TO
me bureau or Animal Industry. and no mark or
| sign declaring that inspection has heen made
! py government officials should he allowed on any
60 A - al "lheI receptacle or parcel containing
iood products unless the same has been sub
! tect to government inspection at any and every
usage OF the process Of preparation and all such
/ labels should contain the date Of issuance and
/ II should be a r. risdemeanor 10 erase alter or
/ destroy any such labels. Meat products and
canned. preserved picked meats. when sent
/ fronl any packing canning establishment ~
/ returned to the same. should be subject to such
/ further Inspection regulation and isolation from
| other meat products as the Secretary Of Aeri
culture may prescribe.
! 4. Power should be given to the Secretary of
! Agriculture to make rules and regulations re-
! gardinE the sanitation and construction OF all
buildings used intended 10 be used for the
care OF food products for interstate or foreign
trade, and 10 make such regulation as he NAV
deem necessary 10 otherwise protect the rleapr
ness and wholesomeness of animal products
prepared and sold for foreign and Interstate
commerce.
3 II should be forbidden to any person firm
| or corporation to transport offer for trans
portation from one state to another any meat
| or meat food products not inspected and Labelled
u IN Irrnha