The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-06-07

PREDICTION 10 the Associated Prccs
"A meat inspection law viii be
enacted which will insure the con-
sumer meat nt TO be eaten.
When the speaker laid before the
house President Roosevelts mes
cage and summary inv.stlgatlon
made by Ncill and Reynolds great
interest was displayed by members:
Its reading was closely followed and
at It's conciusion there was show
OF applause which was Instantly
checked by the speaker referring
the document and accompanying
papers TO the COMMITTEES on asricu'-
ture.
Washington. ID. e.. June s.-Prcsldent
Roosevelt today transmitted to con-
rress the mucn talked OF reports or
special Commissioners Reynolds and
N.Ill OF their investigation into the con-
dI,,on OF the stock yards and packing
houses OF Chicago.
The revelations are fully as bad as
the advanced statements Indicated.
Pointing out the impossIbility under cx-
,.,Ing law 10 secure the needed relief
the president urges congress To enact
measure which will lin the interest OF
decency" change the revolving condi-
tons. He advises that tax on the
condemned animals be levied as
means for paying for this addcd'inspec-
ton which viii be carried on by the
government.
The president In his message to con-
xrrss said:
Urgent Need OF Inspection.
The senate and House OF Representa-.
tives; I transmit herewith the report OF MT
lame. bronson Reynolds and Commission
or Charles y. NELL. TN. special committee
whom I appointed to Investigate into the
conditions In the stock yards OF 'hlchgo
and report thereon to me. tbs report 70
al n preliminary nature. l submit " 10
ynu now because IA shows tho urgent need
of Immediate action by ths congress IN the
direction OF providing a drastic ara THOR
oueh-goins inspection 10y ,he iSaer al sy
houses and OF their products so far as the
latter enter into Interstate or Foreign com
m.rce The conditions shown BY even this
short inspection TO exist I'm the Chicago
s,ock yards are revolving. IL Ii impcra-
lively necessary In the interest OF dccency
iha, they should be radically changed. l'n-
der the existing law II In wholly Impossible
10 secure satisfactory results.
When First Action Was Taken.
when my attention was first directed TO
the matter an investigation was made by
the bureau OF animal industry OF the de-
Sar,ment OF agriculture. When the pre-
hminary statements or this INVESTIGATION
were brought TO my attention. they
showed such defects In the law ana such
Wholly unexpected conditions that 1
deemed IL best TO have q further immedi-
ate investigation by men not connected
With the bureau. and accordingly appoint
FL Mexsrs. Reynolds and NELL. IL was
impossible under the existing law that sat
lsfactory work should be done by the btu
rrau OF animal industry l arm now, now
ever canning ,hc way IN winch 'ne
Before 1 had received the report OF
Mrssrs. Reynolds and NELL had directed
that labels placed upon any package OF
meat food products should state only that
the carcass OF the animal from which the
meat was taken had been inspected at the
time OF slaughter. III inspection OF meat
:ooi products at all stages OF preparation
Il not secured by the passag" OF lcgisla.
ton recommended. I shall feel compelled
20 order that inspection labels and ccrtin-
ra'es on canned products shall not De used
hereafter.
Not Even Reasonably Clean.
The report shows that the stock yards
and packing houses are not Kept even
reasonably clean. and that the method OF
preparing and handling food products II
ancleanly and dangerous tn health. Under
existing law the nntional government has
no power TO force inspection or the many
forms OF prepared meat foods. products
that arc daily going from the packing
houses into Interstate commerce.
owing to an inadequate appropriation
the department OF agriculture IL not even
able 10 place inspectors In all establish
mcnts desiring them. The present law
prohibits the shipment OF uninspccted
meat TO foreign countries. hut there IL no
provision prohibiting the shipment OF un-
Inspected meats INTO Interstate commerce"
thus the avenues OF interstate commerce
arc left open 10 traffic "a diseased or
spoiled meats. H. as has been alleged on
leefnlnRlg good nMthnritN further evils r.
el such az the improper usc Of chemicals
and dyes the government lacks power
10 remedy them.
\ law IL needed which will enable the In
'p"ctors OF the general government 20 In
sp"ct and supervise from the hoof TO the
can the preparation OF the meat food pro-
duct. The evil seems much less la the
sale os dressed carcasaes than In the sale
" canned and other prepared products.
Animals Must Pay Expense.
In my judgment the expenses OF the in
tp~ction should be paid by fee levied on
each animal Slaughtered. IL this II not
done the whole purpose OF the law can at
any time be defeated through AN INSULT
e,enl appropriation and whenever there
vas no particular public Interest In the
subject IL would Ice not only easy but nat
hcirnt II II were not Tor this considera-
uoa ! would favor the government paying
Tor e.
The alarm expressed In certain quarters
b> a realization OF tn" fact that Ia no
ease. under such law. VIII the cost OF In
tp~Stion exceed cents per head.
] call special attention TO the fact that
his report IL preliminary. and that tn"
iHycsigation IL stlil unfinished. II 10 not
yet possible 10 report on tn" alleged
abuses In the use OF dcletcrious chemical
compounds In connection with canning and
Preserving meat products. nor on the al
legged dociorinE In this fashion OF tainted
meat and OF products returned 20 tn.
packers as having grown unEllenblc or I'M
sable from age OF from other reasons.
Grave allegations arc made Ia reference 20
abuses OF this nature.
No Law TO Stop Abuses.
Let me repeat that under the prcs~n,
law there practically ~ no method 81 stop.
ping these abuses II they should be dts
covered TO exist. Legislation Is needed Ia
order TO prevent the possibility OF all
abuses In the future. II no lcgiSla ton -
passed then the excellent results accom-.
p.lshed by the work OF this special com
mlttee Will endure only 80 long ms tbs
memory OF the committees work II fresh
ahd rrcrudcscencs OF the abuses 10 ALSO
!stely certain,
urge the immediate enactment into Ia "
oi provisions which will enable the de.
partment Of agriculture adequately To In
spect the meat and meat food products
tntering into interstate commerce and &c
supervise the methods OF preparing tbs
same. and TO prescribe the sanitary condi
uons under which the work shall be per,
iormed. therefore commend TO youi
favorable consideration and urge the en-,
sctment OF substantially tho provisions
kaoNn as senate amendment No. -. to ths