Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-05
reform GOLD STORAGE
Health Commissioner Whalen
of Chicago Finds Many
Abuses in the System
uNDRAwN FOWLS STORED
Ptomaine Poison Develops in Many
and Consumers Are In Greatest
Danger of Being Poisoncd-PIan to
Compel Labelling and Dating Pack
ases-WhaIen Gives Views.


Chicago, July Health commits
soners In all the large cities of tho
country are Watching the efforts OF
DR.. Whalen to reform cold-storage
conditions in Chicago, and, according
to the local commissioner, within the
next year ordinances similar to the
one now before the city council, will
be introduced in many cities. DR.,
Whalen has communicated with the
health officials of many cities thruout
Illinois and expects to secure legis-
lation along the lines proposed in Chi
eago in many OF the larger cities OF
the state where there are cold storage
plants and perhaps by the state legis-
lature
On the suggestions made by DR..
halen Peoria mas passed Il cold stor-
age warehouse regulating ordinance
and several other city councils are
now considering the matter. The
Peoria ordinance was passed after an
investigation by the city bacteriologist.
DR.. j. III. Bacon, who found ptomaine
poisoning in undrawnn fowls kept in
cold storage for six months or more.
Deadly Poison.
few drops OF this poison taken
from the intestines OF the cold storage
fowls and whieh had permeated the
entire body, killed rats and guinea pigs
and 1t would not take much larger
dose, according to the Peoria doctor,
to make human being very i'll, per-
haps with fatal results.
The local ordinance, which provides
that fowls placed in cold storage must
be drawn, that all packages must be
stamped and a record of them made
when placed In storage as well as pro-
vlding for serni-annual inspection by
the health department, will be placed
before the city council Monday even
Ing. Alderman Dever, chairman of the
judiciary committee, Will ask for a
suspension of the rules for the pass
age of the ordinance, as DR.. Whalen
is anxious to have it placed in force
before the council vacation.
May Not Pass Measure.
AS the cold storage men have spent a
great deal of time lobbying against the
ordinance, the attempt to pass the
measure before fail is not expected to
succeed The only argument offered
against the ordinance by the cold
storage men Is that 1t will disturb bus
mess conditions II 1t is necessary to
draw the chickens before placing them
in storage and the stamping of the
packages will prevent the sale of Illi-
nois hens as New Jersey or some other
brand of fancy poultry.
"In great many respects the cold
storage business Is a grand thing" said
DR.. Whalen yesterday, but it has
grown so big that the cold-storage men
have begun to abuse it. If they don't
begin remedying their
methods they will have to face day of
reckoning such as came to the packers
recently by the Roosevelt expose.
1.-TWO years ago told the packers
they must change conditions under
which they We're handling meats or
they would face such day of reckon
ing as has come. They did not heed
my advice and lodged my orders and
1t has cost them many thousands Of
dollars.
Will Prove Costly.
eff the cold-storage men are forced
to face similar reckoning it will be
even more costly to them. The ordin-
ance which have asked passed by the
council will not hamper the cold-stor-
age business and it will in a large
measure protect the public. With our
small inspection force IT. has been Inn
possible in the past to make thoro
inspection of the cold-storage plants.
Consequently much bad stuff has been
sold each year to the cheap restaurants
and to private consumers. The stamp
ing of the packages will permit us to
know accurately when a package has
been in storage six months. We can
then make an inspection of that pack
age, test the goods in 1t and if they are
bad order them destroyed.
1.-THE ordinance passed last Monday
night providing for the inspection of
restaurants by the health department
and poultry to the cheaper restaurants.
With such an inspection in operation
the cold-storage men are going to send
lots of poultry to the dump which in
the past has been cooked and sold to
the patrons of the cheaper restaurants.
Similar Ordinances Passed.
Ordinances similar to one we have
before the council now are to be passed
by many other cities of the United
States The health authorities of the
country are aroused thoroughly over
this matter and the public is demand
ing proper protection against the sale
of decomposed and rotten foodstuffs.
Turnout Illinois letters which I sent TO
the various health commissioners have
created great deal of comment and
Peoria has already passed an ordinance
similar to the one we hope to have en-
forced in Chicago
ENDEAvoRERs ELECT OFFICERS.