Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-05


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Washington, D. G., June AIS
founded at the revelations made by the
commissioners who have investigated
the condition Of affairs at the Chicago
stock yards, President Roosevelt, in
message transmitted to congress today,
recommends the enactment of strict
laws to enforce the rules of cleanliness
and sanitation in these and all similar
Institutions. His message follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
81 transmit herewith the report Of
James Bronson Reynolds, and Commits
;sioner Charles r. Neill, the special
committee whom appointed to fnves-
tigate into conditions in the stock
yards at Chicago and tc report thereon
to me.
Need Of Action.
"This report is of preliminary ma
are. / submit it to you now because
t shows the urgent need of immediate
lction by congress in the direction OF
providing drastic and thorough-going
Inspection by the federal government
{ all the stock yards and packing
ouses and of their products, SO far as
ne latter enter into interstate or for
eign commerce.
Calls Conditions Revolving.
"The conditions shown by even this
short inspection to exist in the Chicago
took yards are revolving
''It is imperatively necessary In the
lterest of decency that they should be
,dically changed. Under the existing
it is wholly impossible to secure
tisfactory results. I urge the fmme-
tie enactment into law of provi-
which will enable the department
agriculture adequately to inspect the
at and meat food products entering
|, Interstate commerce and to super
,e the methods Of preparing the
4me, and to prescribe sanitary condi-
ons under which the work shall be
erformed. therefore commend to
our favorable consideration and urge
le enactment Of substantially the pro-
sions of the senate amendment COM
only known as the Beveridge amend
lent.
Theodore Roosevelt"
The committees report says: 1.-TWO
nd one-half months were spent in the
restigation in Chicago. Absence of
sanliness was found everywhere In
ndling the meat being prepared for
various meat food products.
No Regard For Cleanliness.
I parts that are sent from the cooling
ON to the departments where the
,arious forms Of meat products are
prepared are handled with no regard
whatever for cleanliness. The work
ers climb over heaps of meat, select
pieces they wish, and frequently throw
them down upon the dirty floor beside
their bench"
Defect In Inspection Plan.
The report says the radical defect
in the inspection system is that it is
confined at present by the law to pass.
the time of killing, but the meat that
iE used In sausage and various forms
Of canned products and other prepared
meat foods goes through many pro
cesses in all of which there is posi-
bility of contamination through un.
sanitary handling and further danger
through the use of chemicals. During
all these processes there is no govern.
ment inspection, although these pro
ducts, when sent out, bear a label stat.
ing that they have been passed upon
by government inspectors
Unsanitary Buildings.
Z The report arraigns the sanitary
provisions in the buildings as abomin.
able and says men and women plunge
their unwashed hands into meat to be
converted into food products. The re.
port says the burden of protecting the
cleanliness and wholesomeness OF pro
lucts and the health workers and OF
improving the conditions must fall up
IN the national government.
"The department superintendents
seem to ignore all consideration .ex-
(Continued on Pare 2l