The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-09-12
SECRETARY WILSON
EXPOSES MEAT PACKERS
Finds "condemned" Tag on a.
Carcass in Storage.
CALLS AGENT TO ACCOUNT
Quick Visit Of Secretary of Agricul-
ture to Philadelphia Was Con-.
ccaled-Meat Dealers Threat.
cned With Closing.

Philadelphia only slaughter
houses but also the storage plant OF
the Beef Trust in this city were
inspected by Secretary Wilson, OF
the Department of Agriculture, in the
course of his whirlwind visit. This
fact developed after DR.. Charles
Schaufer, chie1 of the Federal corps
of meat inspectors in this city, had 1
vainz tried to suppress the details
of the inspection. It may have been
that reason for DR.. Schaufer's Sc /
cretiveness lay in an episode connect
ed with the visit of Secretary Wilson
to the big storage house of Armour
&c Co., at Second and Norris streets.
In a superficial survey Of one OF
the big refrigerators in this place, the
quick eye of the Secretary caught q
CONDEMNED" tag upon the carcass OF
a calf. 1t was the tag Of a Chicago
inspector, and showed that the car
cass had been condemned as unfit for
food.
Wheeling sharply upon DR.. Schauf-
ler the Secretary rasped out: +,
"How did this meat, get into Phiia-
delphia?" =
The local man could find no an
swer. He stammered something
about oversight, and was about to
order the meat thrown into the fer;
tilizing tank when he saw that an
approved" stamp was upon the In
side of the carcass. ..N
1t was evident that the animal had
been condemned as unsound when
alive, but that. examination of the.
organs after death showed the meat
to be fit for food. To the mind OF
the Secretary, however, the existence
of the second tag did not excuse the
failure of the local inspectors to re-
move the condemned tag, and he e3-
pressed himself sharply to that et-
feet. Ks
A total of 153 examinations were
made by the municipal inspectors.
AS a result of the days work three
meat shops we're reported to be un-,
sanitary and notices were served
upon the proprietors that unless con-
ditions are remedied their places VIII
be-closed. All the stores are in the
Kensington district. Condemnatlons
we're made of fifty-seven pieces OF
meat, a total of 762 pounds.
While the new Federal Inspection
LAW is expected to aid in publication
of the meat supply, which goes into
interstate commerce and foreign
trade, and incidentally also the local
meat trade, the bulk Of the work In
assuring pure meat supply for local
consumption must be done by the
local inspectors.
For this reason the ordinance
which has been framed by DR.. Leon
ard Pearson, and behind which Will
be aligned all the influences OF the
Department of Health and Charities,
will be of paramount importance to
Philadelphia. :.
Federal inspection here will not
guarantee the fitness of a pound OF
meat intended for. local consumption.
It will be concerned with the clean
illness and freedom from disease OF
meats going outside Of Pennsylvania.
The local inspectors under the pro-
iected ordinance will be called upon
to safeguard the peopletof this city
from putridity, disease, adulterations
and uncleanliness in the meats ana
fish that are served upon tables In
Philadelphia.