The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-02
FILTH FOUND IN
PACKING HOUSES
Government Investigators Discov-
cred Conditions of Most Re-
voting Character.
MESSAGE TO GO WITH
REPORT TO CONGRESS
Outline of Points Discussed IL
the Neill Reynolds
Findings.
journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service. -,
Chicago. June 2.-Regarding the
ill-Reynolds report the washington
correspondent of the Chicago Tribune |
says: as: -.
The report will not be made public |
until it is transmitted to congress as a
supplement- to special message. The I
Tribune correspondent howevere, has
been Informed of the nature of the
contents of the report. So much OF
sensational character has been. pub
lished regarding the cvonditlons In the
Chicago packinghouses, much of which
is untrue, that the public generally
will be disappointed. But evils are
disclosed of such unhealthful and I'M
hygienic nature as to warrant the
upresident in his opinion, in insisting
upon congress adopting an adequate
remedy. That remedy, he considers,
is provided by the amendment to the
agricultural appropriation Dill 1athefed
by Senator Beveridge.
The commission makes point OF the
fate that it reports upon nothing Whlch
it actually did not see for itself: 1t
was not sent to Chicago to Investigate
the charges contained in 1.-The Jun
gle.'' but in articles written by sew
sral members of the medical frater-
nifty, of which ''The Jungle probably
had been the basis. Of course, the
commission had read "The JUNGLE
and the statements and charages there
in contained were found to be grossly
exaggerated, or referring to conditions
which existed in years past and do not
obtain today.
Commission Open-Minded.
The commission went to Chicago
with an open mind, determined to re-
mort only upon what it might see for
itself. Upton Sinclair knew Of its de-
parture and sent representatives TO
Chicago to aid the commission.
The report discusses: The conditions
Of packing houses; the methods OBJ
served in Strengthening and cutting; the
canning industry; and the character OF
inspectors, the reliability, and the ex-
tent of the work they do.
The condition Of the half dozen
packing houses inspected the report de-
scribes in many cases as "tilthy, insan-
itary, and unhygenic.' The walls and
floors of some rooms were found satur-
ated with blood and grease, making
them capable of conveying disease. In
several houses the toilets were in close
proximity to the cutting rooms. The
employees after using toilets returned
to their work without going thru the
formality of washing their hands.
There was no attempt to exercise the
most ordinary cleanliness.
Commission Barred.
The commission was not allowed to
inspect all the rooms, some being closed
because of an alleged lack Of work.
There was no ventilation in some of
the rooms, with the natural result that
nauseating odors prevailed. In one
room. the commission found two win
dowsr walled up and the explanation
4bo4 20 no eox
insurance reasons.
The commissions did not find any
watts with false bottoms or the use of
meat for food products which had been
condemned by government inspectors.
It found the employees as careless il
handling meat as they were careless
about their personal habits. They ex
perforated on the floor and it frequently
chopped on the block fell into the spit
tie. The danger that the bacilH O.
tuberculosis scattered by consumptive,
among the employees would affix them
selves to meatand thus convey diseas
is self-evident. The men walking abou
the rooms could easily gather. the bacll
Ii on their boots and transmit them t.
the meat when they touched the car
casses.
Attention is called to the way il
which competition is encouraged be
tween the different rooms. The natura
better record than the others. He work
the men to the utmost and is disposed t
throw away as little meat, event tho de
cayed, as is absolutely necessary.
Canning Department.
The commission found deplorable COT
ditions in the canning department!
The meat used was open to suspicion
and one part of five was in many case
bad and unfit for use as food. The il
gradients Of the cans frequently wer
not what they were advertised to b,
preservativese because it did not hav
chance to investigate the charge tina
chemicals were used to deodorize mes
or to give it a flavor or. color necessar
to ddeeeiye the PUBLIC: The wome
worked in a temperature Of about free
ing The steam rises from the car
and condenses upon the ceiling fallin
In drops upon them.
What is known as "summer sausage
particularly nauseated Messrs.s Nei
aoso ReXn9 2s4 dey hay have deHea thl
they stated to the president that ra
which had not been poisoned had a
eidentally got into the choppers. ::
IS not known whether they include
this point in their report.
Deceit Practiced.
The report criticizes the deceit pra
ticed upon the American people by tt
affxing of the government stamp
meat products which leaves the packi1
house. AS a matter Of fact, the on
inspections of meat used for domest
consumption are those it receives b
fore and after the death of the amin
and not when it passes thru the vario
stages Of Strengthening, cutting up al
canning. In consequence, the housewi
who buys a. piece of meat from a ca
eass marked with the government stan
is deceived into the belief it is pu
and fit for food. It was SO original
That is the most that can be said for
With the meat prepared for export
different condition exists. This is
spected from. beginning to end. t
effect is that foreigners obtain pr
meat at all times from American pae
ers, while Americans, buy meat til
has not this guarantee.