Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-06-14
President Sends to Committee DOcu.
ments CorrobOrating Neill-Rey-
nolds Packing House Report.
is STILL INVESTIGATING.
Packers Are Making HumOFOul
Haste to Remedy Some of the
Most fragrant Abuses
Complained Of.

Wadsworth, the chairman of that col
mittee, the report made to him by
committee Of the department OF agl
culture regarding conditions in Il
Chicago meat packing houses. AccoI
panying the report was letter fro
the president In which he points o.
that there Is no conflict in substan'
between the Neill-Reynolds report Oh
that Of the agricultural departmel
experts.
The president quotes letter recei'
ed from a most competent and trui
worthy witness in Chicago thu
the packing house proprietors az
manlfesting almost "a humorous hast
to clean up, re-pave and even to pla
for future changes. New toilet room
are being provided, with additions
dressing rooms and clean towels. TIL
presidents correspondent says tina
"the haste towards reform would hav
been amusing II 1t were not so nearl
tragic"
The president says his investigation
have not been completed but tina
enough has been developed In ny
Judgment to call for immediate
thoroughgoing and radical enlargement
Of the powers Of the government In In
specting all meats which enter int
interstate and foreign commerce"
Following is the text of the letter
of the president to Chairman Wads.
worth:
my Dear Mr.. Wadsworth: In &C.
cordance with your request I send you
herewith the two reports of inspec-
ton by the committee appointed by the
department of agriculture on April 6
and 18th. This committe had already
been appointed when I notified the
secretary that l desired that such a
commission should be appointed In
order to make the investigation. Sub
sequent complaints to mo and the con.
sideration of complaints already made
showed that the charges were not
only against the packing houses but
also to certain extent reflected up.
on the action OF the government in
spectors and | came to the conclu-
sion that 1t was best to have an in
vestigation by outside individuals who
could not be charged with being in
any way interested in the matter.
Accordingly before the completion of
the investigation by the department
of agriculture ! directed Mr.. Neil and
Mr.. Reynolds to make an investiga-
ton, the first report of which has
been laid before congress- Much
testimony has been offered to us which
has not been considered in this report,
for Mr.. Neill and Reynolds in this re-
port confine themselves to stating in
more or less summary way the facts
as to which they had been eye-wit-
nesses; and what they have said can
not be successfully controverted. |
Some Of the ground traversed by |
Messrs. Neill and Reynolds is not
touched upon in the report of the CON-
mittee Of the agricultural department.
As to the ground covered in common
by the reports Of the two investigat-
ing committees there is no conflict in
substance as to the important matters,
there Is a marked difference
n emphasis, this being partially due
o the greater length and detail Of
he report of the committee Of the de-
,artment of agriculture. In my judg-
nent the emphasis of the report of
Nessrs, Neill and Reynolds is abund-
Intly justified by the facts.
To show the immediate and extra
ordinary change for the better which
he mere fact of their investigation
s already bringing about in the con-
iition Of the packing houses in Chi
ago. It is only necessary to instance
he following portions of a letter re-.
eived from a most competent and
witness in Chicago whose ,
anne will give the committee If II (
D desires:
"On Monday began a tour of all
ne great packing houses, going first
, Libby's, then Swift's.
Tuesday all the morning discussed !
langes that ought to be made and /
aught a glimpse Of the awakening at {
rmour's. In the afternoon visited &
lie plant with the superintendent. :.
Wednesday rested and contem-
lated the awakening of packing
'wn.' 1t is miraculous. Thursday, l
d Nelson Morris, with the superin- c
ndent, Nelson Morris has done
UGH to make things better. BY the 8
me the next inspector arrives they Q
III have still more new lavatories,
ilet rooms. dressing rooms, etc. :
lspidors everywhere, and signs pro- ?
biting splitting. In most, the awak- n
ling seemed to come by force from 9
lthnnt q
AT Armour's, at my Suggestion, / n
ade no pretense Of making an In q
but frankly announced 9
desire to see things for myself o
d to get a fresh impression OF con-
lions as I had not seen the plants
Ice before the strike On every o
nd there was indications Of an al
,st humorous haste to clean up, re- +
ve and even 10 plan for future
Anges, New toilet rooms, new
lssing rooms, neW toweia, etc. etn
49, "a -. -. - =