Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-06-04
President Sends Message and
Report of Packing House In
spection to Congress
DISGUSTING THINGS
TOLD
Report Of the Commissioners Say
There is No Regard For Decency or
= Cleanliness in tire Chicago Packing
{ tiouses-Presdert Urges Congress
\ 60 Take Some Action.

Washington, June 4. When the
speaker laid before the house today
President Roosevelt's message and the
summary of the investigation made
by Neill and Reynolds on the mehods
OF the beef packers great interest was
displayed by members in the message.
Its reading was closely followed and
at its conclusion there was show Of
applause, which was instantly checked
by the speaker referring the document
and accompanying papers to the COM
mittee on agriculture.
a Chairman Wadsworth of the house
committee on agriculture made this
prediction to the Associated Press to-
day: "a meat inspection law will be
enacted which will insure to the con-
sumner meat fit to be eaten"
The presidents message and the ac-
companying report follows:
TO the senate and house of repre-
sentatfves: I transmit herewith the
report of Mr.. James Bronson Reynolds,
and Commissioner Charles P. Neill, the
special committee whom l appointed to
investigate into the conditions after
Chicago, and report thereon to me.
This report is of Il preliminary nature.
II submit it to you now because it
shows the urgent need of immediate
action by congress in the direetisn OF
providing drastic and thorough go
ing inspection by the federal govern
ment Of all stockyards and packing
houses, and of their products so far as
the latter enter into interstate or for
@eign commerce. The conditions shown
by even this short inspection, to ex-
ist in the Chicago stockyards, are re-
voting. 1t is inlperatively necessary
IN the interest Of decency, that they
should be radically changed Under
the existing law it is wholly impossible
to secure satisfactory result. 1 urge
the immediate enactment into law of a
provision which will enable the de-
partment Of agriculture adequately to
inspect the meat and meat food pro-
ducts entering into interstate COM
merce, and to supervise the methods Of
sanitary conditions under which the
work shall be performed. l therefore
commend to your favorable considera-
ton and urge the enactment substan-
TALLY of the provision and senate
amendment commonly known as the
Beveridge amendment.
lSigned) THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The Report.
The commissioner and Reynolds re-
port says two and a half weeks were
spent in the investigation in Chicago.
Absence of cleanliness we found every
where in handling the meat being pre-
pared for various meat food products.
Parts that are sent from the cooling
room to departments where the vari-
Gus forms of meat products are pre-
pared, dTe HdHuleQ Win no regard
whatever for cleanliness. The workers
climb over heaps of meat, select pieces
and frequently thrown them down upon
the dirty floor beside their bench.
The report say the radical defect in
the inspection system is that it is con-
fined at present by law, to passing on
the healthfulness of animals at the
time of killing, but that meat used in
sausage and various forms of canned
products and other prepared meat
foods, goes thru many processes, in all
Of which there is a possibility of con-
tamination thru insanitary handling
and further danger thru the use of
chemicals. During all these processes,
there is no government inspection, al
tho these products when sent out bear
label stating that they have been
passed upon by the government in
spectors. The report arraigns the pro-
visions building as abominable, and
says men and women plunge their
unwashed hands into the meat to be
converted into food products. The re-
port says the burden of protecting the
cleanliness and Nholesomeness of pro-
ducts and the health of the workers
and improving conditions, must fall
upon the national government.
The department superintendents
"Seem to ignore all considerations ex-
cept the account book, and the proper
care of products and of the health and
comfort of employees is impossible, and