The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-06-19
The FACTS ABOUT
The PACKING HOUSES
Continued from Page Three.


edge of the sidewalk, or any place
where they can find standing room, In
winter, however, and in inclement
weather their lunches have to be eaten
III rooms that in many cases are sitting
and nauseating Eating rooms are pro-
vided III a number of place. for women
workers in the various departments
and in most Of the large establishments
coffee is served them at a penny Il cup.
Beyond this meager consideration for
their convenience at meal times scarce
ly any evidence is found that any one
gave a thought to their comfort.
1.-THE neglect on the part OF their en-
ployers to recognize or provide for the
requirements of cleanliness and decen-
cy of the employees must have an intiu-
ence that cannot be exaggerated in
lowering the morals and discOurag ng
cleanliness on the part of the workers
employed in the packing houses. The
whole situation as we saw it in these
huge establishments tends necessarily
and inevitably to the moral degradation
of thousands of workers who are forced
to spend their working hours under
conditions that are entirely unneCes-
sary and objectionable, and which are
a constant menace not only to their
own health but to the health Of those
who use the food products prepared ~
them.
GOVERNMENT INSPECTION SYS-
TEN.
"VI. GOVERNMENT INSPECTION.
We observed carefully the inspection
before slaughter, the inspection after
slaughter on the killing beds, the more
minute examination of animals tagged
on the killing floors, and the microsco-
Tic examination for trichinosis.
INSPECTION BEFORE SLAUGH-
TER.-Inspection before slaughter
! appears to have little value in most
cases. That undue advantage OF this
/ inspection is taken by outside parties
is charged, and opportunities for such
are abundant, but no specific evidence
was presented to us. That this unim-
portant and superficial examination
should be compulsory under tine pres
ent law, whereas the more scientific
examination after slaughter is only
! permissive, indicates a serious defect
/ i'm the law.
INSPECTION AFTER SLAUGH-
| TER-Inspection after slaughter an
pears to ne c. ,rful.Y end conscieur' MS
ly made. The government veterinar-
ans maintain that it is adequate, In
sistiag that a passing examination of
| filthy mems privy. 1t was picked VI
by two employees, places upon a truck
carried into the cooling room and hung
up with other cdrcasses, no effort being
made to clean it,
NO INSPECTION OF CARCASSES
Treatment of meat after inspection
THE radical defect in the present sys.
tenn Of inspection is that it does not &c
far enough. 1t is confined at presen
by law to passing on the healthfulnesI
of animals at the time Of killing; bu
the meat that is used I'm sausage and II
the various forms of canned product,
and other prepared meat foods goes
through many processes, in all Of which
there is possibility Of contamination
through insanitary handling and fur
Their danger through the use Of che
meals. During all these processes o
preparation there is no government in
spcction and no assurance whatever
that these meat-foOd products ar
wholesome and 1T for food-despite tn
fact that al these products when sen