The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-08

Its reading was closely followed and
at its conclusion there was a show
OF applause which was instantly
checked by the speaker referring
the document and accompanying
papers to the committee on agricui-
tGre.
Washington. D. c., June 6.-Ppesident
Roosevelt today transmitted to con-
gress the much talked of reports of
Neill of their Investigation INTO the con-
dition of the stock yards and packing
houses of Chicago.
The revelations are fully as bad as
the advanced statements indicated.
Pointing out the impossibility under eX-
tsting law to secure the needed relief
the president urges congress to enact a
measure which will Tin the interest of
decency" change the revolving condi-
tons. He advises that 4 tax on the
condemned animals be levied as a
means for paying for this added inspec-
ton which will be carried on by the
government.
The president in his message to con-
gress said:
Urgent Need of Inspection.
The Senate and House of Representa-
tives: l transmit herewith th~ereportof Mr..
James Bronson Reynolds and Commission
er Charles P. NELL, the special committee
whom l appointed to investigate into the
conditions in the stock yards of Chicago
and report thereon to me. This report is
of a preliminary nature. i submit 1t to
you now because it shows the urgent need
Of immediate action by the congress in the
direction Of providing a drastic and thor
ough-going inspection by the federal gov
eminent of all stockyards and packing
houses and of their products so far as the
latter enter into interstate or foreign COM
merce. The conditions shown by even this
short inspection to exist in the Chicago
stock yards are revolving. 1t is impera-
lively necessary in the interest of decency
that they should be radically changed. I'm
der the existing law it is wholly impossible
to secure satisfactory results.
When First Action Was Taken.
When my attention was first directed to
the matter an investigation was made by
partnlent of agriculture. When the pre-
lminary statements of this investigation
were brought to my attention, they
showed such defects in the law and such
wholly. unexpected conditions that L
deemed it best to nave a further immedi-
ate investigation by men not connected
ed Messrs. Reynolds and NELL. 1t was
impossible under the existing law that sat
isfactory work should be done by the bu-
reau of animal industry. l am now, how
ever, examining the way in which the
work actually was done
Before 1 had received the report of
Messrs. Reynolds and Neill / had directed
that labels placed upon any package of
meat food products should state only that
the carcass of the animal from which the
meat was taken had been inspected at the
time of slaughter. If inspection of meat
food products at ali stages Of preparation,
: Is not secured by. the passage of legisla-
to order that inspection labels and %certifi-
Gates on came products shall not be used
hereafter.
Not Even Reasonably Clean.
The report shows hat the stock yards
preparing and handling food products is
uncleanly and dangerous to health. Under
existing law the national government has
forms of prepared meat foods, products
that are daily going from the packing
houses into interstate commerce.
Owing to an inadequate appropriation
the department. of agriculture is not ever
able to place inspectors in all establish
ments desiring them. The present law
prohibits the shipment If uninspected
meat to foreign countries, but there is no
provision prohibiting the shipment of UNI
inspected meats into interstate m
thus the avenues of interstate omnerc
nrc left open to traffic IN diseased or
spoiled meats. If, as has been alleged on
seemingly good authority, further evils eX-
list. such az the improper use of chemicals
and dyes the government lacks power
to relnedy them.
A law is needed which will enable the in
spectors OF the general government to in
spcct and supervise from the hoof to the
can the preparation of the meat food pro-
quot. The evil seems much less in the
sale OF dressed carcasses than in the sale
of canned and other prepared products.
Animals Must Pay Expense.
In my judgment the expenses Of the in
Epection should be paid by fee levied on
each animal Slaughtered. If this is no.
done the whole purpose of the law can at
any time be defeated through an insufti-
cicnt appropriation and whenever there
was no particular public interest in the
subject It would be not only easy hut nat
ficient. If 1t We're not for this considera-
ton 1 would favor the government paying
for it.
The alarm expressed IN certain quarters
concerning this feature should be allayed
by a realization of the fact that in no
case. under such a law. VIII the COS. Of in
spection exceed 8 cents per head.
l call special attention to the fact thar
this report is preliminary, and that The
investigation is still unfinished. 1t is not
yet possible to report on the alleged
compounds in connection with canning and
preserving meat products, nor on the al
legged docsoring in this fashion OF tainted
meat and OF products returned to the
! packers as having grown unsuitable or I'M
disable from age or from other reasons.
Grave allegations are made in reference 10
abuses of this nature.
No Law to Stop Abuses.
Let me repeat that under the present
law there practically IS no method of stop
ping these abuses If they should be dis
covered to exist. Legislation is needed in
order to prevent the possibility of all
abuses in the future. If nc legislation is
passed, then the excellent results accom-
plishcd by the work of this special com
mittee will endure only so long as the
memory OF the committees work is fresh
and ~recrudescence of the abuses is abso-
lutciy certain.
Iurge the immediate enactment into law
OF provisions which will enable the de.