The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-06-08

dirty floor beside the bench. Men are
seen to climb from the floor and stand.
with their shoes filthy from the refuse
of the floors, on the tables where the
meat is handled.
I'VE saw meat shoveled from filthy
wooden floors and piled on tables rare
ly washed. and pushed from room to
room in rotten box carts, all of which
processes result in gathering dirt and
splinters from the floor and filth and
the expectorations of tuberculous and
other diseased workmen
"A glaring instance of uncleanliness
was found in the room where the best
grade of sausage was being prepared
for export"
Defect in Inspection.
Referring to inspection, the report
shows that the present law does not
go far enough, it being confined to
passing on the healthfulness of the an
imals at the time OF killing. During
the process of preparing sausage and
other products there is no inspection,
despite the fact that all products,
when sent out, bear label stating
that they have been passed by govern
ment inspectors.
The report contains a chapter on
the mistreatment accorded employees,
particularly women.
'"The various departments are under
the control Of superintendents, who
ignore all considerations except that
of their account book. Under this
system the proper care of products
and the health and comfort of en-
ployes are impossible, and the con-
sumer suffers in consequence
Decencies Are Ignored.
Tuberculous victims expectorate
on the spongy floors of the dark work
rooms, from which falling scraps of
meat are later shoveled up to be con-
verted into food products.
Even the ordinary decencies OF
life are completely ignored" says the
report in discussing the arrangements
for men and women employees. The
report says:
"The whole situation as We saw 1t in
these huge establishments tends
necessarily and inevitably to the NOR
ers, who are forced to spend their
working hours under conditions that
are entirely unnecessary and unpar-
donable, and which are a constant
menace not only to their own health,
but to the health of those who use
the food products prepared by them"
Reforms Urged.
The report urged compulsory ex-
animation after slaughter; inspection
of meats for foreign or interstate COM
merce; inclusion of goats, now eX-
empt from inspection, intended for for
eign and interstate commerce, In the
list subject to the inspection OF the
bureau of animal industry, and that
they should be equally controlled by
the regulations of the secretary of ag-
riculture; increase of inspectors for
night inspection and special work;
legislation prohibiting declarations OF
government inspection on food prod
ucts unless subject to government IN
spection at every stage OF prepara-
ton; prohibiting interstate transpor-
tation of any meat or meat food prod
ucts not inspected and labeled; urges
considering the question of specific
labelling of all carcasses sold as fresh
meat, which, upon examination after
slaughter, show signs of disease, but
are still deemed suitable for food;
and recommends study OF inspection
standards of other countries.
London Papers Sound Warning.
London, June 6.-President Roose-
velt's message to congress on the
meat matter as substantially confirm
ing some, If not the morst, OF the
charges against the packers, is the
subject of general editorial discussion
in the London newspapers this morn
ing. and is used as a warning to Brit
ish consumers to avoid all American
products of the kind until sweeping
refcrm is established.