The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-04
III Is REVULHNG.
President Roosevelt So Brands
the Condition in PackingtOwn.
He Transmits Report of Investi-
cation to Congress.
A MESSAGE WITH IT.
Recommends Passage of the
BeYeridge Amendment.
Designed to Bring About a
Rigid Inspection.

| Washington, June a. President
Roosevelt has transmitted to congress
the report of the commission appoint
ed to investigate the conditions of the
meat packing industry Of the country
Accompanying the report is a message
in which he urges the adoption OF
the Beveridge amendment to the agri-
cultural appropriation bill, providing
for more rigid inspection of the busi-
ness under government direction.
The Message.
THE senate and house of representa-
tives:
'I transmit herewith the report OF
Mr.. James Bronson Reynolds and
Commissioner Charles P. Neill. the
special commission whom 1 appointed
to Investigate into the conditions OF
the stock yards of Chicago, and report
thereon to me. This report is of a pre-
liminary nature. submit it to you
now because it shows the urgent need
of immediate action by the congress
in the direction of providing a drastic
and thoroughgOing inspection by the
federal government of all stock yards
and packing houses and OF their
products so far as the latter enter into
interstate or foreign commerce. The
conditions shown by even this short
inspection to exist. in the Chicago stock
Yards are revolving. It is imperatively
necessary in the interest of decency
that they should be radically changed.
Under the existing law 1t is wholly i'm
possible to secure satisfactory results.
Il urge the immediate enactment
into law Of provisions which will en-
able the department of agriculture
adequately to inspect the meat and
meat food products entering into in
terstate commerce and to supervise the
methods of preparing the same and to
prescribe the sanitary conditions under
which the work shall be performed.
therefore commend to your favorable
consideration and urge the enactm eni
Of substantially the provisions known
as senate amendment number % to
the act making appropriations for the
department of agriculture for the fiscal
year ending June go, 1907, as passed
by the seI1ste this amendment being
commonly known as the Beveridge
amendment
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
''The White House. June 4, 1906"
The Report
The report says that two and one
half weeks were spent. in the investiga-
ton in Chicago during which Eve went
through the principal packing houses
in the stock yards district togeth er
with a few of the smaller ones. A day
was spent by Mr.. Reynolds in New York
slaughter houses. .
The report says that in many of the
rooms where water is used freely the
floors are soaked and Shiny and the
dark, dingy rooms are naturally not
kept suitably clean. An absence OF
cleanliness was found everywhere in
the handling of meat being prepared
| for the various meat food products.
| The parts that are sent from the cool
| ing room to these departments where
various forms Of meat products are
prepared are handled with no regard
whatever for cleanliness. The workers
climb over heaps of meat, select the
pieces they wish and frequently throw
them down upon the dirty floor beside
the cir bench.
The report says that the radical de-
feet in the inspection system is that 1t
is confined at present by law to passing
on the hea1thfuinesS OF animals at the
time of killing, but that the meat that
is used in sausage and the various
forms of canned products and other
prepared meat foods goes through
many processes, in all of which there
is possibility Of contamination through
unsanitary handling and further dan
ger through the use of chemicals. Dur
ing all these processes there Is no gov
ernment inspection, although these
products when sent out bear label
stating they have been passed upon by
4
The report arraigns the sanitary pro-
visions in the buildings as abominable
and says the men and women plunge
their unwashed hands into the meat to
be converted into food products. The
report says the burden of protecting
the cleanliness and VIII Olesome of
the products and the health of the
workers and improving the conditions
must fall upon the national govern
ment.
nanar+roant sunerinfandan4s ssseer,
to ignore all considerations except the
account book and proper care of the
products and of health and comfort of
the employees is impossible and the
consumer consequently suffers Tuber-
cuIOsis victims expectorate on the
spongy wooden floors of the dark work
rooms from which falling scraps of
meat are later shoveled up to be con-
verted into food products.
The report urges compulsory ex-
animation after slaughter; Increase OF
inspectors for night inspection and spe-
cial work; legislation prohibiting dec
larations Of government inspection on
food products unless subject to gov
ernmene inspection at every stage of
preparation; prohibiting interstate
transportation of any meat or meat
food products not inspected and label
ed urges considering the question of
specific labelling of all carcasses sold as
fresh meat which upon examination
after slaughtering show signs of dis
ease but are still deemed suita Bile for
food. and recommends study of in
spection standards of other countries
Nov. York Bfonav Market.
New York. June money Money on
call easy, 31zQ3A per cent, ruling rate 31k