The Washington herald., 1907-01-15
FEW FOOD LAW SUITS
Only Six Prosecutions Ont of
6,325 Inspections.
OFFICIAL RRP0RES ARE MADE
Health Ohscer woodward Directs As
sistaEts to Make Special Reports on
Condition of Market Houses, Com
mission Houses, and Provision
Stores-Nerchants Prepare to Fight

As the result OF 5Sl9 inspections Of the
provision stores and SIC inspections Of
markets made by the inspectors Of the
health department fer October, Novem-
Der. and December. there were but six
prosecutions in Police Court for failure
to comply with the sanitary regulations
These figures are SHOWN by the last quar-
terIy reports of Inspectors J. R. Mothers
head. ". II. Hoover, and Thomas CavaA
naugh.
The inspectors were directed yesterday
by Health officer w. c. Woodward to
make a special report relative to the
conditions Of the market houses, commits
sion houses. and provision stores as in
cluded in the report Of DR.. H. T. Nc
Keown, Of the Bureau CT Animal Indus
try.
The health officer was emphatic, in
stating that IL the uncleanliness described
by DR. McKeown exists some one has
been remiss in the duties of his Office
The attention Of the inspectors was
called TO section of an ordinance TO
prevent the sale of unwholesome food
in Washington and Georgetown, which
reads as follows:
That no person owning, renting, leasing or occ1-
pying any stall room OF stand where meets OF vCge-
tables are sold for food within the District Of Co
lumba shall fail 90 keep said stall room. or stand
IN cleanly condition; nor shall such person allow
said meats vegetables to become poisoned in
fected unfit for food by reason Of unclcanly con
ditions Of such stall room. or stand. ana any pcT
son violating the provisions Of this section stall
upon conviction, be punished by a fne Of not less
than SO nor more than S. for each and every Of
Tense
Failure Makes Arrest Possible.
Failure to comply with these provisions.
said Dr. Woodward, makes the proprietor
Of markets, stores. OF commission houses
liable TO arrest without notice
The last quarterly repcrc Of Inspector
Hoover, which, according to DR.. Wood
ward, is about the average. shows the
amount of food stuff condemned by one
inspector:
65l pounds Of mutton 81 Of veal. I23 of pork
81 e bacon, 65 of verison, g. Of sausage; number
81 chicken. IS turkeys l0l; ducks. Il geese. 3 ;
rabbits, 6lsz; birds. li2l, squirrels 30 celery 50
bUnChes; Thubarb p; lsttuce IS, Caubages $50 f.
ogg plants . kale. Is bushels: peas and misceIla-
neous fruits and Vegetables. l55 bushels.
The report of the inspectors Of his de-
pa-tment will be considered In connection
with the suggestion of DR.. MeKeown, fol-
lowing which the health officer will sub
NIT his report to the Commissioners.
Merchants to Fight Measures.
Preparations have been begun TO fight
the movement inaugurated by the Health
Department which prohibits the selling
Of meats from open stalls. Merchants
throughout the wholesale district were
earnestly engaged in discussing the pro-
posed law yesterday, and although moth
ing definite has as yet been formulated.
II is highly probable that a mass meet
ing viii soon be held and the services Of
attorneys retained 10 fight the measure
in the courts.
o. o. Spicer. one CT the leading whole
sale dealers on Louisiana avenue. stated
yesterday that steps would undoubtedly
be taken soon 20 prevent the adoption OF
this measure.
1T IS unnecessary and unjust" he said
"and I cannot see any reason why they
should attempt TO enforce such a regUla-
zion. But of this you may be sure: If the
board Of health issues any such order,
We will fight it with all our might"
J. II. Johnson, another merchant whose
place of business Is on Louisiana avenue.
expressed the same opinion
The regulation is unjust" he said last
evening There viii be something done,
but what y VIII be, / cannot say"