Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-24

ing conditions prevailing in the markets
and provision stores In the District of
Columbia, it. is matter OF exceeding
great regret that the honorable assistant
secretary of agriculture has not been spe-
cifc in, his statements as to when and
where these conditions have been found,
ca1ity definitely described does not mem
tion which of the establishments therein
located were complained of and the par
ticnlar nature of the complaint in each
has not furnished specific Information as
to how the results of the Investigations
made by the Department of Agriculture
In the District of Columbia compared
any, as the Department of Agriculture
has made in other cities throughout the
united States. In the absence OF specific
information as to when and where the
objectionable conditions referred to were
found. it has been impossible for the de-
partment to investigate the SjfpRtipn
promptly SO as to determins the accuracy
and fairness of the REPORTS thai form the
basis OF the assistant secretarr'9 state
ments.
"The several food inspectors who are
charged With the inspection Of markets
of the results of their ordinary obeerya-
tons. and copy of the report, which they
have submitted, accompanies this letter. =
will be NOTED that their findings are not
altogether IN accord with those Embodied
In the statement of the assistant secrefary
of agriculture. and before definite action
can be taken by the health Officer win
be necessary for him or for acme other re-
personally to complete the examinations tnio
the situation which has been begun.
I'm this connection, however, and In con-
nection with the discrepancy that exists be-
tween the statement Of the honorable as
sistant secretary of agriculture and the re-
ports submitted by the food inspectors Of
this department, due weight must be given
to the probable difference between the re-
suits of the observations made b. inyestiga-
tors without fixed Official responsibility and
guided only by their personal Views as to
what conditions should be, and the 0bserya-
tons of responsible officers whose inyesti-
cations are made for the purpose of en-
forcing existing law and Who must, II they
report conditions bad be ready to prove the
correctness of their Judgment under oath
adverse witnesses, to the satisfaction Of
judge and a Jury personally unacquainted
with the details of the situation"
Report Of Health inspectors.
AS further, evidence that the conditions
are not as depleted by Secretary Hays,
DR.. woodward forwarded with his report
to the Commissioners the following re-
port from three health inspectors who
have made an inspection of the eendittaas
complained of. Their report started With
the alleged dirty conditions OF the cell
ings of the markets, such a. xeahweba, ETC.:
These cebwebs and dirt % the ceilings
are removed two or three times yeaf by
broom attached to long pole by the
employees of the market. When this is
done dealers are notified to remove all
goods or effectually cover them from the
cobwebs and dust. This requires consid-
cradle time, otherwise the ceilings are
clean.
LAS to the racks on which meat is hung.
they have been thoroughly cleansed and
painted and the racks and stalls are
Scrubbed regularly after market hours.
las to the quantity of rubbish and dirt
accumulated behind the benches and under
counters, this is swept by the dealers into
the aisles and removed by the market en-
ployes daily. We examine refrigerators
daily and find them in sanitary cond1tlon
..As to the insanitary tubs In Whlch
meats are corned, we state that when we
find barrels. tubs or trays, in an insanltary
condition we have them Immediately re-
"As to refrigerators under floors. we state
that the Eastern Market and Georgetown
Market owned by the District. also y
street Market. situated at 7th and streets
northwest: Riggs Market, street between
18th and 18th northwest and Northeast
Market, corner of 10Th and H streets north
east, are owned by corporate bodies. nave
refrigerators under floors, which have
meats (some dealers much prefer them.
"As to the cats, they are in all the mar
kets Meats are not left exposed on the
stands after market hours. we nave never
seen a cat on any meat
DR. Woodward concluded his report 10 tne
Commissioners by suggesting the advisaoii-
ity of asking Congress for authority 10
make regulations governing the eohstruc
ton and maintenance of such establish
ment He says that while the Commissioners
now have authority to promulgate such
regulations as are necessary for the protec-
ton of public health, that If slaughter
to be specifically regulated the relation
between many regulations relating to the
construction and cleanliness thefeoi anu
pubio health must be so remote as 10 rem
der it questionable Whether tney couu tu
justified in court under general au;horlty
authorizing the PRONUNCIATION OF regulations
relating solely to public health. Sucn 1or
instance are regulations requiring paint OF
a particular color to pc USED ~ pai.ieuiat a.
periods. regulations defining the types OF
benches or tables to be adopted, regulations
recurring the segregation OF dealers In par,
ticular products from all other dealers anu
other similar regulations
And while seeking authority he con-
cluded, ito make regulations governing the
construction and management OF slaughter
houses, markets and provision Stores the
Commissioners may well include request
for authority to make similar regulations
relating to bakeries, dining rooms. lunch
rooms saloons and similar places. If such
a grant of power be conferred upon the
Commissioners by Congress, then the Com
missioners will be at liberty to use 1t VI
not or to use 1t in such a manner as sub
seuuent developments may render neces-
sary.
Recommendation Approved.
commissioner Mcfarland promptly APP
proved the recommendation made by the
health officer today that Congress be asked
to give the Commissioners authority to
promulgate regulations respecting the con-
struction and maintenance of markets. pro-
vision stores, bakeries. dining and lunch
rooms, saloons and similar places, on the
ground that as Congress adjourns on March
4 it was not advisable to delay asking for
this additional authority until the health
department completed it's investigation Of
the subject.
The facts developed by that investigation,
he said. can be presented to Congress later,
and the grant Of power asked might well be
given by Congress, if only for the pur-
pose OF preventing undesirable conditions
In such establishments In the future. AS
has been stated. when the Commissioners
asked for the slaughter-house legislation
It was their intention to ask later for SINH.
for ho