Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-24
WHAT IS SAID BY
THE HEALTH OFFICER
On Disclosures by Assistant
Secretary Of Agriculture.
NOT so BAD AS PAINTED
According to the Reports Of His In
spectors.
A REPORT TO COMMISSIONERS
Submitted Today Goes Over the
Ground in Detail and Shows What
Has Been Done by His Once.
According to the Reports of His In
spectors.
REPORT TO COMMISSIONERS

Agriculture before the House committee on
agriculture yesterday. the substance OF
which was printed exclusively In last nights
Star. in which the market conditions in the
District were depicted as filthy and insani-
tary as the alleged conditions of Packing
ton and the intimation was made that the
District officials had been derelict In their
duties. were declared today by the Commits
sioners as unfair and greatly exaggerated.
II am satisfied" said DR.. William c.
Woodward, health officer, today. ",Lat the
conditions of the markets and other places
where food products are sold are not as
bad as would be supposed from the infor-
nation furnished by Secretary Hays. /
have made a personal investigation. and
my inspecto. have gone over the situation
thoroughly. and nothing of startling In
sanitary nature has been found by US.
From the reports there Is an evident dis
crepancy, in that my inspectors say the
conditions are not bad and the Department
of Agriculture say they are bad However,
believe the former are In better posi-
ton to report upon the market conditions
than the Department Of Agriculture, mas
much as they are familiar with the con-
ditions from daily inspections, and as they
s re paid servants of the District they would
correct any violations that might exist.
However If the conditions are as Secretary
Hays contends then these inspectors have
neglected their duties and l have been
misinformed and am wrong in my conyic-
tions."
Brought Up by Health Department.
The Commissioners also wish to correct
the statement that the investigation of
the markets and slaughter houses and
other places where food products are sold
and exposed was started by the Depart
ment of Agriculture. 1t was brought up
by the health department the Commits
siOners say, in connection with the pro-
posed bill providing for better control of
these establishments by the District, which
bill is now pending in the House. having
been introduced several days ago.
The Department of Agriculture was re-
quested by the Commissioners at that time
to supplement the investigation OF the
health department. and it was in comply
ing with this request that Secretary Hays,
according to the Commissioners, formed his
opinions about the bad and insan1tary local
conditions. More than two weeks ago hir.
Hays made a report to DR.. \. oodward upon
his findings, and offered numerous sugges-
tons to remedy certain conditions existing,
and which he considered bad. 1t was in
view of this Information that DR. Wood
ward instituted a more rigid inspection.
and even took hand in 1t himself. AL
though he has not completed his official
report upon findings, which he IS to sub
NIT to the Commissioners, he made a brief
and advance report to Commissioner Mac
farland this morning, which was ASKED for
by the latter in view of the criticisms ana
Commissioner mcfarland said that as
soon as the Commissioners had all the
facts in regard to the alleged bad condi-
tions in the sale Of meat and other pro-
visions they would, of course, see that
everything possible was done to improve
conditions He stated that he had told
Health officer Woodward that even though
his force of inspectors was insufficient and
his legal authority limited, he must do all
that his means would permit, and suggest
whatever additional legislation was neces-
sary. DR.. Woodward, he said, had been
devoting his personal attention to the mat
ter and would make full report OF his per
sonal examination. 1t was DR.. woodward,
he said who began the whole inquiry by
his Investigations as to the slaughter
houses which resulted in the preparation
of the slaughter house bill. which, upon DR..
Woodward's recommendation, the COmmis-
sioners had asked Congress at this session
to enact in order to give the power lacking
to deal with the slaughter houses not en-
gagged in interstate commerce or under fed
eral inspection. DIR. Woodward. in pre-
pairing to recommend that legislation had
asked the Department of Agriculture Tor
some assistance after he had prosecuted
his inquiry for some time. Out of the
slaughter-house investigations grew the
meat market investigation. which the Com
missioners had asked DIR. Woodward to
make as searching as possible No avoid
able delay had occurred. and the matter
would be pressed. Mr.. Mcfarland said,
until it was satisfactorily settled.
Report o. DR.. Woodward.
The report of DIR. Woodward, commenting
upon the proceedings before the agricultural
committee of the House, as printed In The
Star of yesterday, which was submitted to
the Commissioners today is as follows:
IF the Department of Agriculture has
ever become aware of the existence of in
sanitary conditions in local slaughter
houses. 1t has never communicated that
fact to the health department of the Dis
trict of Columbia, nor has any letter ever
been written by the Department Of Agri-
culture. that has come to my knowledge.
recommending the erection of a municipal
abattoir On the contrary. pressure by the
health department having been found to
tend strongly to drive into an adjacent
state, establishments slaughtering animals
for consumption in the District Of Column
bia. the attention of the Department Of Ag-
riculture was invited, under date Of August
g. 1904. to the Importance of establishing
under the then existing regulations govern
ing the Strengthening Of cattle for Interstate
commerce, a proper inspection service.
The Department of Agriculture having
announced it's inability to establish such an
inspection service, the health department
felt that nothing could be gained by action
that would drive slaughter houses from the
District of Columbia into territory where
they would be free from all inspection
whatsoever. and did the best it could to keep
under inspection slaughter houses located
I'm the District. But as soon as practicable
after efficient system OF interstate in
spection had been provided for by Congress
the health department. on its own initiative,
took action looking toward the improve
ment of local slaughter houses knowing
that in view of the newly established inter-
state inspection service there would be no
inducement for persons desiring to escape
inspection to leave the District of Column
bia and to locate In other jurisdictions
Legislation that was drafted In the health
department for that purpose Is now pending
in Congress.
The legislation referred to was drafted
however, for PRONUNCIATION by the Com
missoners IL they had authority to pro-
mitigate 1t police regulation, and It was
the purpose of the health officer. and he so
informed the honorable assistant secretary
of agriculture. in event of decision by
the corporation counsel favorable to their
PRONUNCIATION, to follow them up by regu-
latons governing bakeries. and then by
regulations governing markets. and in event
OF decision by the corporation counsel
that the Commissioners had no power to
promulgate such regulations. then to recon-
mend that the Commissioners ask from
Congress authority to promulgafe regula-
tons governing slaughter houses bakeries.
markets. and similar places. The Com
missoners, on advice of corporation coun-
sci, presented to Congress bill covering
slaughter houses. intending. am informed.
to take up the matter OF bakeries markets
and similar places later.