The evening world., 1910-12-24

PSORAS - |
Public ofhcials are employed TO
run the enterprise.
II . city can furnish its stock
holders with cheap c~ommoditiss
that enter into the cost OF living
then IL 10 the duty Of les servants
to see that measures are adopted
which Will bring about this much
desired result.
This was the way Emil Seidel, the
Socialist Mayor OF Milwaukee. intro
duced the subject when I asked him TO
outline his views regarding the estab-
llshment OF a municipal sla ughterhouse,
a city ice plant and other enterprises
which he Is seeking to inaugurate here.
lie then handed me the following reso-
luton, which has been unanimously
passed by the City Council:
Resolved. That the city attorney
be and he As hereby directed to pre-
pare a bill for presentation at the
next Legislature giving the city OF
Milwaukee full powers to erect and
operate a public slaughterhouse and
in addition thereto municipal storage
or cold storage plants in such num-
Der as may be required.
Mayor Seidei then elaborated on this
resolution and said:
The greatest problem confronting the
American people to-day Is the cost OF
living. II is the duty OF every official
TO study this problem long and careful
ly. / think that the biggest single item
in the cost of maintaining the home Is
the e bill. There IL hardly a pack
er OF any consequence in this country
who Is not a millionaire. You newspaper
fellows refer to them as beef barons,'
and what you call them Is really true.
No set OF men ever exercised
h power that these men do. They
reach into the pockets OF every
man, woman and child in the world.
They started out poor without .
single exception.
II have studied this subject and have
had the opinions Of experts to guide me.
| believe that the city OF Milwaukee by
establishing a municipal slaughterhouse
and going into the meat business could
furnish the city cheaper food and also
make a profit over the running Expenses
OF the enterprise.
The Mayors Plan.
W. a employ just as good buyers
as the packers. My idea is to send thes.
men either to the ranges or to the live
stock market and have them buy cattle.
sheep and hogs. These would be shIpped
to our municipality owned yards. killed
in our municipal slaughterhouse and
the carcasses placed In our municipal
cold storage plants. The meat could
then he sold to the people either direct
or through authorized dealers.
Some will say that my idea Is to de-
stroy the packing Industry. l say no. l
would not do anything to destroy any
business. The packers could keep on
selling meat to those who wanted It.
I'm fact, I believe that We would
still need them In the field.
MY plan. however. would show the
people almost exactly what 1t costs to
place meat on the table. and the packers
would have TO meet our prices.
"Just good-natursd competition.
That's what the whole plan would
be. No business destroyed, but .
fsw more mouths fed, . few more
strong boys inc girls put into the
world.
'Scofecrs and those opposed to my
plan will say that a city can't run this
Kind of business. l say It can. To-day
the beef packers In one of their plants
employ more men than are on the pay
roll OF the entire city of New York.
~ Know II Cam"
I'm the last analysis n city Is nothing
more than a big business enterprise.
Why can a city employ just as good
men as a private enterprise? ! know 1t
can.
"AM that 10 necessary 10 out out
poutios and the domination OF .
boss.
surrounded by several men who Knew
their business, I would not hesitate to-
morrow 10 start a municipal slaughter
house and I promise TO give the people
cheaper meat and also make a profit for
the city.
ct intend TO visit the next session OF
the Wisconsin Legislature and Tight Tor
my enabling act which VIII allow MIL
waukee to try the experiment OF trying
TO give its own people cheaper food
There Is nothing unconstitutional In the
measure, but the State Legislature mas
80 tied the hands OF Milwaukee that 1t
cannot be tried without a special
measure.
'I also intend to go a little further.
The City Council has unanimously
adopted the following resolution.
"'Be It resolved, by the Common
Council of the city OF Milwaukee.
that the city attorney be and Is
hereby directed to prepare "A bill to
be submitted TO the next Legislature
OF the State of Wisconsin to so
amend the charter OF the city OF