The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-16
NESS TELLS
REVOLVING STORY
Conditions in Meat Packing
Houses Are Almost
Unbelievable.


tails of the lax enforcement of the
meat inspection i;.ws. some of them
hdrdly printable, were related to tina
House Committee on Expenditures In
Vae department OF Agriculture when
the committee resumed its inquiry
to-day into the charges OF Congress
man Nelson against the meat lnspec-
uon service
Dr.. }. V. Laddcy. o.: Newark. for
merry veterinary inspector stationed
at Newark and New York. furnished
the sensational testimony.
With great minu,eness DR.. Laddey
told of almost unbelievable unsani-
'ary conditions of the piIing together
OF condemned and diseased meat. OF
lou! odors. bloody floors, cruelty to
dumb animals. of the visits OF con-
sumptives who eXpectorate about the
packing houses. and other revolving
Things which he asserted entered into
t0e slau2hter!ng and packing of meat
Tor human food.
Dr. LadJsy said he severed his con-
nection with the service Iazt Deem
Der because his HANDS were tied by In
spectors above him. and because n
could MAKE little progress in improv-
ing the conditions which ne found at
various aboatolrs IN New York and
Newark.
Tuberculosis Danger.
"Consumptives visit the aboa.oiss Tor
The purpose OF drinking blood" said
LaGdey. "and too frequently expecto--
ate upon the Hoods"
This extract Is but sample OF the
testimony Of the former inspectors
revelations concerning alleged d!sre-
gard for the health and lives OF nleat
consumers.
In the majority OF Instances" said
Laddey. "the mon who hermit viola
lions Of ths law ara not even reprl-
handed"
solicitor Mccaoe. representing the
department. took notes during the tes-
umony OF the former inspector. and
probably will pu. him through Wig
orous cross examination.
Congressman Sloan asked the Witness
II he had ever oscn Instructed by any
one in authority to wil.ully disregard
the printed law and regulations.
The number OF times was over
ruled was sufficient notice that was
not to enforce strictly the la@r." said
Dr.. t.s,ldey. while MIR Sloan insisted
that this Cid not amount to an order
Dart1ient.
Frequently ovcrruIed.
Laddey said that at all inspection
stations where he had ever work ed
during his seven years service with
overruied By inspectors in charge. Lad
dcy said that there were two sets
of orders for inspectors. oral and writ
ten. Both fo-ms he testified. implied
that leniency should be exercised"
In HIS general description OF the
unsanitary conditions existing in the
major.ty OF the embellishments, Laddey
said
Fats arc spilled upon the refuse on
the hoor and If inspectors are not
on the scene 1t Is recovered and made
into alec"
attempted to have discharged a Kill
err at the Stewardship & SulzburRer
abatto!r in New York. VINO had thrown
a piece nj fat across the room a, an
he said, had been retained, and he
was powerless to correct many of the
evils about MIN.
Laddey read into the record several
letters he had written his superior
officers protesting against conditions in
various establishments. One OF these
was his letter OF resignation sent Sec
rotary Wilson las; December. In which
bin of specifications giving the rea-
sons why he could not conscient'ousiy
remain in the service and note constant
violations of the law.
sins and soap, tho skinning OF heads
while animals were still alive. tie
failure to condemn diseased livers.
hearts and lungs, lack OF sufficient
light for inspection purposes, the
handling OF dirty calves feet with
clean meat. the practice OF placing
condemned meat on the same table
with passed meat and various other
alleged unhealthful conditions were
given by DR.. Laddey. ms the reasons
for his summary resignation after "a
few days service at this abat;o'r.
At establishment No. 226. Laddcy
nnt cd tn tr1Tn ~ Loo. No
head slaughterer that the employees
had right to tell him ito go TO
hell" unless the chief inspectors ap-
proved of his objections to existing
conditions. DIR. Laddey said he was
told 10 go 10 hell" when lie pro-
tested aginst the. habit OF hanging
calves up by their hind legs before
the killer" was ready for them He
had seen this. nc avcrred, ut the Swift
" Co. abattoir. The calves below cd
friEhttully for several moments, he
said. while he hunted the head slaueh-
tercr to enter q protest and he was
finally told that nobody else has OBJ
iected TO it,
COMES FROM PHILIPPINES