Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-05-16
SAYS INSPECTORS O. X.
FILTH IN ABATTOIRS

NAhJ w
tails of the lax enforcement of the meal
inspection laws, some of them hardly
printable, we're related to the House com
mittee on expenditures in the Depart
ment Of Agriculture when the committee
resumed its inquiry yesterday into the
charges of Congressman Nelson against
the meat inspection service.
Dr. J. V. Laddey, of Newark, formerly
a veterinary inspector at Newark and
New York, furnished the sensational tes-
timony.
With great minuteness DR.. Laddey told
of almost unbelievable sanitary condi-
lions, of the piling together Of condemned
and diseased meat, of foul odors, bloody
floors, cruelty to animals, of the visits
of consumptives who expectorate abou,
the packing houses, and other revolving
things which he asserted existed in the
different departments. DR.. Laddey said
he severed his connection with the serv-
ice last December because his hands were
tied by inspectors above him and because
he could make little progress In improv-
ing the conditions which he found at
various abattoirs in New York and New
ark.
"consumptives visit the abattoirs Tor
the purpose of drinking blood" said
Laddey, t'and too frequently expectorate
upon the floors"
This extract is but a sample OF the tes-
timony of the former inspectors revela-
tions concerning alleged disregard for the
health and lives of meat consumers.
I'm the majority Of instances sail
DR.. Laddey, 1.-The men who permit viola
lions of the law are not even repri-
manded."
Solicitor McCabe, representing the de.
partment, took notes during the testi-
mony of the fol mer inspector and prob
ably will put him through a vigorous
cross-examination.
Congressman Sloan asked the witness
il he had ever been instructed by anyone
In authority wilfully to disregard the
printed law and regulations.
1.-THE number of times | was overruled
was sufficient notice that l was not to
enforce the law strictly" said DR.. LAD
dey, while Mr.. Sloan insisted that this
did not amount to an order to disregard
the regulations of the department.
Laddey said that at all Inspection
stations where he had ever worked dur
ing his seven years service with the
government, he was frequently overruled
by inspectors In charge. Laddey said
that there were two sets of orders for
inspectors, oral and written. Both
forms, he testified, implied that leni-
ency should be exercised"
In his general description of the in
sanitary conditions existing in the ma
jority of the establishments, Laddey
said:
Fats are spilled upon the refuse on
the floor and IL inspectors are not on
the scene 1t is recovered and made into
oleo."
Thu witness testified that he had at
tempted to have discharged a killer
at the Schwarzschild & Sulzberger
abattoir In New York, who had thrown
a piece of fat across the room at another
employee. The offending killer" he
said. had been retained and he was
powerless to correct many of the evils
about him.
Laddey read into the record several
of the letters he had written his supe-
rior officers protesting against condi-
tons in the various establishments.
One of these was a letter of resignation
sent Secretary Wilson last December. In
which the resigning inspector furnished
a bill of specifications giving the rea-
sons why he could not conscientiously
remain in the service and note con-
slant violations of the Law.
The foul air, absence of wash basins
and soap the ~slinning of heads while
animals were still alive. the failure to
condemn diseased livers. hearts and
lungs, a lack of sufficient light for In
spection purposes, the practise of plac-
ing condemned meat on the same table
with passed meat, and various Other
alleged %unhealthful conditions were
given by DIR. Laddey as the reasons fol
his summary resignation after a few
days service at this abattoir.
AT establishment No. 226. Laddey con.
tinued, he was informed by the head
s~laughterer that the employees had g
right to tell him to ''go to helr' unless
the chief inspector approved of his OBJ
j~ections to existing conditions. Laddey
said he was told to "go to hell when
he protested against the habit OF hang.
Ing calves up by their hind legs before
the killer was ready for them.s He
had seen this, he averred. at the Swift &
Go. abattoir. The calves beloved fright
fully for several moments, he said, while
he hunted the head slaughterer to enter
a protest and he was finally told that
nobody else has objected to IT,"
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