New-York tribune., 1912-12-04
MANY BAKERIES UNFIT +.
LederIe Says They Use Millions
of Pounds of Bad Food.
CHICKENS IN ONE SHOP
Factory Board Told Health
Department Can Handle
Situation Here.

Millions OF pounds OF food unfit for
human consumption are used In bakeries
in New York city, according to'Dr Ernst
J. Lederle, Health Commissioner, who was
called before the New York State Factory
Investigation Commission yesterday in its
inquiry into the bakeries here The ses-
sion was held In the County Court House.
DR.. Lederle made II clear that he would
have the Department of Health alone
handle the situation In regard to unsanl-
tary bakeries. His department last year,
he said, seized 2l,0pV00 pounds of DAD
food. In speaking of the proposed bill
which would permit the issuance OF GER
tihcates TO bakers and prohibit cellar es-
tablishments. the Health Commissioner
declared il would have some distinct ad-
yantages.
Most of the underground bakeries |
have seen are unsatisfactory not because
they are underground, but because the
people were dirty and careless he said
in answer to Abram l. Elkus, counsel for
the commission. 1T would be a good
idea to install mechanical means for ven-
tilation. as suggested in the legislative
bills for bakeries, and as to the question or
artificial light, in my opinion. theoretically
speaking. artificial light is just as good
Practically, it is not
DIR. Ledcrle. with DR.. Walter Bensel.
Sanitary Superintendent OF the Health
Department, Raymond Fosdick, eX-Com-
missioner of Accounts, and Harry NJ.
Rice, one of the Commissioners or Ac-
counts, testified that II would be most
inadvlsable to enact into law proposed
bill No. %, framed by the commission
which provides for the transfer TO the
State Department OF Labor OF exclusive
Jurisdiction in the regulation OF bakeries
They agreed that the supervision OF oaKe-
shops az in all kinds OF similar indus-
trial establishments, should be central-
lied to avoid confusion such as prevailed
more ar less at present but they insisted
that il was the regular province OF the
Health Department 20 regulate them.
John j. Sullivan. chief inspector Tor mo
commission. submitted a report showing
that out OF sxty-one bakeshops he had
seen between November - and 30 four
teen were extremely filthy twenty-five
"flthy." seventeen dirty SIX ld'l
and two excellent" The common meth
od of ventilation in most cellar shops,
said tho inspector. ITS by means OF small
windows which open to gratings level
with the ward or street. This permts
large quantities OF dust TO enter the ce'-
lar and settle on the food. The practiSe
az Sitting ashes in bakeshops where coal
is used for fuel IL common the ous'
snreading all over the food and utensils
Also. the practice OF white"ashihg inc
ceilings is bad. as lime flakes fall into
the food
AT a shop in tenement house in oak
street ammonia was used In inc cahe u
make Il rise. Another shop. In a diiap-
dated three story frame building' IN MOT
ris avenue. the inspector classed as 'he
oltblest place he had ever seen Doss'
cats and chickens wandered about AT VIII
Mrs. Julian Heath. president OF the
Housewives League, announced 'o '"'
commission that housewives believed 'heS
had every right 10 insist on the most
stringent. regulations for home INDUSTRIES
ard that they would urge that their bak-
ers have clean bills OF health, Just as tney
demand a clean bill OF health tor 'heN
cooks in the kitchen. Mrs. Heatn hau
never seen sanitary cellar bakery anu
approved the bills offered by the COM
mission. ,,.o
Although the bakers in the aud'eIieo
made several attempts to tangie ME
Heath she answered every ques',o"
nromptly and insisted that cellar bakeries
u.orn nnhnnlIhluI