New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-28
SHORT WEIGHT IN MEAT
Packers or Jobbers at Fault,
Butchers Tell Sulzer.
SAYS NATION SHOULD ACT
Enact a Federal Cold Storage
Law, Declares Governor-Bob
Veal and Old Cow Unfit.
by Telegraph to The Tribune

Albany, Jan. 27.--The high cost OF living
was the chief matter In a discussion
which Governor SulZer had to-day with
members OF the legislative committee o.
the Master Butchers Association Of New
York. one of the things which they be-
lieve help TO cause the high price 81
meat. said the Governor, was that they
were compelled 10 pay for as many pounds
Of meat as were marked Oh the package
or box Often the weight is found 10 oe
TWO or three pounds less The butchers
claim that is not caused by shrinkaee,
J and charge the shortage i'm weight direct
~ to the packers or tobbers. The Gov
.ernor added:
They have gore into court several time
! on this proposition. but have always been
| beaten. They think there should he "a law
| 10 prevent them from being forced 20 pa
| for more than they get. They say tina
! when they sell 10 the consumer tho
have got to give the correct weight i'm
! pounds and ounces, ard that the only
way they can make profit after III"
short weight Is imposed on th"m IS -
charge higher prices.
The butchers also complained Of tn
lack of meat Inspection throughout the
state They told tie Governor that DOB
greater New YORK the meat inspection
was very good and that the law "as
well enforced there, but very little a,-
tempt At meat inspection was made in
other cities.
The sale of bob veal and old COW
meat. unfit to cat. goes on i'm these cities
with impunity." they told the Governor
There is now no state meat inspection.
this work being done by the municipal
ties. Asked what cities were the creates,
offenders. the Governor said that he liked
them too we'll TO make particular mention
Of them. He. however. admitted late
that the butchers had nothing compl-
mentary 10 say about the meat inspection
OF any cities In the state except New
York The butchers suggested legislation
for state meat inspection. The Governor
said:
But / told them that the state was put
ting ol loot a plan for economy ana tnat
uuGcr t.v present conditions thought II
would cost too much With state IN
Sp,ctiuu there would be needed lO IN
spectois. whose salaries and expenses
would amount Ia $500 year eacn' you
can imagine what that would cost SO !
suggested that they first take the mstter
up with the communities.
The butchers want a uniform. nation
wide cold storage law. They told tho
Governor that they had no objection TO
the New York state law, which prevents
the storage OF meats for longer than ten
months, but that by reason Of It the
Western states have an unfair advantage,
10 the detriment of wholesalers, retailers
and consumers in this state. New Jersey
IS the only other state which has a cold
storage law like New York's. In the West
ern states. it was said. meat may remain
in cold storage for years.
Il told them that there should be a
national cold storage law said the Gov
ernor. II suggested that they prepare
bill to be introduced in Congress, and
said that / would help them"
The members Of the butchers leglsla-
tive committee included Louis +. Vein
stock. Frank Il. Burke, George Thomson
William \. Hornidge. Charles Griener
%. Edward Jahrsdorfer. Henry j. Schaad
and John J. smith