Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-08

Ing to make any change In inc cooe
or to take any action.
Your committee has felt that the
present code was working detrimental
to the business interests of the city.
and they have considered the present
method Of inspection Of meat around
City hall as Of little or no value and
the past methods unsanitary. They
feel that the responsibility Of the meat
code and its operation is entirely with
the Board of Health; that it is work.
ing very unsatisfactory and against
the business interests OF the city; and
from the information that comes to
them. it has largely eliminated the do
nestle meat supply brought here from
surrounding towns.
The committee has suggested to the
Board Of Health certain changes they
Feel should be made in the present
code. to make it more reasonable and
for the best interests Of the city; and
feel that such changes will fully pro-
tect our citizens in their meat supply.
We feel that the only satisfactory
OF value to the community. is inspec-
ton at the time Of slaughter; and. ac-
cordingly. the only ideal way that this
could be conducted would be by hav-
ing a municipal abattoir.-a thing
which the city is in no position to es-
tablish this year. According to your
committees idea, the most satisfactory
thing that can be done at present is
the proper inspection OF the slaughter
houses within our city and allowing
meat to come in from outside without
inspection under proper regulations,
which they feel the Board Of Health
should be able to arrange with such
power over its being brought in by
certificate, or otherwise, that viola
tions can be punished We believe
these regulations could be made to
cover meat brought in by the farm
ers and that arrangements could be
made with outside butchers that
would be much more satisfactory to
them and insure this outside meat be-
ing much more satisfactory.
Under the laws Of the State, en-
phasized by recent decision of the
Maine supreme judicial court, boards
Of health have no authority to elect
any Of their members to salaried po-
sitions. We accordingly feel that the
present meat inspector should be
changed; and would recommend to
the city council that no salary be
voted to said inspector. He has pre-
sented to the committee on accounts
bills for the six months ending June
80, which amount in the aggregate to
$3.50; upon which we would recon-
mend that the city government refuse
payment.
We would also further recommend
that the city government take no ac-
ton on the requests already made
relative to meat inspection. We regret
that the board Of health has not seen
fit, up to the present time, to make
the changes requested Of them, and
which are such as we believe will be
for the best interests Of our citizens.
We trust that the board will act with
out delay in order to protect these in
terests; and we would recommend to
our city government prompt action in
cooperation with them, as soon as
they will take action to remedy these
conditions. We feel the situation in
the city to be such that the matter
should not be delayed: and that the
board Of health. who alone have the
power to act, should take action at
once. -0~+ lae
Until these matters are remedied.
we do not feel that the city govern
ment should become a party in any
way responsible for this code.
Respectfully submitted,