New-York tribune., 1916-05-28
DelicateSsen Goods, InveS-
tigator Says, Showed
tuberculosis Lessons.
INSPECTORS FOUND
LIVING IN LUXURY
SOS Men Had Autos, Realty and
Summer HomeS-Condemned
Cattle Used for Food.

Bologna, sausages, franks" and
other prepared meats bought by thou
sands Of New Workers at Coney Island
and in delcateSsen shops Of New York
and Brooklyn last summer and fall
were made Of diseased meat, accord
ing TO information gathered yesterday
by the Health Department.
The meat was sold by six slaughter
houses which were closed on Friday
when ten Of their officials were ar
rested on charges Of bribery and eight
city inspectors suspended on charges
of accepting bribes. Commissioner of
Accounts Wallstein. whose investiga-
tions brought about the arrests, says
that the inspectors passed several hun
dred tons IF meat so diseased that no
reputable butcher would handle it.
This meat was sold TO sausage manu-
facturers in Brooklyn, and was subse-
quently made into sausages, wiener
wurst, and other delicatessen "dsin-
ties"
Meat Spotted with Lessons.
"Meat used in making bologna
sausage frequently was simply spotted
with tuberculosis lesions," declared f.
W. Fiske, secretary TO the Health Com
missioner. "As bologna is often eaten
raw, it is probable that many persons
were infected with tuberculosis as a
result.
"Men who sold this meat 20 the sau-
sage makers have grown rich. One Of
them is worth S5OO,OOO.
"Of the inspectors who received
bribes for passing this diseased flesh. all
of whom received salaries Of S25 a
week, one has purchased a $4,000 auto
mobile and fine home in two and a
half years; another has bought about
$1,000 worth Of real estate in three
years, and third supports an expen-
sive summer cottage at fashionable
seaside resort"
The six slaughter houses closed by
the Board Of Health made business
Of conniving with dishonest farmers
in swindling the state, said Mr.. Fiske.
Condemned Cows Sold.
Mr.. Fiske explained that state in
spectors frequently condemned tuber-
culos dairy cows and ordered them
killed. on the farmers promise 70 do
awav with the diseased cattle, the in
a pOuH q -
tion certificate which made the state
pay for them. Then, instead of killing
the COWS. the farmers frequently
brought them to the slaughter houses
and sold them. thereby getting a double
price for a dying COW and aiding the
packers in foisting diseased meat on
the community.
Neither the state nor the city has
enough nspectOrs TO see that the law
are strictly obeyed," said Mr.. Flske.
THAT is why the packers were able 70
boast that this condition had obtained
for forty years without single arrest
We believe we have ended II now"
He said that meat which was not OBJ
viously diseased was sold to small
butcher shops and restaurants IN
Brownsville. Brooklyn, and on the
lower East Side of Manhattan.
Ten packers already under arrest
and II. Bulnick. another slaughter
house owner who will surrender on
Monday, viii be arraigned on Thurs
day for final pleading in the Adams
Street police court, Brooklyn. District
Attorney Lewis is expected p take
their cases up with the grand jury.
Leonard VI. Wallstein, Commissionei
of Accounts. who conducted the investi.
cation Of the accused inspectors anc
packers, examined witnesses yesterday
He said last night that the case against
the eleven packers had been strength
ened by the testimony Of two inspect
ors. who had turned states evidence.
"This investigation was instituted by
Lucius f. Brown,' the new director OF
the Bureau Of Food and Drugs of the
Health Department, who came here last
year after serving for eight years as
Health Commissioner of Tennessee
said Mr. Wallstein. "He requested the
assistance of my Office in clearing his
bureau of this scandal, and has CO.
operated with me at all times"