Evening star., 1937-09-03
SLAUGHTER HOUSE
MUST OBEY LAWS
Or. Rutland Announces He
Will "Bear Down Hard"
for Sanitation.

DR.. George c. Rutland intends to
bear down hard" on the Adolf Gobel
Co., he said today, should the time
come when it applies to the Health
Department for a license to operate
the slaughter house now under con-
struction on the fringe of Anacostia
parkway.
He tapped his knuckles Significantly
on copy of the police and health
regulations.
There are certain human factors
involved in the maintenance and oper-
alton OF meat rendering plant in the
city. the control Of which is lodged
by law in the Health Department,
he assured the public.
The health officer does not believe
the building permit issued the Gobel
company last April completely closes
the door to further health safeguards
being imposed before the slaughter
ing hrm is given an operating license.
He intends to make a close study in
accordance with the agreement reached
between District and Federal officials
at Wednesdays conference.
In Fight to End.
Interior Department officials ap-
peared somewhat nettled today over
the Interpretation given IN some
quarters to the action taken at this
recent conference.
This department certainly doesn't
think the fight on the Gobel COMPANY
Is over by any means" a spokesman
said. THE statement given out by
Capt. Patrick H. Tansey, acting Engi-
neer Commissioner, might indicate to
some that the issuance of a slaughter
house permit is a foregone conclu-
sion, but that is not our understand
ing of the situation. We were the
first to enter this fight to protect the
public from the operation of a nu-
sance industry and we are in it to the
end"
The rejection Of the King Norton
anti-nuisance legislation shortly be-
fore Congress adjourned paved the
way for construction being resumed
on the Gobel plant in Benning. Agi-
tation for the passage of similar law
will be renewed if Congress meets
next Fall in. special session or in the
following regular term.
DR.. Ruhland said he hopes to OBJ
tain security funds so as to employ
some OF his Health Department aides
in obtaining information regarding
the operation of slaughter houses and
meat-rendering plants for use in guild
ing inspectors.
Handicaps Cited.
In connection with certain studies
he intends to make, DR.. Rutland said
it should be made possible for the
Health Department to send some of its
inspectors to nearby cities for the pur-
pose Of investigating slaughter houses
under actual operation.
This is necessary he said, $50 as
to protect the public in every possible
way from nuisance conditions arising"
He explained the local Health De-
partment now is terribly handi-
capped" because Of the absence of
funds which can be used for "informa-
tional' purposes. yet almost every
other health department has funds
OF this kind made available" he added.
When the Commissioners finally
were forced under pressure of a $780,
600 damage suit brought by the Gobel
Co. to issue a building permit, it was
the understanding that so long as
structural conditions were met an
operating permit could not be denied.
inspectors are seeing to it
that these requirements will be fully
met by the company, which was forced
to make a number Of changes in its
structural plans at the time.
There seems no way to escape the
of an operating license in
view Of these conditions, and that is
the position which District officials
have been forced to take since the
failure OF the snti-nuisance bill. On
the other hand, DR.. Rutland con-
tended, the Gobel Co. will have to
meet every reasonable health and
requirement before it can
operate IN Washington.