Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, June 9, 1906, Page 8

Z v » ‘points to a bumper crop. MOST REVOLTING — STATE OF AFFAIRS REPORT OF PACKING HOUSE CON- DITIONS AT CHICAGO SENT TO CONGRESS. FILTH AND SLIME EVERYWHERE CONDITIONS OF SHOCKING NA- TURE REVEALED AND REM- EDIES OUTLINED. Washington, June 6. — Horrifying revelations almost beyond belief are made in the special report on the conditions in Chicago packing houses prepared by Commissioner of Labor Neill and James B, Reynolds, New York, which was submitted to con- gress by the president yesterday. In the message accompanying the report the president describes these conditions as revolting and urges im- mediate and drastic legislation to remedy them, along the lines of the Beveridge meat inspection amend- ment. Greatest Evil in Canned Goods The president states that he has al- ready instructed that inspection labels shall not be placed on any carcass un- inspected at the time of slaughter. If the inspection of meat-and food prod- ucts at all stages of preparation is not secured Uy the passage of the legisla- tion recommended, the president says he will be forced to order that inspec- tion labels and certificates oon all canned goods be not used hereafter. He says the evil seems to be much less in the sale of dressed carcasses than in the sale of canned and other prepared products. He says that the report preliminary uncovers alleged abuses in the use of preservatives of tainted meat. He believes that the cost shauld be paid b ya fee levied on each animal inspected, which would not exceed eight cents. Report Not Nice Reading. The report {s not nice reading, some statements being actually sickening. It is shown that the packers generally have displayed the utmost disregard not only for the common rules of san- itation, but even of decency. In describing the methods of hand- ling meats and the personal practices of employes, the president and investi- gators are compelled to use plain language. The commissioners spent only two weeks and a half in the pack- ing houses, but they found enough in that time to more than corroborate the most serious charges made by in- dependent investigators. They con- fine their report to what they actually saw, and state the practices and con- ditions. They describe, only the ones found most common and that are not contined to a single house. Filth Is Prevalent. Starting with the conditions in the yards, the report says the pavements are mostly of brick, which fill, with refuse so that they cannot be proper- ly cleaned and are “slimy and malodorous when wet, and yielding clouds of ill-smelling dust when dry.” Calves, sheep and hogs that die en route are thrown on platforms and the only excuse. for the delay in their re- moval is the expense. The interiors of the buildings were found to be mostly wood. Floors were soaked aud slimy and the rooms were poorly lighted and illy ventilated. Many inside rooms where food is prepared are without windows and are merely “vaults where the air rare- ly changes.” Systematic ventilation was not found in any of the establishments visited. During the entire investiga- tion there was found only a_ single porcelain-lined receptacle for meats. Little or No Sanitation. Taking up the subject of sanitary conveniences for men and women em- ployed, the report says nothing shows more strikingly the indifference in matters of cleanliness and sanitation. Retiring rooms adjoin the working rooms and are usually cut off only by a low partition. “Abominable as the above-named conditions are, what effects most di- rectly and seriously the cleanliness of food products is the frequent absence of ordinary lavatory provisions. Wash- ing sinks are either not furnished or are small and dirty. Neither towels nor soap are supplied.” The investigators found the absence of cleanliness everywhere in Chicago in the handling uf meats. They say: Amid Slime and Filth. “The workers climb over, heaps of meat and select the gee et oe ee they want 1s GOOD fT Paden GROWING WEATEK. 1°) CHEE GRANT WEATHER. Crop Conditions Are Favorable in Vi- cinity of Dickinson. Dickinson, N. D., June 6.—The rain- fall for May at _ Dickinson was 7.11 inches, or more than three times the average for fourteen years. Fine growing weather prevails after a long wet spell, but not too warm for the grain to make good roots. The crop acreage through the slope country is largely increased and everything of a lamp. Several other guests es-| caped in their night clothes. and frequently throw Ghent to tno! dirty floor beside the bench. Men are seen to climb from the floor and stand, with their shoes filthy from the refuse of the floors, on the tables where the meat is handled. “We saw meat shoveled from filthy wooden floors and piled on tables rare- ly washed, and pushed from room to room in rotten box carts, all of which processes result in gathering dirt and splinters from the floor and filth and the expectorations of tuberculous and other diseased workmen “A glaring instance of uncleanliness was found in the room where the best grade of sausage was being prepared | for export.” Defect in Inspection. Referring to inspection, the report shows that the present law does not go far enough, it being confined to passing on the healthfulness of the an- imals at the time of killing. During the process of preparing sausage and other products there is no inspection, despite the fact that all products, when sent out, bear a label stating that ‘they have been passed by govern- ment inspectors. The report contains a chapter on the mistreatment accorded employes, particularly women. “The varfous departments are under the control of superintendents, who ignore all considerations except that of their account book. Under this system the proper care of products and the health and comfort of em- ployes are impossible, and the con- sumer suffers in consequence.” Decencies Are Ignored. Tuberculous victims expectorate on the spongy floors of the dark work rooms, from which falling scraps of meat are later shoveled up to be con- verted into food products. “Even the ordinary decencies of life are completely ignored,” says the report in discussing the arrangements for men and women employes. The report says: “The whole situation as we saw it in these huge establishments tends necessarily and inevitably to the mor- al degradation of thousands of work- ers, who are forced to spend their working hours under conditions that are entirely unnecessary and unpar- donable, and which are a constant menace not only to their own health, but to the health of those who \use the food products prepared by them.” . Reforms Urged. The report urged compulsory ex- amination after slaughter; inspection of meats for foreign or interstate com- merce; inclusion of goats, now ex- empt from inspection, intended for for- eign and interstate commerce, in the list subject to the inspection of the bureau of animal industry, and that they should be equally controlled by the regulations of the secretary of ag- riculture; increase of inspectors for night inspection and _ special work; legislation prohibiting declarations of government inspection on food prod- ucts unless subject to government in- spection at every stage of prepara- tion; prohibiting interstate transpor- tation of any meat or meat food prod- ucts not inspected and labeled; urges considering the question of specific labeling of all carcasses sold as fresh meat, which, upon examination after slaughter, show signs of disease, but are still deemed suitable for food; and recommends study of inspection standards of other countries. London Papers Sound Warning. London, June 6.—President Roose- velt’s message to congress on the meat matter as substantially confirm- ing some, if not the morst, of the charges against the packers, is the subject of general editorial discussion in the London newspapers this morn- ing, and is, used as a warning to Brit- ish consumers to avoid all American products of the kind until a sweeping reform is established. PACKERS REPLY. Declare Their Plants Are Kept Clean and Methods Are Sanitary. Chicago, June 6.—Eight of the big packing establishments in Chicago is- sued a joint statement last night re- plying to the charges made in the Neill-Reynolds report of their investi- gation of the packing plants and President Roosevelt's message to congress. In this statement the pack- ers declare that their plants are kept clean; their methods of manufacture are sanitary; their products whole- some and that for years doctors, chemists, sanitarians and official in- vestigators from practically every civilized nation on earth, who have made examinations of the manner in which the meat packing plants are conducted have been entirely satis- fied in every instance with the con- ditions existing in this industry. Despite this fact the packers assert that they stand ready to adopt any practical suggestion in the line of im- provement. The packing companies who affixed their signatures to the statement are: Armour & Co., Swift & Co. Nelson Morris & Co., G. H. Hammond company, Omaha Packing company, Anglo-American Provision company, Libby, McNeil & Libby and Schwarzschild & Sulzberger. GUEST IS CREMATED. Limlin Hotel at Superior Destroyed by Fire. Superior, Wis., June 6—The Lim- lin hotel burned early yesterday morning and Joseph Lebeau, a guest, was burned to death. The property loss is $15,000, with no insurance. The fire was caused by the explosion ASSAGE OF PURE FOOD LAW} PRESIDENT, BY VETO OF AGRI- CULTURAL BILL, CAN COM- PEL ACTION. PACKERS BEGIN. WAR ON FILTH FRANTIC EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP CONFESSION OF TRUTH OF CHARGES. Chicago, June 6. — A Washington special to the Chicago Tribune says: By making public the Neill- Reynolds report showing indescribably filthy conditions to exist in the packing houses in Chicago, President Roose- yelt- struck a blow which will mean not only effective legislation for the regulation of the meat traffic of the country, but the passage of a general pure food bill by the house. The Neill-Reynolds report described conditions which are nauseating when read, and are belittled only in the ag- ricultural committee room of the house where Representative Wads- worth, chairman of the committee, cattle broker and oleomargarine champion, has his headquarters. President Has Power. Among other members of congress the revelations were declared to be as sensational as they had been led to believe, and they felt the president is’ fully justified in recommending the passage of the Beveridge amendment as adopted by the senate. The president stated in his message that unless the conditions found are remedied he will enforce the only pun- ishment in his power—to order that the inspection labels and certificates on canned products shall not be used hereafter. This would mean the ruin of the meat canning industry. Can Force Action. To the leaders in congress the pres- ident has communicated his purpose to veto the agricultural appropriation bill in case the meat inspection amendment to the measure fails to provide adequate protection for the health of the people. Congress will not adjourn leaving an appropriation bill unenacted. It looks, therefore, as though the session would be pro- longed unless congress carries out the will of the president. PACKERS WAR ON FILTH. Government Reports Cause Hasty Ac- tion to Clean Up Plants. Chicago, June 6.—One of the imme- diate effects of the president’s dis- closure of packing house conditions is seen in a frenzied attempt in at least, three of the big plants to remedy the conditions condemned in the report. Practical confession of the truth of the criticisms is seen in the hurried manner in which toilet arrangements are being renovated, floors cleaned, walls scraped, light and ventilation improved. The surroundings of the workers in these three plants were improved 50 per cent in one day. Frantic Efforts to Clean. It was said that the packers knew of the report Sunday night, and that early in the morning gangs of men were taken from their work and placed at various cleaning and white- washing jobs in preparation for the throngs of visitors who were sure to come. The general manager of one big plant spent the morning in a down- town plumbing establishment, pick- ing out the latest sanitary plumbing. Order Men to Wash. Besides renovating the plumbing, the packing companies put up a varie- ty of signs all over the plants en- joining cleanliness. One of,these was in red letters as follows: “Keep Clean—Forement Must See That Employes Wash Hands and Keep Clean.” Another new rule posted conspic- uously was that forbidding the use of tobacco in all food-producing rooms. While denying the existing in their meat-preparing rooms of the condi- tions described in the Neill-Reynolds report, officials of the. Armour and Swift companies proved reluctant to permit inspection of the packing pro- cesses Criticized. Some Filth Still. Supt. Conway of the Armour plant was finally induced to permit a view of the rooms in which the various meat products are prepared. Some of the conditions surrounding the hand- ling of meat were found to be as de- scribed in the report. Other condi- tions, particularly instances of filthy methods, could not be found. Whether any of the unclean pro- cesses of handling meats and meat products exist in Swift’s could not be verified. Supt. Young declined to answer the charges in the report or permit visitors in the rooms in which the meat is prepared for the lesger proiucts. Slaughtering by City. Impelled by disclosures at the etock yards,“ Mayor Dunne has announced a new municipal ownership project. He declared himself in, favor of the city owning a slaughtering plant, where the packers would be com- pelied to kill their cattle and Fabien ten of Maddock, this state, died in the LA» FOLLETTE AND M’CUMBER WANT AN INVESTIGATION— CASSATT NOT CALLED. Washington, June 6.—Senators La Follette and McCumber yesterday in- troduced resolutions providing for in- vestigations of the close relations said to exist between the grain carry- ing railroads and the elevators of the Middle West. It is alleged by both senators that railroad officials own or control all the elevators at distrib- juting points and juggle the grading of grain in such a way as to give the shippers low prices and sell it at high prices for their own benefit. The points chiefly complained of are geet Wis., Duluth and Minneapo- s. The McCumber resolution provides for an investigation as to other ship- ping and receiving points, including New York, Baltimore and the leading business centers. Cassatt. Not Called. Philadelphia, June 6—Contrary to expectations President Cassatt of the Pennsylvania railway did not appear before the interstate commerce com- mission yesterday when it resumed its investigation of the alleged connec- tion of railways with the soft coal and fron interests. Commissioner Clem- ents said the investigation had not reached the stage that demanded the testimony of Mr. Cassatt, and he was unable to say when his appearance would be required by the commission. The New York Central railway, the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg rail- Way and the Baltimore & Ohio rail- "ea were under investigation yester- jay. The day’s proceedings brought out no revelations of a sensational na- ture. NAME STATE TICKET. South Dakota Republicans Pick Craw- ford for Gevernor. Sioux Falls, S. D., June 6. — The Republican state convention last night nominated the following ticket: For United States Senator—Robert J. Gamble. For Congress—Philo Hall, Brook- ings county; Col. W. H. Parker, Law- rence county. For Governor—Coe I. Crawford, Beadle. For Lieutenant Governor—Howard C. Shober, Hyde. For, Treasurer—C. N. Cassill, coln. For Secretary of State—D. D. Wipf, Hutchinson, present incumbent. For Attorney General—W. S. Clark, Spink: For Superintendent of Public In- Lin- struction—Hans: A. Ustrud, Minne- haha. For Auditor—John Herung, Camp- bell. For Commissioner of Schools and Public Lands—O. C. Dockken, Duell. The platform demands an anti-pass law, the forbidding of the use of tele- graph and express franks except by employes; abolishment of lobbying before the legislature; a primary elec- tion law; an amendment to the fed- eral constitution for the election of United Ssates senators by direct vote; abolishme#t of the practice of corpor- ations contributing to campaign funds of political parties, and that corpora- tions be entirely eliminated from pol- ities. RAIN OVERDOES !T AS BLESSING. Expert Says Minnesota Crops Can Stand No More. Winona, Minn., June 6.—If there is no more rain in the territory along the North-Western road in Minnesota and South Dakota for several weeks the season of 1906 will break all rec- ords for a banner crop, of course pro- viding there is not great damage by storms later. But if there is more rain crops will be damaged, and the extent of the damage will depend upon the amount of excess moisture. DISTRICT ATTORNEY BARRED. Judge Admits Affidavit of Prejudice in Murder Trial. Black River Falls, Wis., June 6. — In a special term of circuit court be- ing held here, an affidavit of prejudice was filed against District Attorney F. J. Reichenbach by C. A. Franks, who is on trial charged with attempt to murder. Judge O'Neill allowed the certificate and Reichenbach is barred from the case. It is the first case of the kind in the county. C. F. Hille was chosen to prosecute the case, ENE SR aa Kills Wife and Self. Eldon, lowa, June 6. — D. E. Grin- dell and his wife were found dead in their room in a hotel here yesterday morning. They were members of a traveling troup of actors. From all appearances Grindell killed his wife and committed suicide. Tears Off Blazing Skirt, Jesup, Iowa, June 6. — With rare presence of mind, Mrs.’ Hattie Searles of this place tore off her outer skirt, which had been set ablaze by an ex- plosion of gasoline, and escaped what threatened to-be a horrible death. Died in Jail. Fargo, N. D., June 6.—Robert Bra- city jail, where he was serving a term ‘drunkenness. Delirium tremens EWS OF THE CANDIDATES ALL PLEASED WITH REPUBLICAN STATE PRIMARIES. St. Paul, June 6. — Candidates for 8tate offices, for governor especially, were busy yesterday figuring out from seattering reports of primaries just where they stand. Reports were re- ceived from a number of counties and parts of counties, but not enough to give any definite basis for a figure on the outcome nor to assure any one of the nomination. Uninstructed dele- gations will be common, almost the rule, although in many places where no instructions are given it is known how the delegates will vote. The general feeling yesterday seemed to place Cole, Block and Ja- cobson as the three leaders in the race, and allow the others to rely mostly upon their chances as dark horse candidates. Stephens, Lord and Somerville, as far as reported, have their principal strength in their own districts. They are each allowed some outside votes, but at the same time neither of them will have his district solid, Neither Block, Cole nor Jacobson seem to have his home district solid, but each appears to have considerable strength outside. CROPS HAVE GOOD START. Wet Weather Has Not Caused Seri- ous Damage. St. Paul, June 6.—Despite the ex- cessive precipitation and cool weather. in the Northwest during the latter part of last month, the crop conditions are exceedingly favorable, according to the reports issued yesterday by the Northern Pacific. No serious dam- age has been done to growing grain. Wheat has stooled well, and with the continuation of warm weather, it will grow rapidly. Along some points of the Red river valley conditions are not quite so favorable. Potatoes have not been doing well, while corn needs warmer weather. FARLEY SEEKS A RED HAT. New York Archbishop Closely Follows Archbishop Ireland at Vatican, Rome, June 6.—The presence here of Archbishop Farley of New York at the present juncture is considered at the Vatican as a clever move on the part of his supporters, coming after the incidents of Archbishop Ireland’s last visit regarding the Bellamy Storer affair and the dinner of Am- bassador White. Opinion is now prev- alent that, if another cardinal is cre- ated for America, it will be Archbish- op Farley. Nothing has yet been de- cided about appointing an English cardinal LOSE SHEEP IN FLOODS. High Water in St. Croix County Re- duces Flocks. Hudson, Wis., June 6. — Reports from the southern part of St. Croix county show that the high water, caused by the recent heavy rains, has resulted in the death of a large num- ber of sheep. A. J. Peters of Kinnic- kinnic township lost eighty-five and Jay Wadsworth lost nine. Flood Spoils the Crops. Franklin, Minn., June 6.—Crops in the valley below Franklin are almost totally destroyed by the inundation of the Minnesota river, which is still ris- ing. Sturgeon weighing from twenty to seventy-five pounds are being speared in the meadows where the river has overflowed. ‘Woman Drowned. Sisseton, S. D., June 6.—Mrs. Ed- ward Weise, wife of a prominent res- ident of the township, was drowned yesterday. She was riding on a load of hay which tipped while crossing a slough, and the woman fell under the load into the water three feet deep. She came from Germany about a year ago, and was married a few months ago. Murder for Love. Christopher, Ill, June 6. — Roy Veach, returning from a buggy ride with Stella Dial last night was twice shot through the head by Reuben Stewart, who then attempted to shoot the girl. She fled and Stewart turned the weapon ,upon himself. Both men are dead. Stewart had been courting Miss ;Dial. Boy Confesses Murder. Little Rock, Ark., June 6. — Will Gay, a fifteen- -year-old negro boy, por- ter at the Drummers hotel, last night confessed to the murder yesterday morning of Mrs. Leetham, proprietor of the hotel. Robbery was motive. Lightning Kills Two. Lourens, S. C., June 6—N. Y. Man- ley, aged 65, and his ten-year-old grandson, Joe Manley, were instantly ie . 22 4 EACH FIGURES OUT VICTORY orthwest. STUMP PULLER IS DEADLY. Clevis Breaks and Lever Strikes Boy, Fatally Hurting Him. Rice, Wis., June 5. — George Mar- tini, a farmer living near here, was killed while operating a grubbing ma- chine for the removal of stumps. The lad was driving a team hitched to the machine and had just started to pull out a huge stump. The clevis that held the lever broke and the lever swung around, hitting him in the stomach and injuring him internally. It was not at first thought that his in- juries would be fatal. In spite of med- ical aid, however, the boy grew stead- ily worse and died the next morning. “DEADWOOD DICK” IN HILLS. Gambler Who Died in Cripple Creek Was Not Genuiwe Hero. Deadwood, S. D., June 5. — The re- cent report from Cripple Creek that Frank Palmer, a gambler who had died there, was the original “Dead- wood Dick” is meeting with some amusement here. The facts are that the original, who is Dick Clark by name, lives in Lead City, and for the last fifteen years has been baggage- master for the Northwestern railroad. He was a great scout in the early, days. “Deadwood Dick” was a man of action and heroism; not a clever hand at cards. WANTS TOWNS TO HELP. St, Louis Capital for Minnesota Trol- ley Line. Waseca, Minn., June 5.—The indica- tions are that St. Louis capitalists will finance the proposed electric interur- ban line to run from Blue Earth, in Faribault county, through Easton, Minnesota Lake, Vivian, Cream, Alma City to Waseca and thence through Deerfield to Morristown and Faribault. The prospects for the construction of the line are said to be good if the towns that will be benefited by it give the enterprise satisfactory financial encouragements. RUNS AMUCK; THREE DIE. Finlander Kills Bartender, Fatally Wounds Another and Kills Self. Duluth, Minn., June 5.—One of the bloodies tragedies ever known on the Mesaba range occurred Saturday at Hibbing, when an unidentified Fin- lander shot and killed John Kevister, a bartender, fatally wounded Jack Backas, and then turned his weapon upon himself and blew out his brains. No motive can be assigned for the act, as*both victims were unknown to the murderer. It is believed that the Finlander was demented. DEATH IN MINE PIT. Man Attempts to Board Car Moving to Surface. Aurora, Minn., June 5.—Frank Koch- ovar, a young Austrian miner, was killed in the skip pit of the Mohawk mine. Kochovar was tending the skip. He attempted to board the car to go to the surface for supper. The car started upward, however, before he was able to get aboard, and he was thrown backard to the station. His neck was broken and his skull was crushed by the fall. He was dead when picked up. HURT IN A RUNAWAY. ‘ St. Paul Woman in Critical Condition From Injuries. St. Paul, June 5.—Mrs. A. A. White was probably fatally injured in a run- away accident yesterday morning and her husband and their coachman were badly bruised. Mrs. White has a com- pound fracture of the right elbow joint, her collar bone is broken, the right ear drum is ruptured and there are symptoms of a fracture at the base of the skull: Dr. Peol stated last night that she was in a critical con- dition. —_______—_—__ BOY AT PLAY IS DROWNED. Lad Falls Off Logs and Efforts to Save Him Are Futile. Thief River Falls, Minn., June 5.— While playing with companions on some logs, in the river, Melvin Erick- son, ten years old, fell into the stream and drowned. His companions, who were boys of his own age, attempted to rescue him, but without success. THREE DROWN AT ASHLAND. Three Lads From Eight to Ten Years Old Perish. Ashland, Wis., June 5.—Chequame- gon bay claimed three victims, all boys from eight to ten years old. The boys got hold of a light skiff and start- ed out into the bay. They had not gone fifty feet from shore when the boat capsized. “ADS” ONLY FOR PAPERS. Appleton Merchants Discontinue Oth- er Patronage. Appleton, Wis., June 4—At a meet- ing recently held the members of the Appleton Merchants’ association agreed to discontinue advertising in all mediums except newspapers. Theater programs, high school pro- grams and all similar matter will be of merchants Es He Meo. ut off. A committee escapagen ety a et oka 5 Pox Seon thgpointed whose duty it will Lag fatally. injured ‘stroke ‘be to determine what shall comprise legitimate advertising. |. Rep cohe yenacee, on —