A committee of rabbis, to be selected by Jack Buitenkant, attorney for the Vaad Shochtim Oifes, poultry slaughterers’ union affiliated with the Industrial Food Workers, will be empowered by Arthur Simon, special Health Department investigator, to conduct a survey of Greater New York poultry markets for the purpose of determining whether chickens sold in those markets are being killed according to the strict kosher laws.
The expenses incurred by this committee will be guaranteed by Poultry Slaughterers’ Union Local 440, it was announced by Nathan D. Perlman, attorney for the American Federation of Labor, at hearing being conducted by Simon into alleged racketeering in the poultry industry.
That was the outstanding development of a session marked by charges of extortion, threats of violence and throwing of stench bombs, made by members of both the Vaad and Greater New York Schochtim against alleged representatives of Local 440.
Testifying at yesterday’s hearing were Reverend Maurice Taubes, Reverend Victor Schiffer and Max Braun. Rev. Taubes told of having organized the Greater Schochtim in 1929, after they had lost their charter as Local 19 in the Amalgamated Meat Cutters’ Butcher Union, an A. F. of L. organization with headquarters in Chicago. He charged that he and other unemployed members were approached by representatives of Local 440 and offered jobs if they could pay $200 each.
“Five of our union were given jobs in a market through these men,” Mr. Taubes stated, “as a demonstration of their ability to do what they promised. They worked three days, at the end of which the sum of $1,000 was demanded and paid. Immediately after the money was turned over, the men were fired.”
Taubes then told of hiring an attorney to try to get the money back in a civil action. Threats of death if the case came to court, intimidated the shochtim, Taubes testifled, into accepting an out-of-court settlement of $700.
The committee of rabbis who will conduct the survey into poultry market conditions will function as soon after the conclusion of the present public hearing as possible, Simon stated. Date for what is expected to be the final session of the hearing was set for Monday, April 23.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
