Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-22
lnuLrERAT1oy OF Eoop.

sold in pure state, while the character OF
the matters employed to aduiterate food
is such as to make it clear that tne manu-
facturers are entirely Indifferent to the n.y.
gienic consequences of their dishonesty.
Many substances are in fact commonly
used which are positively poisonous, and
it is unquestionable that the bills of NOR
tally are largely increased by these prac-
tees. OF course this whole subject of
sdulteration has its ethical as well as its
material bearing, and an inquiry into its
significance as a gauge of the prevailing
morality will assuredly result in discourag.
ing conclusions. 1t is customary to say
that adulteration is forced upon manufac-
turers by the pressure of competition. but
this is no argument. All it can possibly
signify is that the general standard of hon
esty among manufacturers is SO low that
the character of their business is con-
trolled by the worst men among them in.
stead of by the best. The regulations of the
old manufacturing firms whose wares at
tanned universal popularity were secured
| by quite different methods. They acquired
the confidence of their customers by max
ing it a rule never to put imperfect or
spoiled or inferior goods upon the market.
Their brands thus became guarantees for
the excellence of the goods which bore
| ~ II laI {a- for
them. The only possible rivalry they had
to fear was rivalry in thoroughness and
conscientiousuess of work, and to meet that
they had only to keep up their own stand
ard to the highest point.
Such firms as Cross & Blackwell, Bass &
Co., Allsop, Lea & Perrin, Fortnum &
Mason, and many others who could be
mentioned, gained their eminence in the
way we have decided. If they made a
mistake in any CT their manufactures they
at once destroyed the spoiled goods, being
solicitous above all things that no inferior
goods should go out under their name.
The success achieved by these old houses
proves the fallacy of the modern doctrine
that adulteration is forced upon 'manufac-
turers by competition. The plain truth is
that reckless desire to grow rich, joined
with moral paralysis of the worst kind, is
responsible for adulteration. It is nonsense
to pretend that honest men will employ
such knavish articles. 1t takes rogues in
grain to adopt adulteration as reg.
ular factor in manufacturing, and it is
time this truth was recognized. The men
who make business OF mixing all kind;
Of deleterious matters with food articles,
and passing those authorizations off as gen.
uine are really more criminal than the
class who fill our penitentiaries. A pro.
fessional burglar is In fact more respecta
BILE member of the community than pro.
fessional adulterator The latter takes
rank rather with the sneak. thief order.
He is a miserable cheat, who makes his
living by systematic swindling, and whose
rapacity is so great that he constantly
takes the chances of wholesale murder
upon what passes for his conscience.
The worst feature of the business how
ever is that the men who commit these
crimes against society are for the most part
in good standing. Nobody thinks any
thing the worse of them. Their felloa
business men are completely reconciled tt
their frauds. They themselves are quite
as likely as not to be protesting Christians
to have seats in Churches, and to plume
themselves upon the responsibility and
morality OF their lives. They are men who
will join in all the outcries against profes
sional criminals, who will moralize ovel
the increase of breaches OF the law, and
| will all the time regard themselves and be
regarded as model citizens. Yet then
business hours are spent in cheating and
poisoning their fellows. Their capital j;
invested in ingenious processes for bring,
ing their cheating and poisoning to the
greatest perfection. They are continually
! trying to surpass one another in the
cleyerness and economy of their adul
terations. That Is to say, they are contin.
ually trying to rival one another both il
cheating and in poisoning. The most
skillful among them is he who can palm of
the most worthless trash for the genuine
article. Their business is a combination Of
the business of swindlers and murderers,
in short and yet it is only now that here
and there an effort is being made to put
down this class of swarming impostures.
Nothing is more certain than that rigor
Gus and conscientiously administered laws
are necessary for this purpose but it i,
equally clear that action by one or two
States can never cure the disease. What
is needed is Congressional legislation
laws which will not merely drive the abuse
from one region to another, but will make
1t unsafe and dangerous all over the coun
try. New York can doubtless effect some
good by directing public attention to this
evil, and showing how prevalent it has be
come. That is the mission of her pres
ent investigation. But she cannot by her.
self do anything effectual towards abolish.
ing adulteration, for it is evident that sc
long as it is permitted in any State it is
practically permitted in all. The subject,
however, is one of national Government,
and there is some ground for hope that the
inquiries about to be made in New York
will expose such mass of villainies that
public interest will be too thoroughly
aroused for the matter to be thrust aside
again until effectual remedies have been
provided. OF course there will be desper.
ate resistance to reform. for the beneficial
ries of adulteration are alike wealthy and
unscrupulous. But if the investigation is
made thorough and fearless, the results
will doubtless compel further action.
TIE REPORT OF THE PRODUCE Ex-
CHANGE.
The annual report of the San Francisco
Produce Exchange has just been made by
Y