The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-10-19
"Pure Refined Family Lard"

F. D. Curtis one Of the leading ag-
ricultural writers Of the country fur
nishcs the Country Gentleman with
the following article:
The Committee on Agriculture of
the United States Senate has intro
duced new bill, differing from the
one pending before the House of Rop-
resentatives, and accompanying the
bill there is an elaborate report pre-
sented by Senator Conger. The bill
proposes {"to regulate the manufacture
and sale of counterfeit or compound
lard" tits gratifying feature in our
national Congress that Notwithstanding
the combined and determined efforts of
the stock-yard and slaughter house
monopolies to pass the Cattle Commis-
sion Gill, and to prevent the regulation
of this twin fraud Of oleomargarine and
bogus lard, they have not been able to
smother investigation aud to crush out
the prospect of the early passage Of
laws protecting the great swine interests
Of the country and the stomachs of con-
sumers. Bogus lard made of cotton
seed oil and beef stearine, with only
about 20 per cent Of it real lard, and
branded and sold as "pure," "refned"
family lard, is to be put under the same
ban, restrictions and penalties as oleo-
margarine. The word 'lard,' the act
says, ''shall be understood to mean the
food product usually known as lard,
and which is made exclusively from the
fresh tat of slaughtered swine"
1t farther says: "Any article manu-
factured or compounded in imitation or
semblance of, or as substitute for
Hard, as lard is defined in section one
Of this act, which shall be made of any
ingredient or ingredients other than
lard, or which shall be composed Of
any other ingredient or ingredients in
combination with it shall be unlawful
to manufacture, or to export or import
the same except in accordance with the
provisions of this act."
The bill provides that all manufac-
turers must obtain license, with full
penalties prescribed, and they must set
forth the materials to be used, and if
not "deleterious to health" license
may be granted to manufacture for the
sum of 500 for one year. This license
is to be revoked with any violation of
the law. A special tax for selling
compound lard" of $25 per year is
also required. If sold in less quantities
than so pounds at one time, retail
tax Of S. per annum is required. The
general rules and penalties contained
in the oleomarearine law referred to as
a part of this law, with special and Sc
we're fines in case of violations. ga tax
of two mills per pound" is to be paid
by the manufacturer of compound
lard" with the same stamping regula-
tions now in force "relating to tobacco
and snuff" All packages once used
must not be used again, and all stamps
must be effaced. "Compound lard"
brought from any foreign country must
pay an import duty of two cents per
pound. The bill provides fully for this
branch of trade.
1t is made {. .misdemeanor to know.
ingly purchase, or receive for sale,
compound lard," which has not been
branded or stamped according to law.
The penalty is $50 for each and every
effence; the same applies to the seller.
The kind of package and form of
marking is. stated, and the bill also pro.
vides for the appointment Of chemist
and microscopic to determine the
purity of articles used. 1t is a complete
law, and must aid the pork Industry of
this country, land prevent an indigestible
and uUwholesome food from being i'm.
posed upon consumers. The purchaser
is led to believe by the false label on
the "re6ned lard' package that he is
getting superior article of pure lard.
for which he pays an extra price, and
does not get in the best samples over
60 per cent. of lard. The manufac-
turers of bogus lard, like the manufac.
turers OF bogus butter, can and do un-
dersell the genuine article, and many