Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-28


tural Commission and our Com
gressmen.
The United States is perhaps the only
nation grouped in the civilized Caucasian
system that has no law. preventing the
adulteration of articles which enter into
the domestic consumption of its people.
In this respect we are remarkably unlike
England, France and Germany. We are
content in this country to take the
chances of happy-go-lucky policy in
this as in all other things. The problem
has been somewhat complicated by our
peculiar National and State governments,
the line of demarcation between which
being somewhat vague. And yet the
difficulty is more imaginary than real.
1t is true that the existence of many
separate State governments will make it
necessary to supplement National by
State legislation. The section of the
Federal Constitution which gives to
Congress the right to regulate inter-
State commerce clothes the National
authorities with power to stop any
deteriorated product IN transitu at State
lines. The several State governments
are endowed with ample power tc
protect the lives of their peoples.
A public sentiment ought to be
created in this matter. Some
tim ago parties in San Francisco made
up their m inds that it would be a wise
nd instructive experiment to have sew
erals specimens of imported olive oil
sold in that market analysed. Accord
ingly, they purchased dozen bottles o
| the so-called olive oil in different San
Francisco groceries of the first class only
| to discover, as the result of the chemist'l
labors, that there was not drop OF genu
inc olive oil in the lot.
| This is perhaps venial offence agains
the public, as there is probably less in
jury to the health in adulterated olive oi
than in any other family staple. CottoI
seed oil is not very destructive to health
bnt when a man desires to use and pa,
| for the genuine article he ought to be al
lowed the privilege. The imposition, be
sides, strikes deadly blow at an inter
est that, under proper encouragement
would attain great dimensions in th'
United States.
1t is in the gross impositions practicet
in the sophistication of California wine
and brandies that California suffers most
We have the authority of Mr.. CHARLIE
Stern, the head of the old New Yorl
firm of Stern & Rose, one of the pioneer
in the introduction of California wine
and brandies in the East, fo
the statement that the vineyard
products of this Coast are sufierin,
greatly from an Infamous sophistication
Five barrels of California brandy are 81
manipulated as to make carload. Thil
is at once a fraud upon the consumer
and upon the California vineyardist
The five barrels of the genuine grape
brandy are eked out by high wines
From the same authority we learn tina
supposititious California port wines are
sold in large quantities in Cincinnati fol
forty-fve cents gallon. OF course thii
is vile compound, highly injurious tt
the health of the public and detrimental
to beneficial and what ought to be
highly fourishing industry. Example
to the same purport could be multiplied
in other California wines.
Just here, it seems to US, is field fol
the utmost energies of the State Viticul
tural Commission. That body has done
much good already, but it ought to bt
moved to supreme exertions in the pro
lection of great interest, to say nothing
of concern for the public
welfare. That body is composed
of leading and influential citizens
and by in cessant agitation it ough
to be able to bring about this great re-
form. The Senators and Representa-
tives Of California in Congress ought also
to be the champions of this essential in
terest of the Golden State. A stimuli
taneous effort on the part Of the Com
mission, the Congressman and the pres
of this State, if persevered in, woult
bring about the much needed reform.