The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-30
"THIS BEER rs ADULrERA TED. "
The Mark II IL Proposed to Put by Law
on Scientific Lager.

|
Indications OF a crusade against adulterated
| beer are circulars sent out from 80 Broad
street in this city, accompanied by blank forms
| for petitions to Congress asking for the passage
| OF n bill introduced by MIR. Turner of Kansas
imposing II special tax upon and regulating
the manufacture. sale. and imuortation OF
! adulterated lager beer" II is required that
| the petitions. when signed. be returned to II.
! IL. FINLEY. ut the above address. Mr. Finley
| said yesterday afternoon that the movement
was widespread and had ample backing and
that tho purpose was TO push tho bill vigor-
| ousy until 1t was passed.
The bill" he said, is not yet in perfect
shape and will be amended in many respects.
but In its general features 1t Is modelled upon
the oleomargarne bill. Few have any idea to
what an extent the adulteration Of beer is now
carried. The amount of malt and hops used
now In the manufacture of barrel OF beer Is
Just one-thitd OF what 1t used 10 be. The diff
ference Is made up by the use of glucose and
brightness and taste to the beor at much less
cost than would be involved in the use of the
genuine nnH 1e,,L malt Look through any brewers
OF scores OF diferort .preparatons for color
ing" and otherwise aduteratnR beer. Millions
and OF other more complicated substances the
annual consumption is enormous. 1t is
a singular thing that most Of these prepara-
tons come FROM ENGLAND. Everybody knows
that English beer is rank. and suppose that's
tho reason. or course the brewers say that
this is all legitimate, that the advance of the
science OF brewing has made the use of these
substances possible. and that the beer Is Just
as good. But eminent medical testimony CON
tradicts them. There has been an enormous
increase in this country in recent years OF uri-
nary diseases. and many well-known doctors
hold that tho adulteraton of beer is chiefly re-
sponsible for this. The idea OF getting some
such law has been warmly commented by al
most every scientific journal in this country
and In England except those which are the
organs OF the brewing business. The idea is
not to prohibit the sale of such beer put to
plainly. so that customers will know Just what
they are buying. and not be poisoned against
their will.
The passage OF the bill will be a great thing
the brewers to use more barley especially, ami
VIII increase the consumption of hops. Tho
Farmers Alliances through the South and West
are in favor Of the bill and the Agricultural
Department at Washington has agreed to sup
Cort it Chairman Mckinley Of the Ways and
bill, has set it down for a hearing on Sept 70
next and meantime we shall do much out side
work In the way OF getting up petitions and SO
on. 1t was hard to got tho bill introduced in
afraid OF otfendil < the brewers, but when It is
rightly understood tho Congressman will be
afraid TO vote against It, SO far as | know the
only active opposition TO the bill in Congress-
has been on the part of Ashbe p Fitch OF this
city, but of course there will be more when the
brewers get to work against II. There will be
big fight over 1t before 1t ia settled"
The matsters are the men whose interests
would be most directly benefited by the pas
sage OF such bill. and they are undou btedly
though their connection with 1t is not yot APP
parent