The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-25

n0nBED RIGHT AND LEFT.
s Lcud cutcFy US inside some months
- eonoernins young Ives--a ''SspoIson"
r. oaance-and his comrades. who by
6EnxD pfocfics obtained control OF . rail-
1oud lof the purpose Of wrecking 1t BY
1ntDoppfopsiation of its assets. Later. and
w similar processes. band Of bold scoan-
lkGaa, comparasivsIy destitute Of means,
~ conssol of two small New York bsnks.
Nkleh they wrecked, and smboldensd oy
ufr SUCCESS proceeded 10 purchase con-
ollne interest IN one OF the most solvent
6nks Of The metropolis. paying for the
GN1ehaopd interest out Of It's own assets.
WITH a Intention Of looting and wrscking
4 eompletsly, n which they we're happily
fGttod ~ ~ honssty Of the cashier.
xkoDo pos1osmancss differed from those
Il ~ James brothers and other similar
fts q hank and railroad robbers. or Of
6non hishwaymea and burglars In that
1kofs perpetrators were regarded - hold
~ hiehss rank In society, and they took
- porsonai risk than did The profession
-. On Ne other hand. their acts we're
- - culpahls. though somewhat more
tnpne1ous th4n the bond and stock divi-
1ond dsvIces, and the construction COM
rony mansuysrs BY which innunsrable
corporations habltually rob the public and
1unooont otcekholdsrs.
Hui WORSE than thsse rapacfties. and
Noano tAan - operations 81 ths numerous
1rneln ana eomhines hist crush compsti-
-. in1ale ps1oss and 6sscs the public. Is
- vast army a pstty iarcsnous swindlsrs
40 ~ sohhlng The American public Of
hmn1sods q milnons annually bv the
n1u1ters&ion Il food products. drugs. med.
tolnee end elhsf articles Of commerce.
Is = assumed that there are few people
Mo havs svsn . faint idea Of The extent TO
which this nsfarious business Is carried ON
81 the United etatsA A. J. Wedderbnrn,
special agent Of the United ktatss depart
neut u agriculture. in . recent report gives
~ result a careful Investigation of this
suh3sct and the revelations are we'll calcu.
iaasd to excite horror and indignation.
he Assestcsa Grocer. which Il probably
Ne highest attainahle authority on the
subject. estimates the total food consump.
tion II the United States at 1880. 600 coo.
Mr.. Wsdderhurn. - the result Of the investi.
eaiions made In his department, and from
: compilation OF reports made in states
whore these matters hare been carefully
6s.fin.ns9 pr >~~e.s... 49, o.t.sa.. a..
capitalization. mishrandinE and adultera-
lion Tin other words. swindiing In one
form or anotherl would reach or apron.
innate Is per cent OF the whole. That Is to
say. Of the y. so. 90. 600 obtained from the
American people In this department of
their expenditures. no less than sis Aassrel
enS ses<afsfx millieas ysar represents
false prstense and cool. deliberate robbery.
The latest Massachusetts, repert--in
which stale food laws and Efforts To correct
this evil have been in operation since iss2-
Or. Abbott. secretary OF The state board of
health, estimates that the efforts TO enforce
The statutes has resulted in q saving 10
The consumers Of at least per cent. or
$4,000 on m estimated consumption of
thirty millions per snnnm In that state.
and yet even In Massachusetts,. out OF / les
samples OF food tinelaains fnsikl and drugs
examined. only 30 were found 20 be Of
good quality. In New York, OF SO articles
IN daily use. so were sdulserased. In the
same state. out of Sc samples Of drugs,
only tto WE'RE of good quality.
And Il must be remembered THAI this
evil does nos merely consist Of sir hundred
and sevensy-Gve million. os nscshossiea,
constant and strictly business" offerings
bat beyond its aspecs Of theft IL the darker
one Of possible or probable murder. For
Il u given ~ . somewhat mitigating dis.
covsfy that Of the total authorizations not
more than ten Per cent are poisonous
This. On the basis Of the agents estimate ~
above given. would make an atnosnt 81
S., sooco paid by the people Of the United
States for poisons that are sold TO them q.
healsh-giving food Or curative medicines.
That these are Formidable evils rsnna,
b denied. They should Re suppressed
There h only one Way a. accomplish tAis
bat Il Il simple one. 1t Is the sheeresi
nonsense to attempt its sa-recsson ay cor.
nnine penalties 20 original aaals~satass. |,
b the dusy Of him who sells 20 knew thai
in good faith he Il giving his eassenas.
What the latter surpcses he h aaysas. Ths
customer h entitled seFerssssaen from Aiss
10 ~hosn be pays his naensy II . sparsea.
article IL palsmed Of upon him.
Tbs snsess and the quickest. and perhaps
ths eass way 10 discover ani pua!sA sAs
adassasators b - prescribe adequate peaAs
1ss ses TIE safe q sduissrssscns. and in al
easss b snseses the ssw. With such las
"a sefes deAssrs would be quite sure y
keep rsss OF tAs sersee os tAssr snppsseu
end ~ sva vsala seoa be Suppressed.
Inc government ewes Il 60 sAs rscsss
hat sAss eva b suppressed.