The record-union., 1896-08-22
A DEAD LETTER LAW.

The late Legislature of this State
passed a pure food bill. 1t has proved
the most corpse-like of dead letters. In
fact, it died a-bornin'.'' as slang has it.
1t never drew more than a single breath
after the Executive endowed it with
life. 1t is a stringent law. 1t proposes
to punish with severity the offering
and the sale of any drugs or foods that
are not absolutely pure and unadulter-
ated, except they are plainly labeled as
impure and adulterated.
But the severity Of the law is not
greater than advised by the bureau of
the Federal Government which is de-
voted to the inquiry into the subject of
food and drug adulteration. 1t is not
more severe than the laws Of other coun-
tries and States on the subject 1t died
therefore because public sentiment de-
ence. Strange as it may seem, it is
nevertheless true that there has been
no public expression concerning the
Act. Beyond noting the fact Of the bill
becoming a law, the press has not re-
ferred to it three times since the ad-
journment of the Legislature. Still, as
an effort would have been made for it's
enforcement if the people had desired
it carried out, we must conclude that
public sentiment is opposed by indiffer-
ence to the law.
That the purpose Of the Act is COM
mendable will not be denied. When a
man goes to his druggist or his grocer
for supplies he ought to have some
guarantee that the dealer licensed by
law delivers to him for his money that
which he asks for, and not a spurious
counterfeited and unwholesome article
That the law is ineffective, therefore,
may be because it's intentions have not
been made clear to the people, and In
the absence of education as to such pur-
poses they have ignored it.
They have done better IN Connecticut
Perhaps fearing a result such as has
distinguished legislation on the SUBJ
ject here, the Connecticut legislators
were moved to other action. They
passed pure food law, one as stringent
and far reaching as is that Of Califor-
mia. But they did more; they ap-
pointed agents to make tests OF food
and drug supplies as commonly sold
throughout the State and to report the
result to the Governor.
This has been done In part and the
first report is about ready, and will be
sent to the Executive in a short time.
The agents have got no farther to this
date than examination of maple syrup,
and sugar. ordinary syrup, honey,
strained and in comb, lard, pepper,
mustard. cheese, milk, coffee, cream of
tartar and cereal foods.
Out of the whole number examined
67.2 per cent were pure. 90 per cent.
doubtful, and 299 per cent adulter-
ated within the meaning of the law.
The report gives many interesting de-
tails as to the methods pursued in
adulterating food, and makes many ex-
posures of rank frauds practiced upon
the people. For instance, concerning
one common article 1t says that 200
900 pounds of peppers are used annual
ly IN Connecticut, the wholesale price
of which would be but $4,000, while the
retail price would be S56, 900, decided
ly fine margin of profit, to be sure. 1t
adds:
Ground pepper, the form In which
most OF the pepper is sold to consumers,
is perhaps the most extensively adulter-
ated of all food products. The list of
things which have been used as adulter-
ants includes bran, hulIs, and other
by-products from wheat, maize, rice.
oats. buckwheat and other grains,
ground linseed, olive and rape seed, cane.
shells (often roasted or charred) of
cocoanut, almonds. and other nuts,
sawdust, mustard husks. cayenne, long
pepper. pepper shells. terra alba-Cay-
enne reinforces the pungency which has
been reduced by dilution- Mustard
husks also give a certain bite" to the
mixture.
In the case of mustard the adulter-
ants used are make-weights, such as
starchy matters (wheat doux. etc).