The San Francisco call., 1896-08-13
WON'T WAIT FOR THE CITY

Tie Fruit Exchange, the Chamb Der of
Commerce, the Manufacturers' and Pro-
ducers' Association and the Produce Ex-
change combined yesterday upon plan
to expose adulterated goods imported into
this market from the East.
They do not purpose to wait patiently
until the necessary appropriation of
$780, 900 or $4,000 a year shall have been
made by the City to provide an efficient
service for the inspection of foods and the
maintenance of better general sanitary
measures. They will keep that object in
view, but meanwhile they purpose to do
something themselves.
Yesterday committees for the associa-
tions mentioned above met at the Fruit
Exchange, 317 Davis street, and discussed
at length the subject of adulterated FOODS,
their evil effect upon the public health
and the injustice done to honest manufac-
turers and dealers.
Attorney George H. Cabannis appeared
before the committee and offered his serv-
ices gratuitously to prosecute merchants
having for sale adulterated foods. His
offer was accepted, and it was decided that
Il subcommittee should be present in court
during the prosecution of each case and
thereby add their moral support to the
cause of the public health.
1t was also decided to make another re-
quest to the Board of Supervisors for a
hearing upon the ma tier of injurious adul-
terations found to exist in much of the
cheaper goods imported into this State.
Jellies, for instance, cannot, it is said, be
manufactured here, in fruit country, for
less than to 10 cents a pound, and gro
GERS cannot handle them with profit for
less than retail price of II or Is cents
pound.
Notwithstanding these facts jellies are
sold in certain grocery stores N this City
to-day at cents a pound. They are not
pure. They are made of various compo-
sitions and the com bined associations
mean to let the public know what brands
OF goods are aduiterated and what mer-
ch ants are handling them.
Some grocers may be the innocent VIC
tins of Eastern firms. They will be
warned first. Goods will be bought here
and there and analyzed.
The following special committee was
appointed to solicit the support of A. B.
Spreckels and other Supervisors: A.
Sbarboro of the Chamber of Commerce,
Board of Trade and Wine Producers, H.
Tacy of the Manufacturers and Produc-
ers' Association. ex-Sheriff Charles L.
Laumeister ana Joseph G. Deming of the
Produce Exchange.
This committee will endeavor to see the
value to the City of a food-inspection SER
vice such as has been very successful in
several large Eastern cities.
1t was suggested by Mr.. Kerr of the
Manufacturers and Producers Associa-
ton that publicity would be one of the
best checks to the trade in adulterated
goods shipped here from the East.
There is no valid objection to fair COM
petition" he said from any part of the
country, but when adulterated stuff is put
upon the market, directly to the injury of
honest manufacturers and indirectly TO
the prejudice of the community-for much
of this adUlteration is poisonous and must
have its effect upon weak stomachs-then
this State should object and the people
should know why. For u long while peo-
pie thought the brand imported meant
something extra nice, but now they are
coming to understand that California
with her numerous resources and indus
tries can produce equally good things.
They will see that at the coming fair of
home products entirely.
eff all the manufacturers and pro-
ducers in California would use common
trade mark such as has been copyrighted
by the present members of the Manufac-
turers' and Producers Association then
the people of the State might be assured
of some things upon the purity of which
they could rely, for the association re-
quires the makers name to appear with
the trademark in order that no imposition
may be prachced. Then the public might
learn the benefit to the State of buying
here and keeping the money at home. /
do not speak from a personal motive for
the products of this State are numerous
and in encouraging them the prosperity of
all California is assured.