The San Francisco call., 1897-01-24
They Are Considered by
the Associated Manu-
faCturers.
P. J. Healy's Powerful Plea for
Preserving the State Min
ing Bureau.
Proposed Acts Regulating Sanitation
and Pure Food Approved by
the Council.

The Council OF Associated Industries
met yesterday in the Mills building and
took action on various bills affecting Cali
fornia trade and manufacturing and other
interests. Julian Sonntag occupied the
chair, and E. A. Denicke, James W. Kerr
w. w. Montague, L Jacobs, P. J. Healy
B. n. Rowley, E. ?. Head ana L. Il.
Lastreto were present
The committee appointed by the council
to consider the bill regarding the appoint
ment of q State food commissioner and
assistants made the following report,
which was adopted:
We have come to the unanimous conclusion
that this a question OF the most vital impoT-
lance to the state. The use and sale OF adul-
terated foods OF all kinds is prevalent 10 an
extraordinary degree. We have discovered
that there are many laws on the statute books
against this terrible evil to our people, the
State and its interests. In fact, no further
laws on the subject are necessary, as the pres
ent laws fully cover the situation II they were
en- torced.
We are confronted with the fact that for the
first time in the history OF this State this sub
ject Is receiving vigorous attention through
the work inaugurated BY the Board Of Health
of this City, but have come to the conclusion
that from actual investigation the parties
guilty of these great frauds on the pubic Will
never receive their just dues in the present
manner of handling these cases before the
Police Courts OF this City.
We viii cite, instance, that twenty ar
rests in the past two weeks by the Chief Food
Inspector OF this City for adulteration in milk
resulted IN seventeen acquittals and three con-
V1cuouS, the after being fined without any
alternative OF imprisonment, resulting in
practically no fine at all. 1t is apparent to
YOU committee that convictions cannot be
obtained unless through ana by the efforts OF
general public opinion, voiced, as it should be,
through the editorial columns OF the press OF
this City. Several of our leading newspapers
nc Er1h
but spasmodlc and lar-between efforts will not
accomplish results. The Judges will become
lax when public interest ceases, and the press
is the great engine that can carry this work
through to a successful issue.
There are four Police Courts in this City, the
calendars are frequently crowded, and sand
wiched in between drunks, battery. etc,
are the cases Of violation OF food-adulteration
laws.
The Board of Health of this City has no
attorney TO prosecute these cases in The Police
Courts, and If il had, it would take up nearly
the entire time ana attention OF the attorney.
Therefore they are frequently dismissed with
out a hearing either through political in
duence or lack OF prosecution.
Your committee suggests that more efficient
results could be obtained If one Police Court
would try all this character OF cases, and
thereby the Judge would become familiar with
the work.
1t is quite possible that in short time
there may be sufficient work in this line to
keep one OF the courts busy nearly the entire
time. The quest tion is Can one OF the Police
Judges be found who will undertake this
branch OF Grim lnRl cases? At present we are
told none OF the" Judges care particularly 10
handle them, and the cases are bandied d
around from one 10 the other.
1t is apparent TO your committee that the
subject Of food adulteraticn is not generally
recognized as being OF the Importance that it
is. In many instances human lives depend
upon the purifying OF our tood products, and
in other instances many OF our industries and
manufactures and the reputation of our state
Is at stake. The question then is whether this
srVaa mn won ont lS VECT
our people and the press or should 1t be rele-
gated to the background in favor OF matters of
minor importance?
We recommend that the Council of Asso-
ciated Industries OF this State appoint pure
food committee, to consist of one member
lected from each of the organizations en-
braced in its general mem bership, the said
committee to look into the subject of general
food adulteration and 10 act, II necessary, in
an advisory capacity with such bodies as
may be charged with the enforcement OF laws
on the subject. We further recommend that
a communication be addressed to the different
organizations comprised in the membership
Of this council, inclosing copy of this report,
and asking them to declare themselves regard
ing this important subject.
Your committee further recon- mends that
the bill referred to them as amended be in
dorsed by this council.
We believe that there should be some re-
sponsible head to this movement in this State.
A State Commissioner would soon district
the State so that the work could be carried on
In systematic and thorough manner.
According to the bill as amended, every Dis
trict Attorney and Prosecuting Attorney in
the State would become agent of the State
in the enforcement of the laws against the
adulteratfon in food, drink or drugs.
This system has been working successfully
in many OF the Eastern and Western States,
notably in Ohio, where the plan has been III
successful operation for the past ten years, re-
sultng in thousands of convictions yearly.
The proposed bill aims to provide efficient in
spection and prosecution throughout the State
by making three inspection districts-North-
ern, Central and Southern California. Yours,
very truly, 7. j. HEALY Chairman. =
IsIDoR JACOBS.
b. y. ROWLEY.
J. NJ. WILLIAMSON, MD.
The bills originated by the Board of
Health authorizing boards of health to