The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-11
RESTRICTION On bogus FLOUR.
Signi1oance Of the Tax Imposed by
the War Revenue bill.
Philadelphia Record


Mixed -four, upon which the war revenue
bill imposes a tax Of cents per barrel in
addition 10 an annual license tax Of $l2
upon the manufacturers is a food prod
uot OF comparatively recent origin It
began 10 appear In quantities In the do
mesuc markets and in export trade about
TWO years ago. and during this period OF
fIme the national ana state associations
of -four nsillers have been actively engaged
In efforts 90 bring tho practice OF -four
adulteratton under legislative restriction
and control.
The chief adulterants employed by the
scph!sticators Of wheat -four are Gourine
which liz the refuse starch Of glucose fac
tories: mineraiine, a white clay or kaolin
ground 10 powder: barytss. a form OF pull
verified rock. and corn -four made from
maize. All of these. except the last named,
contain matter positively Injurious 10
health, while the ground clay and rock arc
Of course absolutely destitute OF any ufe-
sustaining qualities. Flourine, which has
been pushed upon the market with great
industry as the leading adulterant. con-
,ains free suiphurio acid. and is deficient
in both protein ard fat II Is nina-tenths
stsroh. and person fed upon IL exclusive
~ would soon die for want Of the proper
Vita nutrients, since starch alone cannot
sustain life.
Ever since the beginning OF the present
session OF congress the ways ana means
committee of the house has had before II
bills providing for special taxes on mixed
fcSr and on those engaged In It's profue-
yon. and a substitute for these vario.ls
measures was finally drawn up by Repre-
sentative Tawuey or Minnesota and sccept-
ed by the committee. II II this Tawnsy
bill whicA has been enacted into law BY
tAe short eat OF a conference committees
report on the war revenue bill. Had the
latiou. IL ia probable that final action
wou,d ncs have been taken until next VIM
Ter. thus anortiirx unwarfanted grace 20
the CoufpounderS of a spurious -four which
chemical analysis shows 10 he ieleserious
10 health. IN the view Of che advocates
OF pure fsAo-i IN congress The urgency Of
rhe war revenue btu afforded an excel
lent opportunity fer regulating a manu-
facture (which. growing up alfnost IN a
single season had become a menace 20
the public health and TO our futerra iona,
traffic in hTeadstusfs.
This OFFICIAL CHASING 81 mixed flour with
filed cheese oleouargartne and other frr1i-
rAtcns Shoala dsspei the a.Tfposaatrss Of
suspicion which aur exporters If -four
have encountered for some time IN t4,eir
efforts 90 enlarge our markets Oar for
riFu -four trade has; year amounted 20
nearly i5.0sls 40 earrstS-a traffic too i'm
portao, 10 expose % the risk of interrupt
ti3n Q: destruction Tire clause o. me
war revenue hill relating 10 mixed four.
while securing income 10 che treasury
from this sourc" Will operate to suppress
fslse fretrnse$ ana - prosIs.se fair ti.a.-
ios IN Ire raauufac;ure and sale II an ar
ticie ~ feed universally Cou ssrrned In re-
Q1sr'rg the producers OF mixed ffou~ 20
brand their product. Specifying he insre-
dieuts us~d IN its manufacture. TIE meas
are sffordS - al classes protection against
fraud and Tvoss.tls dlssasc. and virtually
conipc}~ thT sac % adulterafcsi -Four fsr
~Asf 81 Is rs preventing is sale sor what