The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-22
state Dairy and Food Department.

VI pUnCy VI Ino ucpdItiucnt 10 hoCoo-
saIy. The policy has been to modest
as little as possible the retail dealer
and to begin against the wholesalers.
He says that after thorough trial two
facts stand out clear against this
method: (l) That it is found very diff
ficult to establish with sufficient proof
that the goods gotten by the inspector
were actually purchased by the retailer
from a certain jobber. There arises so
many doubts as to the Identification of
the goods that convictions are very un-
certain, though the fact of violation be
clearly established. ~ Although an
expressed desire of wholesalers to have
themselves prosecuted rather than
their retail trade, they have shown a
questionable disposition to evade by
every trick and technically their re-
sponsibility whenever attacked.
In recent prosecutions against two
corporations the commissioner scores
them hard for their ingenious defense
based upon vagaries and uncertainties
of the statute.
Since the last bulletin was issued,
five cases have been begun for viola
ton of the anti-color oleomargarine
law, two at Port Huron, one at Ecorse
and two at Saginaw. One milk ped
dler at Saginaw was convicted and
fined twenty dollars for selling adul-
terated milk; which he paid.
The commissioner speaks Of the
work now commenced in the labora-
tory upon baking powders and tells
how the bill to regulate their manu-
facture and sale was turned down by
the senate and the aid of lobbyists en-
ployed by alum baking powder manu-
facturers at the last session of the
legislature.
He gives a warning to consumers,
and says: "In the early part of March
it was learned that a man giving the
name Of H. II. McCuen had taken a
large number of orders from cOnsum-
ers direct, at Battle Creek, for teas,
coffees, spices. baking powders, etc.,
for future delivery. For two weeks
this department had an inspector
watching for the party, who was slow
in making the delivery. On March
10th it was reported that a car load of
these goods had arrived at the Chicago
& Grand Trunk depot. The next day
a stranger giving his name as Nelson
Mayer began delivering and collecting
on these orders. He hired convey
ance, and, having notified the purchas-
ers beforehand, delivered small part
of the orders before sample of the
goods could be obtained and tested.
A warrant was issued and he was
arrested and arraigned before Justice
Lewis on the charge of disposing of
can of impure mustard. He waived
examination and was bound over to
the circuit court, bail being set at two
hundred dollars, which he succeeded
in raising. The balance Of the goods
were packed and shipped out of the
state.
Many of the articles sold were of
the poorest quality that could be gotten
up, and in many instances were sold
at much higher prices than the same
pure goods could have been purchased
of the home merchant.
1.-THE plan usually followed by these
viclators of the pure food laws is to
depreciate the class Of goods sold by
the local grocer and offer seemingly
pure article at cheaper price. Sell
ON are these cases reported to the
department until the delivery and col
lections have been made and the par
ties have sought other fields of opera
tions."
The report of Dairy Inspector Bar
ron shows that IL diaries were visited
during the month in Saginaw county.
Cows were found part clean and part
dirty; stables fairly clean; ventilation
good; sanitary conditions poor; water
supply good.
During the month State Analyst, Mr..
F. H. BOrradaile, examined 81 samples
of food products, of which % were
pure and "A adulterated.
Seventy-two cities and towns were
visited by the inspectors during the
month, and the places of business car
rying food products inspected,
All those creeping, crawling, singing SEN
sations that combine to make up the tortuyes
of any itching disease of the skin are instant.