The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-10-23
PURE FOOD LEGISLATION.
EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO
PUNISH DEALERS.
The New Idea is to Make Sellers
Guarantee the Goods Under
the Label.

So many discoveries have been made
in the last few years regarding the ex-
tent of adulteration in foods, and with
- reference to the damage done by such
foods, that a committee of the Pure
Food Association will be active this
year in trying to have substantial and
practical laws passed for the regula-
ton of the sale of vicious products.
In no department that pertains to the
welfare of the masses is there need Of
more careful and stringent legislation
than in regard to this matter. 1t has
been shown at such places as San
Quentin, where supplies are bought in
large quantities, and where there is a
system of Analysing foods, that it is
almost impossible to buy anything that
Is pure. Warden Hale found it a diff
cult task to get two or three samples
or pure pepper out of scores of sam
pies submitted. But this is only one
out OF many things that need atten-
tlon- Olive oil is perhaps the one ex
ample where adulteration is the rule
ana where the laws are Of no conSe-
quence whatever in preventing frauds.
speaking Of this phase Of the question
yesterday B. NJ. Lelong Of the Horti-
cultural Society, said:
There is a law that makes it pun
1shable for persons to sell or offer goods
in this State-olive oils, I mean-unless
they are absolutely pure; and it is pro-
vided that in cases where there are
authorizations the labels must state
what adulterantsl are used and the pro-
portion and amounts of each.'
How does that law work?' was
asked
It is dead letter because there is no
Federal law on the subject was Mr.
Lelong's reply, land what we are now
trying to do is to get a law passed by
which it will be possible to punish the
dealers in spurious articles in another
way
Mr.. Lelong then gave a history of the
attempts that had been vainly made in
this State to have dealers and manu-
facturers held to account for their mis-
deeds. He concluded by saying: ut
now seems to be settled that the only
way we can do is to have a law passed
that reaches the label. Tie great evil
in our way is that there is no Federal
law that covers the question. That
being the case, 1t is hard to reach Of
tenders, for goods are shipped from
other States and questions Of inter
state commerce arise, these being
matters under the jurisdiction Of Fed
eral courts, beyond the power of
States, and therefore useless prosecu-
tons are the result What we must
do therefore, is TO have a law passed
that will make it a punishable offense
for a man to sell bad goods under a
good label. That law will make the
dealer responsible for the quality of
whatever he sells. Thus locating the
responsibility for the abuses that ex-
ist we shall doubtless be able to make
such prosecutions as will conduce to
the sale Of pure goods. I feel quite
confident that something substantial
in this line will be accomplished"
1t is but necessary TO go into any
grocer's and see the spurious bottles of
stuff for sale under the label Pure
Olive OIL" to understand to what ex-
tent the present law is violated. The
law to-day requires that If there is
adulteration it shall be so said on the
labels; but as there is no way to pun
ish the violators of the law, violation
is the rule.