The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-16

GLSNefs
al want you to press 10 way mp 20 the
hilt," exclaimed Mr.. Thaxter, who, when
Mr.. Spears meaning had been made clear
said that the amount of protein was not
the only thing to be considered as he
had previously explained.
Mr. Nickerson of the Paris FIGURING
company, Mr.. Theodore W. Josselyn OF
Portland, Representative Buck of orland
and several others spoke in opposition to
the bill Then the bearing took new
turn and the fun began. Secretary Nc
Keen spoke for the bill, claiming that II
would extend the operation oil law
which two years of trial had proved to
be success. After Secretary Mokeen'
MIR. spear of Gardiner, who appeared as
counsel made an argument in support OF
the bill In the course of his remarks
Mr.. Spear said that Mr. Thsxter haa
lodged his question. Mr.. Spear said the
bill of two years ago was passed after tue
reception of petitions from the farmers OF
Maine who had been buying inferior
goods Of the traders who are So anxious
3or the farmers welfare. E"Don't the
farmers OF this state know anythingf"
asked Mr.. Spear. Don't they know as
much as these dealers who take such an
interest in then,'
Mr. Spears references to the dealers
brought vigorous retort from MI.
Thaxter and one which was loudly ap'
plauded, II think the attorney who has
spoken here owes an apology to there
gentlemen present." said MIR. Thaxter.
II certainly did not attempt to evade
his question and do not regard IL as a
proper way to discuss a business propo'
sition before this committee. object to
having IL said that the gentlemen with
whom | am associated and myself are
parties to fraud
Then came long applause and cries OF
That's right"
MIR. Spear then took the floor and after
again referring to the hearing Of two
years ago and the evidence then present
ed as to the inferior kind Of goods sold,
exclaimed: Now say and 1 repeat 1t,
that that's true, and il that is oharac-
terizing the traders of this state as men
who are unfair dealers, repeat 1t. Z"
Mr.. Thaxttr then attempted to ask Mr..
McKeen q question and MIR. Mckeen made
this statement: when MIR. Ihaxter will
honestly, fairly and squarely answer the
question which Mr.. Spear asked him,
think he can safely rely upon us to an
swer his questions and not until then.
Mr.. Thaxter, business man Of Por.
land, absolutely refuses to answer this
question.
This question was the one alluded to
above. 1t was whether food stuff con-
taining IL per cent OF protein would be as
valuable az one containing IS per cent.
The answer was that the protein was
not the only thing to be considered and
that all the elements going to make up
a perfect ration should be considered.
After this incident the hearing became
an informal discussion. during which
Secretary Mckeen said he was an homes,
man and he hoped no one would Mt
tach Importance to remarks he might
make in the heat of debate.
FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE.
Having thus discussed the question OF
food for CATTLE the committee took uI
the pure food bill and this hearing was
as interesting as the first. The pure food
bill was described at length In the
PRESS some days ago. Secretary Nc
Keen stated that the board Of agriculture
stood behind the measure, but had con
suited with the board of health In regard
to it. The statement made by Mr.. Haines
perhaps sufficiently explains the position
of the experiment station. II 1t wal
deemed better to place the enforcement
of the law in the hands of a commission
er or some other person rather than the
director of the experiment station. the
board would not object. MIR. McKeen
claimed that this was neither an limo
walton nor new law. The bill Is large
ly based on the Connecticut law. The
Massachusetts, law goes farther and in
cludes drugs. Mr.. MoKeen mentioned
the laws of New York, Ohio, New Jersey
and Kentucky. As TO Gamers, the ad
dition of sugar TO u can Of corn would
not be adulteration, said Mr.. McKeen,
because there is sugar in corn and so add
ing sugar would be no more an adultera-
tion than adding cream to milk. ID Is a
fact that Western corn Is labelled Maine
corn, a thing which the law would pre-
vent. Mr.. Mckeen said that he had caused
samples of so-called older vinegar sold
in Maine TO be analysed and found they
were not cider vinegar at ALI
MIR. McKeen then took out of box q
lot Of walls which contained samples OF
spices taken from stores in Connecticut
and found TO be adulterated, some OF
them with poisonous substances. Mr..
NcKesn told the committee that he had
found sdulterated coffee in barrel In
front of Presque Isle grocery store.
MIR. McKeen repeated that the board OF
agriculture would not object If the Law
was placed in the hands of the board OF
health or a commission for enforcement.
MIR. Fits Of Durham raised a laugh
when he said: Il would like to ask il
this law would apply to the farmer who