Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-11

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The attention OF the congressional
committees and legislators is not
wholly taken up with consideration OF
peace treaties. army and navy bills
and financial measures. to meet the ex-
penses incident to the recent wa: and
the future needs inssetAalishihg peace.
Both Senate ana House committees
have given several hearings on a mat
ter that is of general interest, though
perhaps it can hardly be said that
public opinion has definitely crystal
lized concerning it.
As in the matter OF ANTITRUST legfs-
lation it has been learned from ex-
perience that pure food legislation
cannot secure a full measure OF benefit
from state laws. differing as they do
in the several states. Consequently
there is growing demand for national
laws governing it.
There are strong arguments in favor
of national pure food law, and they
have been vigorously presented before
the committee an interstate commerce
which has under consideration the
Brosius Purc Food bill. The intent
of this bill is not to prevent adultera-
ton Of food but to require every adul-
terated article to bear upon 1t the
stamp Of it's quality. 1t has been ar
gued that all adultcratei articles are
not necessarily injurious to health. as
corn -four mixed with wheat flour and
sold for the latter Is not detrimental
to digestion, but is a swincle upon the
people to whom it is sold FOR wheat.
and at a greater profit to the seller
than he could make on the genuine
article And likewise milk, from which
the butter fat has been extracted and
lard substituted may not prove In
furious to the consumer, though we
should much prefer to take our chances
with the butter fat than with the lard.
But such milk should not b. sold as
the pure production of the COW, in fact,
we think hog should be stamped upon
it so that there might be no possibility
Of mistaknE it. Our opinion relative
TO the reduction by adultcratioM Of the
strength Of whiskcy might differ wide
w. from that Of some. for if the popular
taste prefers so to 80 proof il can cause
no one but the manufacturer Of the
pure article to mourn, but It would be
a, benefit OF some value were vile con-
coctions suitably labcl,l COR what they
are. The purity Of spirits. however. is
not 80 important: it is the purity Of
foods where we find the reasons for
popular, support Of the measure.
Whether such a law as is proposed
would be effective may be questioned.
IT. will be remembered. that in this
State. for instance. it has been success
fully conterkled that the mere marking
of oleomargarine as such did not pre-
vent a great deal of substitution. and
legislation went 50 far as to require
enable the consumer to distinguish it
from butter.
AS to the enforcement OF this pro-
posed food law the national secretary
of agriculture would propose to asso-
ciate himself with agents of the
states, most of which have pure food
laws. In this way friends OF The bill
say it could be rendered effective at
comparatively little additional expense.
1t is certain. whatever may be though.
of the practicability of this bill, that
until there is better assurance of u1:-
formity Of state legislation. the only
way in which to effectuall:' regulate
the matter Of adulteration Of food
products is by some sort If national
legislation.