Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-04-19
Entered at the Post Office at Laporte, as
seconded mail matter.

duct OF the Office of dairy and FOOD
commissioner under his administra-
ton. These letters have come from
farmers and others whose interests
have been jeopardized by the attempts
to impose upon the public in the sale
of what is known as renovated but
ter. Other schemes in violation OF the
laws of this commonwealth passed to
prevent the adulteration of food pro-
ducts and other impositions upon the
PEOPLE have been unearthed and block
ed by the officials attached to Governor
Stones administration, in accordance
with his instructions to vigorously
prosecute all violators of the law Pub
lie attention has been attracted to this
subject within the last few days by the
numerous warrants sworn out as the
result of Investigations by state Of
ficials. No less than Is warrants were
issued upon affidavits of representa-
Levi Wells in one day last week in
this city, in line with the determina-
ton to prosecute those against whom
evidence of alleged violations of the
laws shall be obtained.
The department has number of
agents throughout the state and sew
eral in Philadelphia. The Philadel-
phia agents have collected in the past
several months samples that have en-
abled the department to force manu-
facturers and grocers to take danger
Gus products, oleomargarine. reno
waited butter, spices, vinegar etc, en-
tirely off the market. Some of the
products, especially the admixtures of
renovated butter and oleomargarine,
require most careful analysis by the
chemists in order to detect adultera-
ton.
LAW TO BE ENFORCED.
The Philadelphia agents have col
lected and turned in to the chemist.
Prof. +. A. Genth, Jr, in the last few
months, over $50 samples of food pro-
ducts and prosecutions have been in
stituted in a large number of cases
before several of the magistrates, and
the cases now rest in the quarter ses-
sions and common pleas courts for
trial The district attorney has prom
ised his active support in prosecuting
The cases in his charge. The majority
Of the samples that have been collected
are oleomargarine, sold in violation
of the law.
The act of assembly passed at the
sell oleomargarine and renovated but
. ter, but requires those dealing in this
product to mark it and sell it for what
it is. without coloring matter to make
/! look like butter. A test case in the
color clause was argued in No court
and then in the superior court. and is
now awaiting decision upon appeal
to the superior court. Should the
higher courts of the state decide
that the act touching the anti-cOlor
clause is constitutional, the law will
be rigidly enforced throughout the
state.
NECESSITY OF THE LAW
Dealers in oleomargarine have the
right to sell it under the act of as
sembly. providing they secure IL
cense from the state, and providing
they sell it for what it is, properly
marked. in order that the public may
not be deceived. The greater amount
of attention has been paid by the
agents to the suppression of the sale
OF oleomargarine for butter. although
the other food products that are fire.
quently adulterated are not neglected,
and many samples are turned in to the
chemist for analysis, showing the
grave necessity for the existence of
this dairy and food department under
the state government.
The most beneficial result of the en-
forcement of the law is in the way of
preventing adulteration. If it were
rot for the vigilance of the agents the
whole tone of the trade would be de-
moralized in short while The mar
ket would soon be flooded with adul-
terants.
The work of the food and dairy COM
missioner of Governor Stones admins
traton had been SO distinguished that
Major Wells was elected president of
the National Association of Food and
Dairy Commissioners. This honor was
given to him in recognition of the great
progress made in Pennsylvania sys-
TEN of laws and methods of admins
traticn. Perhaps the greatest achieve
ment of the department has been the
exposure ot the terrible adulterations
in the form of renovated" butter and
the passage of the law preventing
fraudulent sales of pure butter 1t is a
far more injurious article than oleo.
margarine. accoring to all authorities
and according to the common knowl-
edge of the people. 1t formerly went
for soap. The movement against this
renovated butter has been followed by
iS6iSiutioii III SeFeH Ut elSnI states,
copied after the statute drawn by Com
missioner Wells and adopted in Penn
sylvania. The movement has culmi-
mated in the agitation for national leg
islation on the subject bill is now
pending in congress. This and the cleo
tion of Commissioner Wells as the
president of the National Association
of Dairy and Food Commissioners
shows how Pennsylvania has been rec
ognized as leading the country In the
pure food movement
STAMPING OUT IMPURITY.
Major Wells states that in the fiscal
year 1898 to 1899. following the de-