Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-09-22
ALUM BAKING POWDERS IN
CONGRESS.
Report That Evidence of Their
HarmfuIness Is Overwhelming.

10 investigate 1000 adulteratlonS, and
accumulated a volume of testimony up
on the subject from the best informed
parties and highest scientific authori-
ties in the country.
One of the greatest sources of danger
to our foods, the committee state in
their report, exists in alum baking pow
ders. The committee found the testi-
mony, they say overwhelmingly con-
demnatory OF the use OF alum IN bak-
ing POWERS, and recommended that
such use be prohibited by law.
Senator Mason, discussing in the SEN
ate the report or the committee and
the several bills introduced to carry
the recommendations OF the committee
into effect, said:
When we made this report we made
1t based on the evidence before us, and
the evidence is simply overwhelming.
l do not care how big a lobby there my
be here for the alum baking powder, l
do not care how many memorials they
publish, there is no place in the human
economy OF human food for this thing
called alum. The overwhelming evil
dence OF the leading physicians and
scientists of this country is that it is
absolutely unfit TO go into human food,
and that in many cases-if the gentle
man will read the evidence, some of
the physicians say they can trace cases
in their own practice-there are dis
eases of the kidney due to the perpetual
use of alum in their daily bread.
When you mix a. mineral poison, as
they all say that alum is, it is impos-
sible to mix it always to such degree
that there will not he a residuum left
OF alum, which produces alumina, and
which contributes largely to the dis
eases of the people in this country.
Il want to give the senate an idea of
the class of men we have called. They
are the leading scientists from every
college of the United States that we
could get hold Of"
Senator Mason, from a long list of
scientists who had testified as to the
hurtfulness of alum baking powders,
and as to the healthfulness of cream of
tartar powders, mentioned the follow
ing:
Appleton, John Howard, professor of
chemistry, Brown University, Provi-
dence, r. l.
Arnold, J. w. s., professor, Univer.
sity of New York
Atwater, w. o., professor and direc-
tor, government experimental station,
Washington, d. G.
Barker, George F., professor, Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania.
Caldwell, G. c., professor, Cornell
University, Ithica, N. Y.
Chandler, G. F., professor, Columbia
University, New York.
Chittenden, Russell H., professor.
Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
Cornwall, II. B., professor, Univer-
sity of Princeton, New Jersey.
Champion, c. A, professor, Division
of chemistry, Washington, D. c.
Fairhurst, Alfred, professor, chemist,
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
Frear, William, professor, State Col
lege, Pennsylvania.
Jenkins, Edward H., professor, de-
partment of agriculture, state of Con-
necticut
Johnson, S. w, professor, Yale Col
lego, New Haven, Conn.
Mallet John William, professor, Uni
versity of Virginia
New, w. NJ, professor, Army and
Medical Department, United States gov
eminent
Morton, Henry, president of Stevens
Institute, Hoboken, ~ J.
Munroe, Charles Edward, professor
of chemistry, Columbian University.
Washington, D. c.
Prescott, Albert B., professor. Uni
versity of Michigan, Ann Harbor. Mich.
Price A. F., medical director, United
States, Naval Hospital, Washington,
D. c.
Smart, Charles, lieutenant colonel,
assistant surgeon general, United
States Army.
Sternberg, George NJ, surgeon gen.
eral, United States Army, Washington,
D. C.
Tucker, Willis G., professor of chem
istry and chemist of State Board of
Health state of New York.
Vaughan, Victor c., professor, Uni
versity of Michigan, Ann Harbor. Mich.
Van Reypen, w. K, surgeon general,
United States Navy Washington, D. c.
Wiley, Prof. II. w, chief chemist. De-
partment of Agriculture, United States,
Washington d. C.
Wyman, Walter. surgeon general,
United States Marine Hospital, Wash
ington, d. c.
Mr.. PETTIGREw. Was there any testi-