The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-01
Result of the Recent Investigation of
Allegations Tint Many Articles
Were Adulterated.
CHARGES FOUND TO BE TRUE
MUCH OF WHAT WE EAT AND DRINK
Is LARGELY ADULTERATED.
Manufacturer Are Forced to Market
Frauds, They Say, to Meet Compe-
tition-Remedies Proposed.

committee on manufactures to-day submit
ted to the Senate report on the extensive
investigation ii has conducted into allega-
tons that many important articles of food
and drink are adulterated, SO as TO be
either serious detriment to public health,
or, where the adulterant is not injurious
to health, fraud on the purchaser Ac-
companying the report is a great mass of
testimony taken in the leading cities of the
country. The report says the Importance
of the investigation made and the legisla-
ton proposed cannot be too strongly en-
phasized. 1t adds: 1.-The adulteration of
prepared or manufactured foods Is very
extensively practiced and, in many cases.
to the great discredit of our manufactur-
ers. 1t is only fair to say. however, that
large proportion of the American manu-
facturers who are engaged In adulterating
food products do so in order to meet COM
petition, and II is the expression of those
gentlemen to say we would be glad to get
out of the business of adulterating. We
would like to quit putting this stuff in cof-
fee, and would be willing to brand our
syrups for what they are. but our compel
itors get a trade advantage which we cam
not surrender
1T is the purpose of this committee to
adopt this uniform rule: To prohibit the
sale of deleterious and unhealthy food
products, and as to those food products
which are simply cheapened by aduiterants
to compel the marking of those goods for
what they are. Deleterious food products
should be prohibited and the rest thor
oughly regulated. There have been two
general ways suggested as to the matter of
regulation. First, to put the important
food products under the internal revenue
law, as we have in the case of butter, filled
cheese, and, at the last Congress, -four.
The pure flour bill has absolutely prohibit
ed the sale of adulterated flour, which was
found to be in many cases dangerous to
public health, and has increased the sale of
American flour probably % per cent in
other countries. If the rule established by
this committee can be carried out as to our
other food products we will not only pro-
tect the consumer and the honest manu-
facturer who is willing to sell his goods for
what they are, but We will also establish a
reputation for our food products which will
assist us to find a ready market for them
in other countries.
SENATE BILL 2426
1.-THE other plan to regulate the food
products Is contained in Senate Bill 2426,
which establishes a department under the
secretary of agriculture and provides for
the establishment of the board which shall
fix the standards for foods, drinks, and for
drugs, based on the American Pharmaco-
poeia. The strong argument in favor of this
plan is the fact that it would be cumber-
products that are now adulterated and al
low their adulteration for the purpose of
cheapening, and require a stamp upon each
of the small packages for sale. To illus
trate, the evidence before the committee
shows that all QUO peppers, cinnamon,
cloves, and spices generally, including gin
ger and mustard, are adulterated. One
manufacturer testified that he adulterated
these largely with cocoanut shells, and the
amount of aduterants depended on the
man who ordered it. Sometimes as high
as 90 per cent. was put In. 1t would be diff
hcult, 1t may be seen al a glance, to estab-
lish law for spices, to compel them to
stamp as mixed spice every package sold.
1t may be that such cumbersome legisla-
ton will have to be made in order to prop
erly punish those who adulterate their
goods. but it is hoped that Senate Bill 2426
will reach all interstate traffic in manu-
featured food products, and that the board
established under the bill will have power
to fix standards based on what is now the
standard in the American Pharmacopoeia
I'm the case of butter, cheese and -four
the frauds practiced were so apparent and
dealt so with the most important food
products that the revenue plan seemed TO
be. and is, wise and successful, and Ii may
become necessary, IL the real purpose of
this bill meets with opposition and defeat,
wise and prudent for this committee to
have prepared and ready revenue legisla-
ton to reach some of the most glaring
| evils by adding it to the next revenue bill. -
The report says the committee has had
many difficulties to overcome, and feels
that in many cases it has not been able to
secure the absolute truth. That so much
knowledge has been gained il feels is
| largely due to Secretary Wilson and Dr.
| II. w. Wiley, chief chemist of the Agri-
cultural Department.
After a detailed explanation with refer
ence to the testimony and analyses as re-
CARDS many specific articles of food or
drink, and the extent to which they were
| found free from or guilty of adulteration,
| the committee takes up the matter of the
| importation of adulterated food and says:
IF IL is the policy to restrict our citizens TO
| the use of pure food, we certainly should
apply the same rule to foreigners who
| try. There is no doubt in the minds of the
| committee that large amounts of imported
goods sold in this country, the sale of
which goods would be prohibited in the
country from which they come"
The committee gives some glazing ill.,
stances of this unwhoesome and unjust
competition which American dealers and
manufacturers have 20 meet, and recon-
mends the establishment of standards of
purity for various articles and the estab-
lishment at ports of entry of inexpensive
| examinations and tests to determine
whether imports come up to these stand