The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-04-18

ernor's Determination That the
Law Shall lie Faithfully and Fully
Enforced For the Protection of
Home Industries.
Especial Correspondence0
Philadelphia, April 17.-Governor
Stone has been the recipient of many
letters of commendation of the con-
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
10 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
reople have been unearthed and DOCK
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 a representa-
tive of Food and Dairy Commissioner
Levi Wells in one day last week IN
this city, in line with the determina-
tion 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-
tion. t''''' ....'
LAW TO BE ENFORCED.
The Philadelphia agents have col
lected and turned in to the chemist,
Prof. F. 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. -t.t.' li' "
The act of assembly, passed at the
last session, recognizes the right to
sell oleomargarine and renovated but
ter. but requires those dealing in this
product to mark it and sell it for what
Il Is, without coloring matter to make
it look Ike 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. ID
Dealers in oleomargarine have the
right to sell 1t under the act Of as
sembly, providing they secure a Ii
cense from the state, and providing
they sell it for what II is, properly
marked, in order that the public may
not be deceived. The greater amount
OF attention has been paid by tho
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 o.
this dairy and food department undel
the state government.
The most beneficial result of the en-
furcement of the law is In the way O
preventing adulteTation. If It wert
not for the vigilance OF the agents thu
whole tone of the trade would be de
moralized in a 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
tration had been so distinguished tha
Major Wells was elected president o
the National Association of Food an
Dairy Commissioners. This honor wa
given to him In recognition of the grea
progress made in Pennsylvania's sys
TEN Of laws and methods of admins
tration. Perhaps the greatest achieve
ment of the department has been tn
exposure Of the terrible adulteration
in the form Of renovated" butter an
the passage of the law preventin
fraudulent sales of pure butter. It is
far more injurious article than oleo
margarine, accoring to all authoritie
and according to the common knowi
edge Of the people. II formerly wen
for soap. The movement against thi
renovated butter has been followed b
legislation in seven or eight statei
copied after the statute drawn by Com
missioner Wells and adopted in Penn
sylvania The movement has culm
mated in the agitation for national LEI
islatiOn on the subject. A bill is no
pending in congress. This and the ele,
tion of Commissioner Wells as II
president of the National Associate
of Dairy and Food COMMISSIONS
shows how Pennsylvania has been re
ognized as leading the country in Il
pure food movement.
STAMPING OUT IMPURITY.
Major Wells states that in the fisc
year 1898 to 1898, following the d
cision declaring the first oleomarg
-inn ln ~ nncnnstituLlnnal nLn,,t 1