Evening star., 1900-12-19
Audience Given by Commissioners to
Those Interested.
MANUFACTURERS DEALERS HEARD
Strict Enforcemento or Repeal Urged
byLocaI Firm.
9TH Ter VIEW S CIV E n

The District Commissioners today had a
conference with number Of the local
wholesale and retail dealers in flour upon
the subject of the inspection Of that pro-
duct. BY the act of Congress approved
December q, 1898, the Commissioners are
required to appoint two inspectors of -four
who shall be competent judges of it, and
whose duty it is, among other things, to
inspect all flour made or brought into the
District for sale or to be manufactured into
bread. 1t appears that the law has not
been observed by all dealers, and the
question arose whether it should not be
amended, so as to insure a strict COM
pliance with it's terms relative to inspection.
The Commissioners, therefore, invited those
interested on both sides of the question to
be present today and submit their views.
Mr.. Theodore ]. Mayer of the firm of
VIM. NJ. Gait & Co. first addressed the
Commissioners, explaining that the act In
question requires that every barrel, half
barrel and sack of flour shall be inspected.
He and many other dealers, he said, have
obeyed this law, paying the inspector
cent barrel for inspection, while other
dealers have not obeyed the law. The law
should, submitted Mr.. Mayer, either be
enforced in every instance or it should be
repealed so that all parties would be then
on an equal footing. If there is any ar
tcle of food which should be pure. he con-
less than 100000 barrels of flour are sold
a year. Sometimes flour is placed for ship
ment to this and other cities in cars In
which Oil fertilizers have been carried
and the consequence is that 1t Is seriously
damaged, If not entirely ruined as an ar
ticle of food. Mr.. Mayer claimed that In
apection is necessary, not only to secure
proper weight, but also to secure it's purity
Objects to Manner and Time
Mr.. Charles Schneider. a well-known
inspection of flour, but does object to the
manner and time of inspection as followed
here. He complained that the District in
spectors do not inspect every barrel. half
barrel or sack in a consignment but merely
a fraction of it, and such inspection, he
submitted, protects neither the large dealer
nor the public. He also complained that it
blend a number of different grades of -four
after It's receipt from the mills. Replying
to an inquiry Of Mr.. ]. c. Ergood, Mr.
Schneider stated that he blends or mixes
winter and spring wheat, but he insisted
that it is done for the benefit Of his pat
rons, and that If 1t were not beneficial he
would suffer through the loss Of their
trade He cited an instance where about
two years ago he sent back to local dealer
more than fifty barrels Of flour because 1t
was unfit. although 1t bore the inspectors
certificate. He also charged that -four is
sold short here, and he contended that the
of dollars for inspection from which they
have derived no benefit.
To an inquiry of the Engineer Commits
sioner Mr.. Schneider said his flour has not
been inspected for number Of years,
he holds 1t is unfair to require him to pay
inspection fees for. say. a carload Of flour,
when only few barrels or sacks Of
1t is really examined by the inspector.
Should every package be inspected, he said,
he would raise objection to the payment
of the inspection fees
manufacturing Plant Heard.
Mr.. C. F. Sparks Of Alton, ILL.,, represent
ing prominent manufacturing flour plant,
said that, speaking for the manufacturer.
he is in favor of the inspection of flour, al
though he is confident such inspection does
not benefit or protect the public. He re-
ferred to the large standing reward Of ST.
800 offered by manufacturers for the con-
VictiOn of persons adulterating. -four but
expressed the opinion that today there is
practically no flour being adulterated. The
manufacturers, he stated. cannot afford
to do anything tending to injure either
dealers or the public, for the moment it be-
comes known that mill is putting up In
ferior flour 1t loses practically all its busi
ness. Mr.. Sparks referred to the inspec-
ton of flour in New York. Chicago and St.
Louis, stating that nowhere else is the in
spection SO rigid, and that while 1t Is not
compulsory in these cities. yet fully nine
tenths of all -four used there Is inspected
III lHtSe CltleS the inspectors eAdHllIe every
barrel. and If they should fail to do so they
would be severely censured.
Mr. James H. Doty, local dealer, also
declared that there Is no such thing as pro-
tectng the public by inspection, for, he
contended. it is competition in trade which
really and fully protects the public, such
competition being so close as to make 1t
the constant desire and act Of every dealer
to sell -four that is pure and of full weight.
The dealers. said Mr.. Doty, take Of
the public, for If they shou.A not the public
would take of the dealers. Inspection,
provided for by the law. he submitted,
does not discover adulteration, and he
doubted if the inspectors could discover 1t if
they should try. Competition, he asserted.
makes men honest for it lowers not only
the price Of -four, but at the same time
pressed the opinion that the blending OF
flour does not lower its standard, but really
improves its quality. and he also expressed
the opinion that nothing goes into flour to-
day but good wheat. He believes in the in
spection of flour, but believes that inspec-
ton should be voluntary, and he contended
that in no other city In the United States
does man get better flour for his money
than he does in Washington. If there Is
adulteration of -four, said Mr.. Doty, it is
done after inspection.
Local Bakers and Dealers.
Mr.. Edward Graves. representing a we'll
known baking establishment, saiu he does
not object to the inspection Of flour, but
thinks it should be voluntary. Mr. George
W. Cissel, prominent local manufacturer
Of -four, expressed a like opinion, and Mr.
Mayer suggested that it might be well to
make the inspectors Of flour officers of the
District government and clothe them with
powers and duties similar to those Of the
sealer of weights and measures.
Mr. Frank Hume said dealers do not dare
to adulterate their ffour. although he said
1t is claimed that flour sent to some parts
of the country other than ours is not pure.
Mr.. J. F. Schaaff said he has 1t from a
Treasury Department official that the adul-
teration of flour has been reduced to a
minimum. and he cited an instance where
certain manufacturer that some time
ago was aduterating his flour as per cent
Is now making absolutely pure flour hay-
ing found that the laws and loss of trade
made it necessary for him to be honest.
Mr. Macfarland, speaking for the board
Of Commissioners, thanked the gentlemen
for their attendance and suggestions, and
stated that the board will give the whole
matter very careful consideration.
Epoch of Good Dressing.
Mr.. ]. Fred Iatchell, the well-known au-
thority on all matters pertaininp to nan,,