The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-01
COMMITTEE REPORT ON
FOOD ADU[T ITERATION.
PRACTICE SEEMS UNIVERSAL IN
MANY PRODUCTS.
II Il Recommended ThRt Revenue
Taxes He Imposed as On Mixed
Flour, or That Regular standard
lie Established for Each Product.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2s.--rhe senate
committee on manufactures today sub
mitted to the senate report on the ex-
tensive investigation OF food adulterations.
Accompanying the report is "A great mass
OF testimony taken in the leading cities
OF America.
The report says the importance of the
investigation made and the legislation pro-
posed cannot he too strongly emphasized.
1t adds:
The adulteration Of prepared or manu-
facsured foods Is very extensively prac-
ticcd and in many cares 10 the great dis
credit of our manufacturers.
1T is only fair to say. however. that a
large proportion OF the American manu-
facturers who are engaged in adulterat-
ing food products do so In order to meet
competition.
Plans of the Committee.
''It is the purpose of the committee to
adopt this uniform rule-to prohibit the
sale Of deleterious and unhealthy food pro-
ducts and as TO those food products which
are simply chespened by adulterants 10
compel the marking of those goods for
what they are
.Deleterious food products should be
prohibited and the rest thoroughly resn-
lated.
Two Ways of Regulation.
There have been two general ways
suggested as 10 the matter of regulation.
First to put the important food products
under the internal revenue law, "a We
have in the case Of butter and hlled
cheese, and at the last congress -four.
The pure -four bill has absolutely rro-
hibited the sale Of sduiterated -four. which
was found to he in many eases dangerous
20 public health. and has Increased tho
sale Of American -four probably = per
cent in other countries II the rule cS-
ia blshed by this committee can be carried
out "a "a our other food products. We viii
not only protect the consumer and the
honest manufacturer who l. willing 70 seil
his goods FOR what they are. but we vii
also establish a reputation for our food
products which viii assist vs. 20 ind
ready market for them IN other countries,
Proposed standard ia lie fixcd.
The other plan - regulate the food
products 81 contained IN senate hiii 2s1s.
and establishes q department under the
secretary of agriculture, apd provides ior
the estabHshment % board which shah
hx the standards for foods. drinks and fof
drugs based on toe American pnsrma
rapoia The strong argument IN favor of
this plan ~ the fact thai g would he
cumbersome 90 take All the small articles
OF food products that are nnE adaiierAied
alton for the purposes q cheapening and
require a stamp upon each q the Sfnsls
packages offered for sale.
spice. .cnersIi, aduitsrntcd.
To Illustrate. The evidence before me
cornmftec shows that all of oar peppers.
cinnamon. cloves aud spiaes generally, In
clmdinR ginger and mustard, are aapltef-
ated One manufactures teaithod ihat h"
a44uIteratea these largely witF cocanput
afrsfs- faF liIftl ar
ants put IN depended upson the man ~ho
ordered e. Sometimes AZ high as 90 pNr
cent viii be put Ia, II would De- aia3cah,
Il may be sern Al giancs. 70 establish a
faW fpT spices TO cernpsi FhHus iH stHfaN
a. mixed spices exeTF package sold u
may De that such cumheusosnf legislation
viii have 90 be made 10 order 20 properly
punish those who aduherate fhesT goods.
hyt IL Is hoped that senate bill 2f-1 VIII
reach all interstate frarfic 81 nlanufectgr-
"a food products. and that TIE hQAf1 eH-
tahnshed under the measure VII have
power 20 TX standards based upon what
is now the standard IN the American Phar-
fuacopai.a.
Rsvrnue Pian Effective.
4'In the case og butter cheese and foar,
the frauds practlced wers 80 Apparent ami
dealt with the most important food Froa-
ucts that the revenue plan seemed 80 Ne
and IL wise and successful and u may
become necessary. n the real purpose os
this bfil meets with opposition ana defeat
vfee and prudent Tor this committee 90
have prepared and really reyenue lesis.s-
tion 10 reach some oS the most glazing
evils by adding 20 the next revenue
bmL"
same Rule fo Foreigners-
The committee takes up the matter Of
the Importation n aaultcTated foods. and
says.
II it is the policy 70 restrict our citizens
continued bn Page Two.