Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-09-19

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 powders, and recommended that
such use be prohibited by law.
Senator Mason, discussing in the SEN
ate the report of the committee and
the several bills introduced to carry
the recommendations of the committee
into effect, said:
when we made this report we made
it based on the evidence before us, and
the evidence is simply overwhelming.
l do not care how big a lobby there may
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 mineral poison, as
they all say that alum is, it is impos-
sible to mix it always to such degree
that there will not be 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. |.
Arnold, J. w. s., professor, Univer-
sity Of New York.
Atwater w. o., professor and direc-
tor. government experimental station,
Washington, ID. c.
Barker, George F., professor, Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania.
Caldwell G. c., professor, Cornell
University, Ithica, N. Y.
Chandler, c. 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
lege, New Haven, Conn.
Mallet, John William, professor, Uni
versity OF Virginia.
New, w. NJ, professor. Army and
Medical Department, United States gov.
ernment.
Morton, Henry, president of Stevens
Institute, Hoboken. N. J.
Munroe, Charles Edward, professor
of chemistry, Columbian University,
Washington, ID. c.
Prescott, Albert b.. professor, Uni.
versity of Michigan. Ann Harbor, Mich
Price, A. f.. medical director, United
States, Naval Hospital, Washington
ID. 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. X, surgeon general,
United States Navy, Washington, d. C.
Wiley, Prof H. W., chief chemist, De-
partment of Agriculture, United States,
Washington. d. c.
WymdH, WdlteT, SuTBcoH ethcid
United States Marine Hospital. Wash
ington, ID. G.
Mr.. PErTIGREw. Was there any testi-
mony which showed that there were
cases of injury to health as result Of
constant use Of alum?
Mr. MASON. Yes; can turn you to
the testimony.
Mr.. PErTIGREw. do not care to have
the senator turn to 1t. / simply want
to emphasize the point / agree with
the senator. II has always been my
own impression that alum baking pow
der is injurious, but wanted to bring
1t out and make 1t emphatic, II the
proof sustains that position.
Mr.. MASON. I quite agree with the
senator. 1t is claimed that there is not
country in Europe that does not pro-
hibit the use of alum. Certainly three
or four of the leading countries of Eu.
rope to which I have had my attention
called prohibit the use Of alum In bak-
ing powder.
Mr.. PETTIGBEw. Did the chemists
who came before the committee, these
professors, generally testify-was II
the result of their evidence-that the
cream Of tartar baking powder Is
healthy and does not leave a residuum