The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-03-06
Wednesdays Proceedings.


port on the extensive investigation it has
conducted into allegations that many In
portanJ articles q food and drink are
a1ultCrated "a IS % BE- either a serious
drtrimeut 20 the public health or. where
the Edultersnt - not injurious 20 health
g fraud on the purchaser. Accompanying
the report ia o great mass % testimony
taken in the leading cities Of the cOuutry.
TIE report says the importance OF the In
yestigsti0n made and the legislation pro-
posed cannot be too strongly emphasized
!; adds.
The aduIteration OF prepared or manu-
featured foods Is very extensively prac-
tced. and In mauy cases 10 the great dis
credit 81 our manufacturers II IS only
fair 10 say. however. that a large proper
i!ou % the American manufacturers who
are engaged in adulterating food products
DO so IN order 20 meet competition. and fl
S. the expression Of those gentlemen 10
say: We would be glad to get out Of the
business Of adulterating We would Ike
20 quit putting this stuff in coffee. and
would D. willing 10 brand our sirups for
what they are but our competitors get a
trade advantage which we cannot sur
render
1t Is the purpose Of this committee 10
adopt this uniform rule. To prohibit the
sale Of deleteri0us and unhealthy food
products, and as 70 those food products
which are simply cheapened by adulter-
ants, 20 compel the marking Of those goods
for what they are. DeletcriOus food prod
ucts should De prohibited and the rest
thoroughly regulated.
Tive Methods Of Relief.
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, as we
have in the case OF butter, filed cheese
and, during the last Congress. -four. The
pure -four bill has absolutely prohibited
the sale Of aduteTated -four, which was
found to be in many cases dangerous to
public health, and has increased the sale
OF American -four probably . per cent in
other countries. II the rule established
by this committee can be carried out as
10 our other food products we will not
only protect the consumer ana the honest
manufacturer who is willing TO sell his
goods for what they are, but we will also
establish a reputation for our food prod
ucts, which Will assist us to find a ready
market for them in other countries.
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 "A board which shall
fix the standards for foods. drinks, and
for drugs, based on the American Phar-
macopoeia. The strong argument in favor
OF this plan is The fact that il would be
cumbersome TO take all the small articles
Of food products that are now adulterated
and allow their sophisticatiOn or adulter-
duon. Tor the purposes of cheapening and
"A a. ha ,aI1
packages offered for sale
Spices Are Generally AduIterated,
TO illustrate: The evidence before the
committee shows that all our peppers
cinnamon, cloves. and spices generally.
including ginger and mustard are adult
terated- One manufacturer testified that
ne adulterated these largely with cocoa
nut shells, and that the amount Of adult
terants put in depended upon the man
who ordered ii. Sometimes as high as 60
per cent was put H. II would be diff
cult, II may be seen at z glance. 10 es-
tablish Law for spices. to compel them
70 stamp as mixed spice every package
sold. 1t may be that such cumbersome
legislation will have TO be made in order
10 properly punish those who adulterata
their goods; but it is hoped that Senate
Dill +-b VIII reach all Interstate traffic in
manufactured food products, and that the
board established under the bill will have
power 20 fix standards based upon what
is now the standard in the American
PharmacOpOeia.
In the case of butter. cheese. and four
the frauds practiced were so apparent
ana dealt so with the most important
1000 products that the revenue plan SEEM
ca 10 De, and is, wise and successful. and
II may become necessary, if the real DUR
pose OF this bill meets with opposition and
defeat. wise and prudent for this com.
mittee 10 have prepared and ready reve-
nue. legislation TO reach some of the most
enue BILL"
Many difficulties 10 Contend With
The report says the committee has had
many difficulties to overcome. and feels
that in many cases 1t has not been able
10 secure the absolute truth. That 81
much knowledge has been gained if feels
Is largely due TO Secretary Wilson and
Dr. H. W. Wiley, chief chemist of the
Agricultural Department.
After detailed explanation with ref
eTence 10 the testimony and ANALYSES as
regards many specific articles of food or
Drink, and the extent 10 which they were
found free from or guilty of adulteratlon
the committee takes up the matter of
The Importation of adulterated foods ami
says:
IF II Is the policy 10 restrict our own
citizens 10 the use of pure food. we GER
tainly should apply the same rule To for
eisners who manufacture goods 10 be
sold in this country. There is no doubr
IN the minds of the committee that large
amounts of imported goods are sold in
this country. the sale Of which goods
H.. Is
which they come"
The committee gives Some n,ari,o I,
stances Of tbs unwholCsone and ,Iniust
competition which reputable American
dealers and manufacturers have 10 meet
ana recommends the establishment of
standards Of purity for various articles
and the establishment at ports OF entr,
or inexpensive examinations and tests "a
determine whether imports come I'D 10
these standards.
The House Committee on Public Lands
yesterday reported favorably on the bill
giving 10 soldiers OF sailors who served in
the Spanish or Philippine wars an allow
ance OF their time Of service on anv home
stead entry they may have made. Favor
able action also was taken on a bill Of
Representative Waters, Of California
amending the act as 10 the prevention of
forest fres on the public domain BY max
ing the restrictions severer and turning
over the iines 10 the public school fund of
the counties where the fire occurs
The Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations yesterday agreed 20 report favor
ably the treaty between the United Sta-es
and Great Britain prescribing conditions
for the regulation of estates OF American
citizens who die in Great Britain. and Of
British subjects who die in the United
states. The Hay-Pauncefote treaty was
not considered
The bin imposing a tariff Of Is rer cent
upon Porto Rican imports which passed
the House yesterday and now goes 10
the Senate for action, including ali
amendments follows:
An act temporarily 10 provide revenue
for the island OF Porto Rico and for
other purposes
Whereas, The people OF Porto Rico