The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-03


bearing different labels to conform to
the laws of different states They saw
also that if a package of baking powder
bore several pastors to comply with the
varying state laws, the label and trade
mark would be greatly obscured, if not
entirely obliterated. These objections APP
pear reasonable. The high quality of
such powders is well known, and com
merce in wholesome articles should be
encouraged rather than hampered
Moreover, the makers of alum powders
are enabled to evade the spirit of the
law by substituting for the word alum"
such scientific terms as aluminium,
etc, !" sodium aluminium suiphate," the
meaning of which is not generally under
have been arrested for selling powders
containing alum, under that clause Of the
law which prohibits the sale of a powder
containing any ingredient which is dee
FERROUS or injurious to the public health.
But the most effective law against such
evils would be one specifically and posi-
lively prohibiting the use of alum, FOR
maldehyde, salicylic acid. boric acid
boraX and other injurious substances, in
any articles used as, or in the prepara-
ton Of food or drink. under penalty of
prevent the sale of Injurious substances
Tor and in connection with food prepara-
tons, and be clearly beneficial to the
pubhc. 1t could be much more easily
what substances are considered as in
furious would be largely eliminated
JELLIES.
The markets are nooued with adulter
ated 1elies, most of which are an abom-
nation. The cheaper grades are made
are colored and favored with anime
dyes. They possess but little value as
an article of food, or even as a relish
Inc use aniiihe dyes IN food prepara-
lions Is dangerous, as some of them are
rank poison and liable to do great deal
of harm.
The law which requires adulterated jel-
~ to be labeled with the words mixture
and adulterated," should be So amended
as to include marnalade, preserves. jams
and fruit buffers, since some manu- ac-
turers are putting UP adultera ted jelli $
under these names in order to evade
the law.
HONEY.
Several parties have been arrested and
fined for violation of the law in relation
Ia the sale of compounded or adulterated
| money. The law would be more effective
and of easier enforcement if section )
were amended by dropping the conclud-
ing phrase, "or both such fac and In
prisonment," so that justices of the peace
might nave jurisdiction to t.y caS5S aris-
ing under it.
SPICES AND CONDIMENTS.
Probably no article used in the prep
aration of food adulterated so generally
or to such an extent as are spices. The
tdi1r o. Of such .adulte-ations IS de-
not be repeated here.
LARD
.AduIterated lard and lard substitutes.
| like oleomargarine, are manufactured
chlefy by the great packing companies.
Objection is urged by them against the
proVlSo to section TO- which exc mpts cot
tolene, when labeled as such, from the
operation of the law relating to lard COM
pounds and substitutes. They say that
cottolene is as much entitled to he claSs-
lElYISI orl6 -. Tad
rs IS their product, which is composa "a
of the same materials the only differ
ence being that the makers of cottolene
have the exclusive right to the use of
| the name The objection appears so rea-
sonable that there ought not to be a5y
doubt about the legislatures duty in the
premises.
Such quantities of lard substitute AID
adulterated lard not labeled, as required
by law, We're found upon the market that
the price of genuine lard was forced be-
low the. cost of production Small pre-
ducers of home-rendered lard We're co1l-
PEELED to adulterats their product with
beef and mutton tallow in order to com
pete, with the large. manufactures OF
the bogus article. 1t had come to such
Il pass that but little genuine lard was
offered for sale, and the purchaser was
always in doubt as to which Of tie two
he was getting. The inspectors gave the
paratively biief time the situation was
changed Twenty three presons were
convicted and fined and the manufa ctur-
crs of adultdrate lard and lard sub sti-
tutes promptly complied with the law by
labelling their goods in such manner as
to disclose their true character.
WHITE LEAD AND MIXED PAINTS.
The law of 1898 "to prevent the adul-
teration of, and deception in, the sale OF
white lead and mixed paints, which
rightly enforced. The reputable manu-
facturers promptly comp led with the
! law, but few makers of cheap go IDS
put enough Of theft wares On the mark t
without labelling. them according TO law
so. that twenty persons have been c0n-
vtcted and fired under it.
The words. or both at the. conc, u ion
Of the penal clause IN section 1 ought to
be struck out so that justices eff the
peace might have iurisdi ction tot per-
sons charged with violating its prov
Sions
LtNsEBD OIL.
effect in April. 1897, and the state dairy
and food commissioner was charged with
its enforcement but no mention Is made
OF it in his biSnni3f report Of 1S9i-5S9S.
Inspector McConnellr was directed ID
give special attention to its enforcement.
a large number of samples WHICH ne
gathered and submitted TIC the chemist
for analysis proved to be In compliant e
j f.inSeed Oil company, of Chicago, which
were aduterated with mineral oil. Ten
convictions have been had for violation
of this law and other cases are pending.
The law upon this subject D. oaibi. s.
by implication at least the sale of a Y
bat pure iinSeed oil. even to the eX5 lu-
sion of boied linseed oil pure, with the
exception of what is commonly known
as dryers, which arc mixed with 1t In
order to avoid the expense and danger
of boiling to very high temperature as
formerly.
! Objection has been urged against the
validity of the law on the ground that
| the United Stats pharu1acopia test, which
it prescribed, is definite, the same be-
| ing changed With each rev sion of the
book.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The annual appropriation for the en-
which the state dairy and food COM
mission is charged. ought to be increaS-
ed by the sum of $4,000.
If all fines collected for violation of
said laws were paid over the county
treasurer of the county where such Of
tense is COMMUNICATION the benefit of the
| common schools thereof. it would be an
Involvement to every citizen to discover
the guilty parties. Much objection is
heard against the present disposition of
| such fines.
The legislature seems to have regard
! ed this depal tment as OF minor import
| ance in comparison with others. 1t is
! crowded into cramped quarters so To-
! Gated that they have to be artiflcially
| lighted during office hours Much smaller
| salaries are paid in it than in other de
| partments. The commissioner receives
but $1.S00 per year. which is less than
! that paid many of the deputies in other
! departments. The salary of the commits
| sioner ought to be commensurate with
! tie duties and responsibilities of the
| Office and | would recommend that it he
/ increased to $500, that of the assistant
| commissioner and chemist to 81 800 each
/