Washington sentinel., 1901-03-16

cultural Department.
When the Agricultural Appro
priation bill was under considera-
ton an amendment was made to it
which NAV hereafter prove a
source Of the greatest annoyance
to brewers in one oil its provisions,
and an annoyance and loss to inn
porteIs of liquors in another.
The amendment, which is in
cluded under the appropriations
for the Bureau OF Chemistry and
carries S3I 600, reads as follows:
To investigate the adulteration OF
foods, drugs, and liquors, when deemed
by the Secretary Of Agriculture adylsa
BILE; and the Secretary Of Agriculture,
whenever he has reasons to believe that
articles are being imported from foreign
countries which are dangerous to the
health OF the people OF the United States,
shall make a re quest upon the Secretary
ofthe Ire asurY for sa mples from original
packages of such articles for inspection
and analysis; and the Secretary OF the
Treasury is hereby authorized to open
such original packages and deliver
specimens to the Secretary of ARricul-
ture for the purpose meutione d, giving
notice to the owner or consignee of such
articles, who NAV be present and have
the right to introduce testimony; and
the Secretary OF the treasury shall
refuse delivery TO the constgnee of any
such goods which the Secretary OF
Agriculture reports TO rim have been
inspected and analysed and found to be
dangerous to health.
The authority conferred in this
section may be divided into two
parts; first, it provides Tor an in
vestigation OF foods, drugs and
HqaOrS, when deemed by the Sec
retary OF Agriculture advisable,
whether OF home manufacture or
imported. There is nothing in the
FIRST part OF this section which can
prohibit the Secretary OF Agricu!
ture, whenever he is so inclined,
from instituting an investigation
into the component parts OF beer,
nor does it appear as il it were in
tended to interpose obstacles to
such action.
II he wishes to give a semblance
OF excuse for ordering an investi-
cation into the quality OF beer, he
has only to persuade himself, from
personal examination or upon the
report of his subordinates, that
beer is adulterated, and he then
has specIhc authority to open up
publicly the ent re subject of the
adulteration OF beer, or he may
pursue his researches in secret,
selecting his own samples, m aking
his own analyses and drawing his
own conclusions, without consult
ing in any particular the brewer
whose product is undergoing ex-
animation, and Without giving him
an opportunity to be present or to
be heard in his own defense; and
he may finally. regardless OF the
diversity OF opinion that exists as
to the use OF su bstitutes, adulter-
ants and preservatiVes, submit his
eT PayEe report to Congress, or
make it public in advance Of the
meeting ofthat body, to the injury,
If he is So inclined, OF whomsoever
he pleases. This he may do under
pretence OF excuse; he may do the
same without any pretext whatso
ever and whenever the public well
fare or private pique or profit may
dictate.
This is certainly a most remark
able power, indeiensible on any
ground, and assuredly not excus-
able on the assumption that the
Secretary will not abuse the au-
thority intrusted to him. 1t is a
dangerous power to place in the
hands OF any man. It's one saving
feature is that il does not specifi.
cally confer authority on him to
establish standards for food and
drink products nor impose penal.
ties for their infraetion.
Indire ;tlY, however, he does es-
tablish such standards, as it is
within his power to say what in
gradients are deleterious and what
are not, and consequently that
food or beverages containing the
former ingredients are all right and
those containing the latter are all
wrong. A careful reading OF the