Sunday morning globe., 1901-11-24
Writes on the Evil Of Hasty Con-
greSSiOnal Laws.
AN INJUSTICE TO RETAILERS
A Fair, Honest and Lucid Statement oi Tho
Grievances Of tho Retail Dealers VI the
Capital City - Illustrations Given Of tho
HardshIps OF tho Law on tho Food Adult
eratlonS.
Do M EpIroR or In GLonE:

iects" Of the United States, residing
and doing business in the Capital city
of same; in having no representative,
to look after their interests in Con
gress, where laws are made to govern
them, in respect to their business; and
now (grocers) experiencing the most
unjust law" ever enacted, viz, An act
approved February II, 1898, strictly
carried out in Police Court regardless
of any and all circumstances in cOnnec-
ton with cases brought up by the
authorities; should be an incentive to
organization on their part, to accom-
plish by any honorable means protec-
tion to the honest, upright mer-
chants" A Food Law" is necessary,
it cannot be too strict, but let that law
punish the guilty not the innocent
vendor.
In the Police Court November T.
grocer proved he bought what he
thought to be apple cider, producing
receip' alling for same, yet he was
fined.
If the retail grocers will not organ
ize, engage a first-class lawyer to have
this Low cunning act" modified by
Congress, they viii one and all have
the reputation Of cheats, swindlers,
etc, be mulcted time after time and
finally land i'm the clutches Of the $780,
100000 grocery trust.
According to the ruling so far, in
respect to milk, cider. cider vinegar
olive oil. plain vinegar. etc. it matters
not what guarantee the retailer has
from the wholesale merchant or manu-
facturer, the simple fact of selling
the article, although in good faith,
he, the retailer, is fined and published
as a dishonest dealer, and injured ac-
cordingly.
It is charitable to believe that this
act was passed in the hurry Of the
numerous bills passed at that session,
and so an amendment to act Of SD
! Congress, in which section 6, distinct
ly says, viz, THAT no person shall
! knowingly offer or have for sale" etc,
that the word knowingly was accident.
ally left out, otherwise, you must be.
lieve, that it was low cunning perpe-
trated by the lobbists Of the trusts,
now paving the way for their entrance
into the District of Columbia.
According to the ruling, as carried
out by Judge Kimball under this act, a
grocer would be fined for selling
bread made and furnished by a local
baker. If it contains more than 81
pr cent. Of moisture, and the baker
would go scot free.
Now, in the same act, in the case
Of adulterated drugs, If the defendant
can prove that he purchased for pure,
and has written warranty to that ef-
] Foot ho ba dfeobovood Fvop, Fho r,voeo-
cution.
A grocer is liable for every article
Of food in his store, it matters not how
much he paid for it, how many guar
antees he has from manufacturers or
wholesale dealers, the simple fact Of
! having the article for sale is convic-
tion, If no marked or purchaser told,
it is adulterated. He pays the pure
pricel believes it to be so, can he sell
it, if he marks adulterated? What is
ne to do?
Why this discrimination between
drugs and food as to liability and
above ALL why fine a grocer If salicylic
acid is in his cider, the chemist the
Judge, the district attorney, and the
community know beyond the shadow
OF a doubt that no grocer would dare
put it in, yet the grocer is branded
the real guilty person go free,
If counterfeit money was found in
a grocer's possession, It would be
traced to its owner, and the guilty
punished. II the grocer was an inno-
cent possessor, he would not be held.
Salicylic acid can be traced easier
than counterfeit money, and there is
a law in every state against 1t, also in
the states the laws read, who shall
knowingly sell.
The fact remains, however, that this
! act allows for a construction to be put
! upon 1t that is inconsistent with COM
mon sense, much less justice, it can
only be remedied by organization, and
! the services of one at least of our lead
! ing members Of the bar Congress is
| about to convene, If the grocers in
tend to act in the matter they had bet
ter move at once,
Assistant District Attorney Pugh's
report Of cases last year, viz, violating
| food law, 80 cases; selling unwhole-
! some food, q violating flour law. q;
violating milk law, 10; with the same
act In force since February H. 1898.
The numoer Of forfeitures Of cOllat.
eral and convictions and especially the
names Of the grocers unjustly convict
ed under this ruling since July L. 1901,
would astonish the public, nearly all
innocent of intent
In conclusion l would suggest to the
| grocers that in every case when con-
victed they publish in the local papers
the name Of the firm, city, state. and
copy Of guarantee (even IL they have
to pay for such publicaton). By do.
| ing so, we can help each other and
cripple. If not drive out OF business
the dishonest producers who are
branding us for their acts. II so pub
lished our reputable wholesale mer.
chants will not handle their goods
they are as innocent as you are, until
after analysis.
CHAs. J. MoGuL.