The Washington times., 1902-03-23
DR.. WILEY DESCRIBES
BOGUS COFFEE BEANS
Compositions Nodded Intothe
Form of the Berry.
Mocha and Java Sold in Every Store in
Country, While But Trifling Per-
ceItage Is Imported.

DR.. II. w. Wiley. chemist of the De-
partment of Agriculture, concluded his
arguments in behalf of the Hepburn pure
food bill before the House Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce yester-
day.
He declared that the Hepburn bill was
| for the protection of the farmer, and in
restraint OF the manufacturing trust and
/ that the Corliss bills purpose was the
notification of the State pure food laws.
Facts About Coffee
DR.. Wiley took occasion to give the
| committee some valuable and interest
ing information in regard to coffee and
its adulteration. He said that of all the
coffee imported into the United States
only S1a per cent comes from Asia and
the East Indies in which he included
Java and Arab,a the latter being the
home of the o. II cal Mocha coffee. Not
withstanding this fact he said it is pos
sible to buy what is represented to be
pure Java and Mocha in almost any store
in the country. Practically none of this,
he said. ever saw Java or Arabia. In
comes from Brazil. 1t is worth at whole
sale, roasted, but 3 cents a pound and
should not be sold at retail for more than
Is cents. yet upon representation that
il is real Java and Mocha purchasers
are compelled to pay 40 cents a pound for
it. The Brazilian coffee he thought
equally good, but he complained
against the deception which doubled the
cost to the consumer. DR.. Wiley ex-
hibited samples of Brazilian and Java
and Mocha coffees, and explained their
differences. He also exhibited various
limitations of coffee, some made from
cereals and molasses. and one made from
peas and sawdust and nodded in the
shape of coffee beans. DR.. Wiley said at
times when coffee is high he had found
% per cent OF this imitation in coffee sold
as Java and Mocha. He thought the
Hepburn bill. by compelling the labelling
OF all goods exactly what they are, would
prevent all such frauds.
Dr. Wiley said the measure would not
and he did not advocate any measure
which would interfere with any trade or
industry. He believed a man should not
be prohibited by law from eating or
drinking anything he desired. but he
should know. when buying, exactly what |
he was getting. and all goods should be
sold upon their merits.
No Interference With Trade.
Dr. Wiley said that the advocates of the |
Corliss bill were seeking to defeat any |
legislation which would interfere with |
the commerce in adulterated foods. None |
of them would admit that their products
were deleterious. The object OF the Cor
liss law was to nullify the State pure
food laws. He thought it would be very
unwise to have a Commissioner or even
the Secretary of Agriculture approve
formula which q manufacturer could use
as an advertisement. and then be i'm
mune from punishment for the sale of
manufactured under that for
mula Under the Hepburn bill only the
would be certified to, and
that would scarce be used as an adver-
tisement. DR.. Wiley explained at some
length the administrative features OF the
Hepburn bill. In advocating the measure
he said il was the purpose of the Secre-
tary of Agriculture. if 1t becomes law,
to cooperate with the State Food Com
missioners.