New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-20
A PURE FOOD STANDARD.
PLANS OF GOVERNMENT.
Viii Soon Haze a Pozcerful TVeap0n
Against Adulterated ProGucts.

ticaily completed the formulation Of requirements
for three important classes Of edibles, and IN a
short powerful weapon will be made effective
against all authorizations of domestic food prod
The statutory authorization Of this I'M
portant reform. like that prohibiting the importa-
ton OF improperly labelled foods. liquors and
drugs, which was exclusively announced In The
Tribune last Thursday, appears in the current
Agricultural Appropriation bill approved by the
President on March 8. This clause, drawn by the
chief chemist Of the Department Of Agriculture
DR.. Harvey W. Wiley and urged by Secretary
Wilson. saved from the wreck of the National
Pure Food bill killed by the great corporate in
dustries in the last session of Congress- only TO
be inserted a rider in the departmental appro-
priation the last hours of legislation. when
it escaped the attention of its antagonists. and
unknown the public well to a large ma
jority of Congressman. was enacted into law.
While Dr. Wiley protests that there was nothing
surreptitious about the passage Of this law 1t Is
known that there many members Of Congress
who were opposed to the establishment of an Of
/ fetal standard by which to Judge the purity OF
manufactured food products. and 1t is doubtful II
the chief of the bureau of chemistry would have
been able make such long stride toward pure
foods purport Of the innocent appearing
clause in the Agricultural bin had been fully ap-
precated IN fact, so strong was the opposition
that Senator McCumber who is ardent advocate
OF pure food legislation explained TO a represen-
tative of The Tribune that he felt constrained to
omit the provisions for such a standard from his
Pure Food bill. for fear it would jecpardize the
success of the measure in the Senate.
LAW AUTHORIZING THE STANDARD.
The clause in the Agricultural Appropriation bill,
which heretofore has been known to only a rev
officials. is as follows:
To enable the Secretary Of Agriculture, IN col,
laboration with the Association OF Agricultural
Chemists and such ether experts as ne may oe for
food products and determine what are reg2rded
as authorizations therein, for the guidance OF the
various States and Of the courts of justice
Acting under this provision. DR.. Wiley, Dr. Will
lam Frear, Of the State College of pennsylvania
(chairman): Dr.. E. H Jenkins. director OF the
Agricultural Experiment Station at NeW-HaVeh'
Conn; NJ A. Scoveu. director of the Agricultural
Experiment Station at Lexington, KY. and A. h
Weber, professor Of agricultural chemistry al the
University Of Ohio, at Columbus, nave oeeh IN
conference Washington for some time ana nave
thus far completed and prepared to report TO
the Secretary of Agriculture the standards OF
purity for meats and meat products milk ana milk
products. spices and condiments and combinations
thereof. Their report will be submitted TO oecre-
tary Wilson when he returns to Washington with
the President on June 3, and will presumably be
promulgated by the Secretary on July l. when
the new law goes into effect
Other classes Of food products now under con-
sideraton are cereals and products thereof, which
schedule Is nearly completed, and salad ana tapIe
oils The entire category of edbIes viii be consid-
cred seriatim, and a standard fixed for each. Inc
last TO be taken up viii be beverages, lncIuuIHs
fermented and distilled liquors. mineral waters
I
there is no provision the ,aw imposing penalties
for the manufacture sale OF aduiteiated goouS,
the esta bshment of official standard Is resaIueu
as a long step in the right direction. Many states
have pure food laws already. but are confronted
With dif7cuty in enforcing them because there is
no competent standard which may be introduces
in court rs proof of the presence OF aduiterahCs
or filters is realized that an oficiaI sId1A4H
prepared by the most expert chemists IN the couh-
try and promulgated by the Secretary OF Agrl-
culture will prove evidence OF great Wt!5t ~ CO
pSrison "a Of the utmost assistance to prosecuting
attorneys and others who have occasion 10 NISPUe
the putty Of any food product
WILL AID THE PRODUCERS.
n 117i,,, ea,5 to-day that there was no DISPOSE
| tim on the mart Of Secretary Wilson OF himself to
place obstacles in the of legitimate trace anu
that manufacturers of every class OF goous 10Y
which standard Of purity was established "ou4u
be consulted and have opportunity to present any
objections they might desire offer TO the conten-
plated ANALYSES. On other hand the departn nj
believed that the proposed step would prove OF lhe
utmost value to the producers and @ a o.
competition and establish public commence IN tea
| goods Not only have manufacturers witnl9 me
United States been consulted. but foreign STANDARDS
OF purfty-notaby those OF Great b[iIsn an I'D
tria have been used as pasls OF "a 80, 90
fifty foreign referees have osen caleu upon de
In operation the new law will enable those on
whom The necessity of judging to the purity OF
snv edible devoIves to determine whether foreign
substances OF harmless character or otherwise are
present to an extent constituting adulteration
it is recognized fact that the pressure or conlpe-
pure food laws. resulted In the addiI0a o!
harmless but cheap substances, known as hlers.
10 many food products, with view 10 increasing
their bulk without adding materially to the cost
Substances is almost inevitable where food products
aGether these ngreents are present
/ such an extent 10 warrant decision that me
/ goods are aduiterated, the purity sLAndaIu Will
| prove of inestimable assistance
SOME FRAUDULENT PRODUCTS
There is another class Of goods which it is most
desirable to exclude from commerce. however, both
for the health the public and for the reputation
| Of American manufacturers. In this may De IN
Guided the various fruit Jelles made from apple
pomace the refuse of the cider mills with perhaps
three raspberries to the jar Of .-raspbeTTy Jam
etc also the fruit buffers made from saccharine'
glucose, etc, and which are soIu 70 tne p29reI
trade labelled suit the demands of the Individual
substances actually Injurious health. but all
frauds, purportng to be other than they are Enu.
immature digestive apparatus, they almost InVara
/ bly, command larger price than they are worth
! from a nutritive point Of view.
Products adulterated with preservatives, such as
boracic acid alum formaltne etc especially rnii i
products. may be materially affected by TINS
law; for the reason that the presence OF + saC 10
already Illegal: nevertheless. the standard OF purity
avail themselves Of such chemical preserVatlVes IN
there IS no class extensively nor so tnjuriousy
adulterated beverages. In fact, many liquors
contain no trace of the product they purpOrt to be-
and these win be especially affected by the standard
which will be promuigated by the 9 SEE o.
of purity will be followed by the enactment Of ade
! Where such do not now exist is the confident pre-
dction of those Interested in the subject and that
| more easily obtainabe is the firm belief Of the
! officials who have the matter in charge
SOUTHPORT NATIONAL BANK CLOSED.