The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-27
CALL 1T SPITE WORK.
Is Food Inspector FarnswOrth
Trying to Retaliate.

Trying 10 h0IAiiaJes
Food Inspector ]. P. Farnsworth re-
ceived a temporary check in his plan
TO regulate the sale of renovated butter
in Topeka. The board of health and
health and sanitation committee in
joint session last night voted to lay
Mr.. FarnswOrth's proposed ordinance
on the table until the board has time
to visit the renovated butter depart
ment of the Continental Creamery ana
see the process used at that plant.
Ostensibly the ordinance is intended
simply to prohibit the substitution OF
renovated butter for country butter by
grocers. The Continental Creamery
claims that the ordinance is spite
work" calculated by Food Inspector
Farnsworth to arouse public sentiment
against renovated butter, in retalia-
ton for the fight which the Continental
Creamery people made on Farnsworth
last fall.
rs there anything injurious in this
renovated butter?" asked one of the
members of the committee of Mr..
Farnsworth last night.
Il don't like to say while the news
paper reporters are present. replied
Mr.. Farnsworth-
newspapers should know" said Dr.
Ryder.
''Wen. there's borax in it, said Mr..
Farnsworth IT had the butter tested
test showed borax. 1 consider oleo-
margarine a good deal better than rem
ovated butter; L wouldn't eat renovated
butter
j. H Curran, representing the Con-
tinental creamery, was present. He
said:
There is absolutely nothing in this
renovated butter which is injurious to
health. I consider that it is even purer
than the creamery butter, because the
processes through which it goes takes
out every bit of impurity. I hope that
the board of health will go right into
some grocery store, buy a sample of our
renovated butter, and submit it to Prof.
Lovewell for his examination. We will
abide by his decision"
MIR. Curran then described in some
detail the process of the manufacture
of renovated butter. lie said:
by building up this renovated but
ter business in Topeka we give employ
ment to about rs people in this depart
to the farmers of Kansas a market for
their surplus butter, which prior to this
they have had to sell for three or four
cents a pound, or else dump into the
soap grease. Now they get from IL to
Is cents for this butter. We invite the
council to come to our plant and IN
spect the process"
1t seems to be a serious question in
the minds of pure food experts and
chemists whether borax in limited
quantities is injurious to health. 1t is
known to be fact that the United
States exports millions of dollars worth
of meat which contains borax. and so
far the pure food authorities have not
interfered. The committee is anx-
ious to avoid injuring in any
way the business of the Continen-
tai Creamery company, but at the same
time it is DESTROYS to devising some way
to prevent dishonest grocers from sub
stituting renovated butter for country
butter, a practice which is followed TO
-4-r,f OF
stated last night that about 700 pounds
of renovated butter are eaten in Topeka
Will BE UNDER ORDERS.
In spite of the protests of Food In5pec-
tor Farnsworth, the board of health and
health and sanitation committee voted
last night to include in the new food in
spection ordinance a clause placing Farms
worth under the control and direction OF
Mr. Farnsworth objected to this. He
said that part of his work was in weigh
ures and he could not see why the. board
of health should take charge OF such
things elqgs aor.+ want - ,ntarfars VIII, your
work. said DIR. Menninger to Mr. FARMS
worth. IAN we want is TO pat tho re-
sponsibility for pure food where II be-
longs, on the board of health. - ne board
of health has right to inspect AMI cen
not the food supply? The board Is the
which should be responsible. de.l
think it viii involve Changing any of Mr.
Farnsworth's duties The only thing is
that he will make reports to us and we
will be able to decide what will be done
Mr. Farnsworth proposed as substi-
tute for the plan to make him subordi-
nate to the board that the board be given
advisory capacity for his department. But
as there was nothing to compel Mr..
Farnsworth to accept the boards advice.
this suggestion did not take" very well
The joint committee last night consld-
cred the revised health department ordi-
nance, which places the. city. physician
under the control of the board, and also
the milk inspection ordinance THESE or
dinances VIII be reported back to the
city council Monday night with the rec
ornmendation that they be passed.
1t now appears that Topeka is to at
Lea st axe some real health laws.