Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-06
DOCTOR OUR WHISTLES
Manufacture Of Beverages
Abroad for Foreign Use.
DIR. WILEY'SI NsPECTION
ISL CONSUMERS RIGHTS.
Any Kind Of Manipulation Allowed
When the Goods Are to Be Sent
From the Country.
DIR. WILEY'S INSPECTION

DIR. Wiley, chief of the bureau of chem
istry of the Department of Agriculture, has
prepared an interesting report on his in
spection of the methods employed In the
manufacture of beverages abroad
The distillers of Scotch whisky rarely
ship goods directly to the United States.
The whole of the product is practically
taken by the so-called blenders. by them
1t is mixed with what is known as grain
or silent" spirit, distilled In Great Britain
from Indian corn imported from the United
States.
There is a good deal of pure Irish whisky
that is, unblended or unmixed, exported to
the United States. There are, however,
large blending and mixing houses, especial
ly in Belfast, where Irish whisky is mixed
with the kind of grain spirit above de-
scribed
The large distilleries both in Burton and
in Dublin use nothing in the manufacture
of beer except barley malt and hops
1t is provided that coloring matter In
fluid state may be added to British spirits
for home consumption In the proportion OF
one pint to each eighty gallons. 1t is very
different. however, when the goods are TO
be sent to other countries. The law allows
any admixture whatever the merchant,
mixer or compOunder may see tit to use IN
preparing spirits for foreign markets.
The British regulations conserve careful
ly certain rights of the British consumer,
but legalize any kind of manipulation
whatever when the goods are to be sent on
board ships or to foreign countries.
Certificates Should Be Required.
Under our law goods bottled In the spe-
ciaI warehouses for export should be ex-
cluded from our ports. The law is explicit
In prescribing that nothing shall be i'm
ported which is forbidden in sale or re-
stricted in sale in the country from which
1t comes certificate before our consuls
to the effect that the goods covered by the
invoice are bottled In warehouses where
goods are prepared for British consumption
should be required, DR.. Wiley maintains:
In regard to labels on bottles the Brit
ish regulations give the merchant free
hand He may use any form of label or
statement he likes, except that he must
not ascribe any responsibility to the inland
revenue.
The German law permits the addition of
sugar to the must before fermentation In
order to increase the alcoholic contents OF
the product. 1t also allows the addition
of alcohol TO the wine after the fermenta-
ton is completed. 1t does not appear that
the fabrication of ARTIFICIAL wines, further
than In the manner above named, Is prac-
ticed to an extent threatening the character
of commerce by the German winemakers.
Honest Effort in France.
Good wines are abundant and cheap in
southwestern France, and 1t does not ap-
pear that artificial wines are made except
for home consumption. For this purpose
the French law permits the use of sugar
with the pomace FOR making cheap wine
for the workmen, but not for export.
At the present time we are largely de-
pendent upon the integrity of the merchants
for the character of the brandjes secured.
Everywhere 1t was found that manufac-
turers and merchants are intensely inter-
ested In the inspection laws of this coun-
try, and In most cases they are endeavor-
ing to the best of their ability to con-
form to the provisions of the law. New
products are made in conformity with
these provisions, and they are refraining
from sending old products which do not
comply with them.