, 1906-02-23
NO CHANCE
FOR TEST
STATE PURE FOOD COMMISSION.
Err TRYING To GET AT eRoc.
ERiEs ORDERED BY MAIL.
Ranchmen and Others BUYING
Goods from Travelling Statesmen to
Furnish Samples for Analysis by
the State Chemist at University
Not Knowing What They Buy.


The state of Wyoming is trying to
rid the commonwealth of the mail or
DER pest, working through the state
chemist and the pure food, dairy and
oil inspector. Hon. E. w. Burke, the
pure food commissioner, had a long
consultation yesterday afternoon with
Prof, H. G. knight, the state chemist,
at the university, as a result of which
lthey are prepared to proceed against
the %so-called mail order" houses of the
east in the only way open to them.
Cannot Get Samples.
MIR. Burke says large quantities of
groceries and food products are receiv-
ed by freight. The agents of the COM
panies visit the farming communities
of the state, taking orders for almost
everything the ranchmen and farmers
need, which orders are filled and ship
ped directly to the Consumer giving
the commissioner no chance to secure
samples. The laws of the state a
reach the goods on the shelves of the
local grocers, but they will not reach
the pantries and larders of the con-
sumers, and the officials are powerless
to test the food products sent here
from the eastern houses. Tests are
made of all food products sold by local
merchants, and Mr.. Burke SAYS they
are reasonably free from adulteration.
Appeals to Purchaser.
In order to get some idea of what
is coming to town uninspected, SO far
as the state pure 1ood commissioner is
concerned, Mr.. Burke has sent an APP
peal to the country people to submit
samples TO State Chemist Knight in
order that tests may be made. The
chemist will make the same report on
these that is made on the products
bought in the local markets, and they
will be marked accordingly. The laws
are satisfactory if the tests can be
made, and much that is injurious has
been relegated by the local merchants.
Groceries Selling Better Stuff.
1t is conceded by local grocers and
handlers of packing house products
that vast quantities of such goods are
coming by freight and express directly
to the consumers, and they are power
less to check the increase in this class
of business. They submit samples of
everything they sell and advertise the
result of the tests made by the state
chemist, throwing out that which is pro-
nounced unfit for food, The law con-
corning labels is fairly well enforced.
and the state officers are gradually
reaching every part of the state. Mr..
Burke believes there is less harmful
ad~ulteration in the food products sold
in the regular way in the state than ev-
er before, the only trouble he fears be
ing from this mail order business,
where there is no requirement appli-
cable to the seller that the buyer is
bound to respect.
Senate Passes Pure Food Bill.
The following dispatch was sent from
Washington:
After fifteen years of more or less
serious consideration of the subject,
the senate today passed a pure food
bill by the decisive vote of CO to 4. The
vote was taken after a day devoted al
most exclusively to debate of a desul,
tory character on the measure. Sew.
eral efforts were made to amend the
bill and the committee accepted a num-
Der of suggestions, but only those thus
accepted were incorporated in the bill
as passed.
The bill makes it a misdemeanor to
manufacture or sell adulterated or mis-.
branded foods, drugs, medicines or LID
uors in the District of Columbia, the
territories and the insular possessions
of the United States and prohibits the
shipment of such goods from one state
to another or to another country. 1t
also prohibits the receipt of such
goods. Punishment by fine of $500 or
by Imprisonment for one year or both,
is prescribed.
Provisions for Investigations.
In the case of corporations, officials
in charge are made responsible. The
treasury department and the depart
ments of agriculture and of commerce
and labor are required to agree upon
regulation of the articles covered by
the bill, but no specific provision is
made for investigation except by the
department of agriculture. The inves-
legations by that department are plac-
ed in the hands of the chief of the
bureau Of chemistry and if he finds that
the law has been violated the secretary
of agriculture is required to report the
facts to the United States district at
torney, who in turn is required to in
%stitute proceedings in the federal
courts. The bill also defines foods.
drugs, medicines and liquors and also