The Jersey City news., 1906-03-12
Timely Lenten Subject 0c-
cupies Congress Which Is
Busy On the Pure Food
Bill
STRAIGHT WHISKEY WON
PROVISION THAT ALCOHOLIC
PATENT MEDICINES MUST DE
CLARE THEIR INGREDIENTS
WILL DRIVE MANY OUT OF
BUSINESS.

WASHINGTON, March IL, 1906
Pure food at all hazards is the cry of the
men who are interested in the effort that
is being made to get the bill through the
present session of Congress. 1t is rather
curious, however, that the sacred cod
fish, of New England will have protec-
tion and be relieved from the operations
of the measure if it becomes law. 1t
will be the only instance of food pro-
duct exempted from the provisions that
prohibit the use of preseryatives. In
spite Of the fact that Professor Harvey
w. Wiley declares that horax is injur
ious to health the Goldfish can still be
preserved by this method
This concession was made to Senator
Lodge, the friend of the President, who
insisted that an important industry
would be ruined if it We're not made and
no longer would fish cakes" grace the
table of the aristocratic Bostonese or the
humble dweIler of Cape Cod if borax
could not be used as preservative.
Therefore Goldfish "a la borax" is all
right, but "corned beef aux saltpeter' is
tabooed. This preservative cannot be
used ip ham or bacon or in any other
meat, intended for use in this country.
The conscience of the committee was
eased by the fact that Goldfish had to be
washed before it was cooked, and much
of the borax would therefore be elimi-
mated.
The pure food bill will result in much
being known as to the composition of
patent and proprietary medicines. The
bill provides that all patent medicines
which contain alcohol must specify ON the
label exactly how much alcohol is con-
tanned in the preparation, and that all
preparations containing opium must also
state how much of it there is in the prep,
aration. 1t will result in many of the
makers of patent medicines being obliged
to go out of business, it is believed. In
the fight about whiskies the straight
whiskey'' advocates won out in the COM
mittee. The bill will permit of the use
of coloring and favoring ingredients for
whiskies, but specifies that blended whis-
kies must bear on the label the word,
ssblend, compounds or mixture"
Grocers will not like the section which
requires that the weight and quantity Of
everything sold in packages must be
plainly stamped on each package. This
will do away with the pound package"
which contains twelve ounces, and the
quart bottle that is shy in measurement.
The alum baking powder companies have
had the b.4l carefully examined fearing
there might be Joker which would
hurt their business, but as vet they have
not been able TO discover one.
There win be lot of discussion over
the provision in the legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill when it
comes up in the House. This will-be due
to the provision which deals with the
question of superannuated clerks in the
departments. 1t prohibits the payment
of more than 81, 400 to clerks who are
65; of 81, 200 to clerks of 6S, and of $500
to clerks of 20. There is also a para
graph which provides that when the
clerks arrive at the age of 20 years they
shall be dismissed outright from the SER
vice. Mr.. Tawney, of the appropria-
/ tions committee, wants the provision
adopted, but it will probably meet with
considerable opposition.
Senator Smoot will make a determined
| fight to hold his seat ga the Senate. 1t
! is understood that the committee will
stand 8 to 4 against Smoot Senator
DdiAey,4 tiit lJtiioSAal4S tSSluSI; CVuteiiuo
that the only way in which he can be de-
| priyed of his seat is BY expulsion, and
jsthis will require two-thirds vote. Fl
! this method shall be taken TO dispose Of
the case, there is some doubt as 10 the
two-thirds being available. Mr.. Burrows
contends that he may be excluded, and
this could be done by . mere majority
! vote. There is a disposition on the part
Of some Of the Republican Senators to
allow the matter to drag along until the
next session Of Congress-. Meanwhile,
Mr.. Smcot will get lot Of witnesses
here to appear before the committee, be
ginning March 26, and there win be d
number Of hearings IN the case.
/ While the Indian appropriation bill is
before the House, this week The great