Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-06-30
A BLOW TO
MARYLAND
Congressman Thomas A. Smith
Attacks Certain Features Of
Food Bill Before Congress In
Interest of Maryland Farmers
And Gamers.

Hon. Thomas A. Smith attacked the
features of the Food Bill in Congress
last Friday which were detrimental to
the farmers and Gamers of this State
and he had much to do with the favor
able outcome of the Legislation passed
on Saturday by the House.
Mr.. Smith referred to the high rank
Of Maryland as an agricultural State.
and to the great variety of soil and eli
mate that has combined to place it in
the front rank in horticulture and truck
growing
BUSINESS BEGAN IN BALTIMORE.
He traced the development of the can
ming industry, which began in Baltimore.
and has reached vast proportions in
Maryland and other States. He said
that the output of canned goods and
vegetables in the United States in 1894
reached 700. O.000,0O0 cans. Maryland
furnished 25 per cent of these, and
the statistics indicated that the increase
during the last decade in Maryland in
the volume of output had been at least
40 per cent.
Tomatoes, ne said, were more largely
canned in Maryland than peas. corn and
other products, although in all lines of
industry the growth has been sure and
rapid, and about 10 per cent. of the to-
matoes canned in the United States
come from Maryland In 1902 the
Maryland pack was 96, 600, 900 cans, and
Mr.. Smith said he estimated the present
pack Of all products in Maryland, ex-
cepting oysters. at 2i5, 900. 900 cans.
THE bill under consideration, said
Representative Smith, proposes TO i'm
pose upon this great industry. not only
in Maryland. but in every other State
and territory of this country, hard
ship that is not only detrimental to the
packer, but is also and absolute injury
to the farmer who grows the crop and
to the consumer alike, without being Il
particle of benefit to anybody: although
il is claimed that this bill will protect
the purity and the quantity Of the CON
tents of the can. The weight of can
ned fruits and vegetables would not nee
essarily have anything to do with the
purity or impurty Of the goods
WEIGHT DOES NOT AFFECT GUILTY..
IA can Of water would weight about
the same as can of tomatoes. and the
weight of the can does not always
guage the quantity of tomatoes in the
can. Nor does the weight of solid mater
ial guarantee quality For instance,
fruits like Strawberries. peaches, etc,
if they happen to be little soft when
put into the can, will not cut out. in
the technical phrase, after processing
in as good condition as if firmer when
packed.
Fruits and vegetables are made up
of varying percentages of water and,
although the can be packed full of as
solid material as it is possible to get.
yet after processing there would be
water or juice in the can and its pro
portion would vary from day to day,
and no living man could put on his label
what exact weight or measure of solid
materal is contained in the can. He
might weigh into can ~ ounces of to-
matoes. and, after processing and then
opening the can and pouring out the
contents. the solid tomato. with the
liquid drained Off, might weight any
where from Is to 26 ounces, and if sub
jected to pressure would still keep
emitting juice and go down to 10 or
even IA ounces.
"The proposed law would be asking
the packers to do something that would
be absolutely impossible. Honest can
ners have no objection to pure-food
law if il guarantees the customer
what its name implies. but this subjec-
tion would not accomplish that result.
and its adoption would he serious handi-
cap to one of the most important in
dustries in this country. Canned goods
rs packed in Maryland tand elsewhere.
so for as know are not sold on a
weight and measure basis
HOW TOMATOES ARE PACKED.
"The tin cans used are properly known
by numbers. For instance, tomatoes
are packed in No. 3 Maryland and No.
3 Jersey and No. 10 standard cans. Peas
and corn are usually packed in No. 2
cans. though sometimes No 10 cans are
used. this being the largest size. adapt
ed for those customers who wish large
quantities. presume the rule in Mary
land is the rule throughout the country.
The can itself. as seen by the consum-
er at the time of purchase, is sufficient
evidence of its capacity Sales are
made at convenient retail price per
l.. L. 4 a. A q