The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-14
Officials Cannot Prevent
Canned Goods Sale
While Massachusetts and Other States May Protect tho Public
From Injurious and Adu|teraed Products Of tho Meat Trust
Rhode Islanders Are Dependent Wholly Upon Their individual
knowledge and Reports From Other States Regarding the
WhoIOSOmenesS Of Particular Brands.

That there is no difference in quality be-
tween the canned meats. turkey. chicken,
etc. that have been investigated. anal
yzed and condemned In Massachusetts,
and goods OF the same brands that are
sold over hundreds OF counters in this
city and state. is the conviction OF health
officials and chemists.
That there can not be any action in this
state barring outfsuch goods or punish
ing those who sell them is equally GER
tain.
The reason for the helplessness OF the
state and city authorities is the absence
OF any law which they can apply to the
canned goods and those who OFFER them
for sale.
The attention OF Or. Gardner T. swarts,
secretary OF the state board OF health.
and of DR. Eugene p. King, who is act
ing as superintendent OF health in this
city I'm the absence abroad OF DIR. Charles
T. Chaplin, was called today TO the fact
that In Massachusetts, the state board OF
health has decided on a rigid crusade
are not up to standard.
The sale of such goods as are tabooed
by the board is there to be followed by
prompt prosecution Of the guilty dealers.
and extreme penalties will be imposed.
The action is copsideredd 10 be OF vital
interest to all OF New England
DIR. Charles Harrington, secretary OF
n n naq nhat
ically that no ravorltism will be shown in
the enforcement OF the law. Dealers must
handle only goods that the board deems
fit for consumption
1t will make no difference to our in
spectors who the packers are or the
prominence OF the local dealers handling
condemned brands Of canned goods" said
DR., Harrington. The Massachusetts
pure food law Is broad enough to permit
US to do effective work. and the public
may rest assured that there will be no
favoritism
The time has come TO put an end to
this unwholesome traffic, and the state OF
Massachusetts, purposes to do IT,"
The Massachusetts board has issued a
peremptory order that all canned meats
containing boron. boracic acid or borax
must be removed by dealers from their
shelves at once and inspectors will see
that this command is obeyed to the letter.
The Rhode Island state board Of health
has no apparatus for making such tests
as were made in Massachusetts. said DR.
Swarts, mo appropriation for conducting
them, IL we had the apparatus. and no
state Law under which prosecutions could
be conducted II conditions were found
like those in Massa achusetts We may
examine vinegar. mustard and milk, and
that about marks our limitations.
Possibly the examination Of canned
goods comes Mthin the province OF the
beef inspector
What is true of the goods sold in Mas
sachusetts is probably true of the same
brands that are sold In this state.
This board has neither contemplated
conducting such a crusade as the Bay
state board has decided upon, nor could
II do so. for the reasons stated
If there were sufficient popular pres
sure brought to bear, the legislature
might be induced to clothe the board with
authority 10 act and give II the necessary
facilities and cash; but whenever we ask
for more money we are generally met
with the assertion that the board Is get
ting enough money from the state
Il do not see how we could do anything
before the Legislature meets. even IL we
wanted to look into this mater"
The superintendent OF health in Prov
idence acts under authority Of the state
law" said DR.. King. (which is silent on
this question OF canned goods. The fol-
lowing excerpt from the rules OF the
board of aldermen defines our powers:
1T shall be the duty OF the inspector
OF provisions to visit all places where
fruit vegetables. meat, fish. or other pro-
visions liable to become decayed. diseased,
or unwholesome shall be kept, offered or
exposed for sale; and he may seize and
destroy such decayed diseased. or un-
wholesome fruit vegetables. meat or 9TH
er provisions. IL shall be the duty OF tho
Inspector To act under the direction OF
the superintendent OF health I'm the dis
charge OF his duties 4"
You see that II contains nothing relat-
ing to canned goods. unless we find them
decayed. a highly improbable event. We
haven't any authority to investigate such
eases. and would not unless proof were
presented to us
'As general thing. canned goods are |
not unwholesome. Those brands against J
which complaints are made are simply !
poor stuff-bad I'm quality. | mean. These !
complaints could be met III all such goods !
were truly labelled.
"If deviled meat were marked 'deviled |
meat plus corn meal or anything else |
that might enter into ~. we might not |
mind buying ~. and paying for n I'm pro- |
portion 10 its real value; but we do not |
care 10 pay for deviled meat and get a |
preparation containing about one-half |
corn meal and other cheap ingredients |
which may be wholesome enough. but |
not worth the money we pay.
We couldn't DO anything here any.