Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-06
PROVISIONS OF
PURE FOOD Law
Magnitude of Task That Con-
fronts Uncle Sam.
MAKING STATUTE EFFECTIVE
Handicaps to Be Overcome by Agri-
cultural Department.
MANY INQUIRIES RECEIVED
Chemical Work Would Be Well-Nigh
Impossible Without Help Of
State Laboratories.

The magnitude of the task that con onts
Uncle Sam in carrying into effect the pro-
visions of the so-called pure food law was
in evidence when a Star reporter visited
the Department of Agriculture yesterda,
afternoon. The strenuous life found exem
plifcation on every hand. particularly il
the bureau of chemistry, where, it is said
the principal burden will fall.
Already the officials are being confronted
by handicaps in their preliminary work
toward making effective the law passed by
Congress last June providing for pre-
venting the manufacture, sale or Transport
tation of adulterctci or Elisbranded or
poisonous deleterious foods, drugs medi-
cines and liquors." In the first place, 1t
was stated. there is serious lack of room
in the rented structures used by the bureau
of chemistry and other bureaus that will
have to do with the new law. 1t is the
expectation of the officials that this may
be temporarily obviated by renting addi-
tional buildings and apartments in the
vicinity OF the department.
The second handicap is said TO be the
lack of sufficient number of workers to
handle the mass of business that is expect
ed to descend like an avalanche upon the
Department of Agriculture the
machinery of the law is put into motion.
Even now. before the law has gone into
effect as Mr.. Chase, chief of the food d.
vision of the bureau of chemistry. informed
Star reporter, thousands of letters
are being received making all manner Of
inquiries concerning the new law, its pro-
visions and requirements. 1t is said that 1t
has become a physical and mental impossi-
bility to reply to all the correspondents at
this time, and it is believed circular replies
will be used as far as possible.
Cover Wide Range.
The inquiries said to cover a wide
range. Many of the communications are
from manufacturers of foodstuffs who
want the department to approve t once
their labels which are to be placed on the
packages, under the provisions of the law
stating of what materials the contents are
composed. There appears to be whole
some dread among the purveyors of popular
brands of edibles OF mourning the severe
penalties of the law, and this is regarded as
a hopeful sign by many of1lcials it is said,
as it is declared that the law will be rigidy
enforced.
Others of the writer's to the department
ask for decisions to the effect that the
coloring matter they use in their food and
medicinal preparations are harmless. An
Official suggested that some patent breakfast
food man will come along directly and ask
for a decision as to whether sawdust is a
food substance or otherwise. He also sug
gested that it would require corps of
Solomons to render decisions in some of the
knotty problems that have been put up to
the Department of Agriculture officials
DIR. Wiley, who will manage the chemical
end of the matter, was out of town yester-
day, but his chief clerk said he was perhaps
the busiest man under the sun at this par
ticular time, owing to the preparations he
is making to carry the new law into effect.
When he returns to Washington, the re-
porter was informed, he will go into consul
tation with Secretary Wilson, and together
will
liminary stage of procedure in carrying out
the pure food law.
Outlining the Task.
At this time some of the higher Off
Gals of the department are outlining
the great task that confronts them in the
administration of the law, which they say
will be largely carried out through the
several state laboratories. Without the
help of the state laboratories, they say
the chemical work at the outset would be
we'll nigh impossible
Some idea Of the magnitude of the work
may be gained. 1t was said from the fact
that every drug store, grocery, bar room
and other liquor establishment in the
United States and its colonies will be under
constant inspection for violations of the
law by the agents Of the Department OF
Agriculture. while all Of the endorsements
and prosecutions will be made under the
supervision Of the Secretary of Agriculture
Inquiry at the civil service commission
developed the fact that at the request OF
the Secretary of Agriculture examinations
are being arranged for several classes OF
chemists and inspectors for assignment to
his department to assist in carrying out the
provisions of the law. The examinations
have been set for February ), and circulars
calling attention to them are being printed
at the government printing office, and will
be ready for general circulation tomorrow
or Tuesday, 1t is said
The examinations were necessarily de
layed until Congress- at the present session
made an appropriation of the necessar,
funds.
There will be candidates examined for an.
pofntment as chief food and drug chemists
with salaries up to s., 900 per annum: foof
and drug chemists with salaries up to 81 600
and drug and food inspectors at s., 600 TIL,
scope of the examinations Is now beint
arranged by officials of the civil service
commission.
Men of Practical Experience.
In this connection the hope is expressed
| that the examinations will be so arranged
that men of practical experience rather thar
| theorists will be given preference for the
positions of inspectors 1t is urged that ir
carrying the great blanket law into opera
ton effectively one man of everyday expe
rience with foOdStuffS drugs and Iio1ors
| will be of more real value to the food in
| spection service than a company of mer
| with nothing to recommend them but
theoretical training.
AS an Illustration of the interest that /.
| being taken in the law that is soon to gc
| into effect a representative of manufac
| turing concern in PARKWAY Texas came t.
| Washington yesterday rather than trust tt
| correspondence, and held an interview will
| Mr.. Chase, chief of the food division rela
| tive to complying with certain provisions o.
the act. He said the members of his com
| pany desired to obey the mandates of thu
| law and rather than disobey 1t and incul
! its penalties they would rather go out O.
| business. In all parts of the country the
| new law is casting It's shadow of response
| biiity before, the Agricultural Department
| officials say, and the manufacturers of ant
| dealers in foodstuffs and other articles tina
| come under it's provisions reaiize the Sc
| robustness of it's import and that the govern
| ment proposes to carry the act into effec
| ri0idIy