Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-08


man who puts up about 100000 worth
Of catsup every summer and fall.
That product contains a preserva-
tive called benzoate of soda. 1t is not
known yet whether the use Of that
product will be permitted.
The catsup maker must prepare at
once for his campaign. He must or
der bottles, boxes and labels. After he
gets all his preparations made and his
packing goods purchased there may
still be some doubt as to whether he
can sell his goods. Benzoit Of soda Is
regarded as harmless. Must the cat
sup maker arrange to put up his goods
without It? And, If he does, must he
have two sets Of labels, one saying
that benzoit OF soda. is in the compost
tion, and the other making no refer
ence to It?
| Suppose the manufacturer goes
wrong, what shall he do with his
goods? Many inquiries have been made
of the agricultural department as to
its probable course If the manufactur-
er should go wrong. Replies have been
received saying that tolerant spirit
will be manifested, and 1t is altogeth-
er probable that where the manufac-
turer has had to go ahead and has
acted in good faith the government
will not be harsh and some amicable
working rule will be adopted.
| At present the department cannot
commit itself on specific matters. and
1t is for this reason that the manufac-
turers are worried. The Indications
that reason will govern the action Of
the department have given them more
confidence.
At present the national law on pure
food Is purely self working. The Fed
eral government put the law on the
statute books and that Of itself was
sufficient to bring about many Of the
desired reforms. The dread Of incur
ring the wrath Of the general govern
ment Is just as strong among CONNER
cial men as it is among those who
fear to violate its established criminal
statutes.
Many men will take chances on vio-
lating local and state laws, but when
1t comes to "bucking up against the
government" that is another story.
The power of the Federal government
is felt more by commercial interests
than any other. No inspectors have
been appointed yet to see that the ma
tional law is enforced, and 1t is prob
able that none will be until 1t is seen
that they are necessary.
The minute the law was passed the
wholesalers got busy. One Of the
largest houses in New York at once
prepared set Of questions which 1t
mailed to something like 1900 manu-
ffacturers from whom at various times
1t purchased goods. Here are the
| questions that were asked:
| /. Do the goods Of your manufacture
or production conform in every re-
spect to the requirements Of the law?
2. Does the reading on your present
principal labels fully meet the deci-
sions of the department in regard to
the application of the law to your pro-
ducts?
| q. II not. do you intend to correct
the misleading statements by the use
of a supplementary label and are you
prepared to send us quantity Of these
I'aBtls at-once to be attached to the
-ackages now in our stock?
| 4. How soon do you expect to issue
YOUR productions with the principal la
bel reading in proper form?
5. Have you filled a guarantee with
the department of agriculture that
YOUR manufactures or products will
henceforth conform in all respects to
the requirements Of the law, and what
serial number has been allotted to the
same?
The questions asked by this house
have been copied generally by the
trade and there Is not a manufacturer
who has not been catechised by whole
sale and jobbers. The latter are liable
to heavy penalties for sending impure
goods and 1t Is up to them to jack up
| the manufacturers.
They have already done 1t and the
result has been that IL there was any
inclination to try to beat the new law
stiff warnings have come from the
trade and to such an extent that few,
f any, manufacturers have decided to
adopt a shifty course. The house which
first sent out the questions already
| ho Io can't
Of the manufacturers sent back un-
satisfactory replies about the supple
mentary labels. Further correspond
ence was entered into with them and
practically all Of them have agreed to
print exactly the kind Of labels that
the wholesalers demand.
There is still much confusion in re-
gard to some goods The manager Of
one of the largest wholesale grocery
houses said the other day, in speaking
about the use Of coloring matter in
goods:
This law will damage the sale of
certain kinds of goods that have been
using coloring matter that Is harmless.
Take the maraschino cherries that
from time immemorial have been used
in the making Of cocktails.
"All those cherries have been colored
a bright red and no harm has been
done. Hereafter, under the new law,
those cherries will have to be brown,
some Of them spotted. and the result
will be that they will not be sold as
extensively as formerly.
There are other goods which have
been colcred and whose sale will be
affected seriously. Unless the agricul-
tural department gives specific per-
mission for the continued use Of the
coloring matter the trade will be in
jured seriously"
| Curiously enough the reporter who
was looking into this matter mention
ed the maraschino cherries to one Of
the leading officials of the health de-
partment and the latter simply laugh
ed about It,
That is amusing" he said. 1.-THE