Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-02
PURE FOOD WORRY

One of the first subjects of general
Importance to be considered by the Leg
islature will be the framing Of a pure
food law to conform with the federal
law which became effective yesterday.
Until such legislation is provided there
will he a great deal of uncertainty and
confusion In the marketing of many
California products.
That may be expected from the fact
that the stringent national law can ap-
ply only to products marketed through
interstate transportation. The basic
principle Of states right to regulate
all domestic affairs not delegated to
the federal government by the consti-
tuition leaves tremendous gap to be
filled by state legislation in the enforce
ment of pure food reform.
The situation today in respect 10 the
national pure food law is embarrassing
to hundreds Of California industries.
This state surpasses all others IN the
variety of products prepared Cor con-
sumption, both at home and abroad.
The dilemma which now cOnfronts the
producers arises from the feet that they
know what is required in preparation
for marketing their goods abroad. but
they are entirely "at sea" concerning
requirements that the state Legislature
may specify in respect to home mar
kets.
In the interval prior to the enactment
of a state law the uncertainty about
such legislation will be harmful to
producers. For this reason all products
from abroad will come to California
prepared in conformity with the fed
eral law-each parcel being labeled or
tagged with a description of its COM
ponent parts, indicating the mixture,
blend, compound, etc. With such evi-
dence of purity in the preparations
from abroad it is quite likely that con-
sumers will prefer the labeled goods
to home products of like kind that
carry no information in regard to their
constituents.
In addition to this source of trouble
for producers and dealers there is sure
to be much inconvenience and annoy
ance growing out of the uncertainty
about what the federal law requires
in many respects. The authorities at
Washington seem to have been grossly
remiss in not acquainting the public,
and particularly business interests di-
rectly concerned, with detailed infor-
nation about the requirements of the
new law.
AS an indication of the effect of such
at Washington the office of
the United States district attorney in
this city has been besieged during the
last few days by packers and dealers
in quest of information on points Of
the new law. In reply to the anxious
inquiries. as reported, the district at
torney declared that "he has received
absolutely no instructions from Wash
ington except a copy of the new law,
and that the matter rests entirely with
the department of agriculture.
California has been especially per-
SlStent III appealS LOT pure loOu laws
and the reform now begun is pleasing
to producers and dealers as well as to
the public. All our business interests
that are concerned welcome the re-
quirements of the new law, because
California products are famous for
their purity. Heretofore they have suf-
fered in the eastern markets in the
matter of price because of adulterants
used by competing manufacturers.
The legislature should give attention
to the emergency here noted at the
outset of the session. California is a
pure food state and it's productive in
those of any other state by pure food
legislation.