Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-13
PURE FOOD LAW A FACT.
Nebraska Gas Statute More Sweeping
Than National Law.
IT'S APPLICATION is tn: NEXT PROBLEM
women Have Been Potent In Securing
the Enactment of the Measure
aud Must Now Aid I'm Its
Enforcement.


the Enactment Of the Measure
aud Must Now Aid in Its
Enforcement.
Nebraska has a pure food law at last.
After all sorts Of amendments had been
made they were all overturned and the
bill made even more drastic and sweeping
than the national law. Nearly twenty years
ago United States Senator Paddock cham
p,oned pure food bill in the United States
senate but, as he then thought, without
avail u was the seed that was sown
then that has slowly grown and is just
now bearing fruit, not only nationally but
In his own state and in many others. Per
haps had he known It would take all these
years TO accomplish what ne thought to
make the work OF year he would not
have undertaken II. Now 1t remains to
gather the fruit and partake OF IT; to put
the law to its proper purpose and not
allow It to be unworthily perverted to a
mere office getting for few more people.
And in this purpose women may be Of much
service.
To the home makers it has always been
Of vital Importance that the foods they
obtain and serve their families should be
they have realized in the least the mis-
cradle adulterations and substitutlons that
have been making a large proportion Of the
foods they bought dangerous. Even when
confronted with the fact, rney knew not
how to even cry for a remedy much less
demand and obtain IT, Men held the ref4s
and they permitted and fostered these
wrongs; women were helpless. But through
their clubs and organizations and singly
wherever they could bring any influence
to bear they have done what they could.
Last May body Of 5000 or 1000 women
representing hundreds OF thousands sent
their petition to congress that the pure food
bill be passed, uniting their voices with
the forces that finally obtained the desired
result.
Great step Ahead.
In this same body the story was told of
the Investigations OF thousands Of women
into the conditions under which the meats
sold in their cities were prepared, the de-
gree OF unCleanliness OF creamery and man
ufactory storehouses, and now these
women have paved the way for many
others to hold the positions they have
gained and sec that this great advance Is
made permanent and just what It promises
Every woman in Nebraska who purchases
and prepares food for a family should be
one OF an army to see that this law is
carried out to it's full intent, that If 1t is
found wanting in any particular 1t shall be
honestly and carefully amended until It
fully protects every citizen Of the state in
obtaining pure food to make of his body
the best possible engine to do his worlds
work.
The state law makes the governor the
food commissioner; he appoints a deputy
who is acting commissioner, and between
them drug inspectors and dairy inspectors
and simple food inspectors with the neccs-
sary assistants will be appointed. From
a law which concerned only milk and It's
products and vinegar and its products, this
IL a very far step, and will require skill
md energy and honesty OF purpose to carry
out. Our governor has proven his desire
10 do good things; the home making women
of the state will look to him to do every
thing necessary to carry out 10 its utmost
this vital law for the building Of strong
healthy citizens. And having learned to
use their voices in protest they will be
watching TO know II these voices must be
raised again.
what Remains 20 lie Done.
Or. II. w. Wiley, chief of the bureau Of
chemistry Of the Department of Agricul-
ture, tells the Chemists club of New York
make the national law effective These
things may we'll be studied in regard to
our state law, Examinations for inspectors,
for experienced chemists and for younger
chemists will be held. The secretary has
asked for $4,000 for the fiscal year COM
mencing July /, having received o-thirds
of that for the present six months. 1t is
probable that the chemical service will
not be confined to Washington, but scat
tered in various parts of the country, espe-
cl6lly for foreign goods. st. Paul and
Denver are both suggested, not Omaha,
Perhaps the most important question
that will be decided by the secretary is that
OF preservatives and colors. In case Of
preservatives under the meat law the de-
cision OF the secretary Ia TO the effect that
no preservatives shall be used in meats ex-
cept the ordinary continental preserva-
tives, such salt, sugar, vinegar, wood
smoke, condiments, and pending further
investigation saltpeter. 1t does not seem
logical to suppose that the decision under
the food law can be radically different
from that under the meat law. and there
fore II Is reasonable to suppose that the
ultimate purpose OF the law is to exclude
from the food products the preservatives
that are excluded from meat products.
Among the most important or these is sui
phurous acid in the form Of fumes OF
burning sulphur applied during the process
Of preparing certain food products, Among
the most important OF these are molasses,
evaporated fruits and wines. The investl
cations OF the Department of Agriculture
and these are supported by the investiga-
lions OF many other eNperts-show the
INJURIOUS effects OF sulpnurous acid upon
health; hence under the law sulphurous
acids may be finally excluded from foods.
BY such suggestions as these from the
best authorities We are learning what have
been the dangerous substances in our foods
and what means are under consideration to
eliminate them.
Looks Like Spring.
Mrs. Providems basket this week is be-
ginning to have quite a spring like APP
pearance Pretty red radishes dainty
green lettuce, having not quite so much
OF the tint OF the green house, although
E..H1