Omaha daily bee., 1907-08-14
CARRY OUT PURE FOOD LAW
Prosecutions VIII Probably he started
at an Early Date UnO-
der Act.

WASHINGTON, Aug 1S.-Nothing has yet
been done with reference to prosecution
for violations of the pure food act. Some
time ago a number OF manufacturers were
to have been certified to the Department of
Justice and proper proceedings instituted
against them, but il was determined to
make a reanalysis of samples In order to
be certain that the evidence was unim-
peachable. Since then several other manu-
facturers have been under fire. and lately
there have been hearings, as provided by
law for the purpose of giving producers
who were under suspicion chance to state
their case to the board These hearings,
of course, are secret 1t is expected that
with those prosecutions that had been de-
termned upon some time ago and with the
new ones under consideration there will be
a considerable number of names to be sent
to the Department of Justice. The number
will not be as large as might otherwise be
the case, owing to the determination to
show temporary leniency toward the Cali
fornia fruit people who want to continue
the use of sulphur. and also to packers
who claim to require the use of benzoate
of soda in small quantities. The whisky
people who are arranging a test case with
the Department of Justice will probably
also be immune for a time. But here and
there producers or distributors OF foods
and drugs of various sorts are breaking
over the law, apparently thinking that the
indisposition OF the department to inter-
fere too suddenly with recognized business
customs in particular lines means an in
tention to be weak and lax in all lines
II may take some effective proceedings to
convince some classes of dealers that such
Is not the case. The department has not
finally determined when the names of those
who are to be prosecuted are to be made
public, but It is the intention to let them
be known at the time when they are sent
to the Department II Justice with a request
for prosecution.
number Of food decisions have been
held up pending further study of the ques-
tions involved. Food inspection decision 76
is practically the only one of great i'm
portance that has been issued for six weeks.
although few of minor interest were pub
lished shortly before 1t. Some Of those
which are now under consideration relate
to spice standards, including paprika,
cayenne pepper, ginger and similar spices.
Others have to do with questions of labelling
and the like. These decisions will probably
be taken up Immediately upon the return of
the absent members and issued shortly
thereafter. There will also be some ques-
tions that may be considered Jointly with
the bureau of animal industry. Some of
these bear upon canned meats, and the re-
lations between the United States and for
eign countries on this topic. The pure food
law of the Philippines and the joint system
of control between the Philippines and the
United States and between the Philippines
and foreign countries is also to be disposed
Of. One matter that the board will have to
deal with in determined way Is the gen
eral question of preservatives. Local a.
torneys who are In the employ of Gamers
and others assert that 1t will be practicable
to secure the extension of the departments
plan of tolerating the Use of a minimum
quantity of preservatfves In certain prod
ucts. It is not clear what they base
their predictions, as the authorities strenu-
ously deny that there is the slightest inten-
tion of giving ear to such representations
II will not be long before the question will
come up again and a final answer will be
called for.