The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-23

! IhE PUNE FDlt Law
me prosecuting Attorney Of Mon
onealia county has recently given on
some gefy Interesting Information fes
Iahse iothe Pure Food Ia8 PASSED "
lthe Feesht sisIatsiFe ind which BE-
teome eGectiYs Ianuar t9os
IL spsskihe u tde new lag
ecatng Attorney tatrer az; tItlls
new statute IS very string gent, and mas
5br0ad ssgeep. II give the pros cst
ing attorney powers which, = not eS,
erctsed with moderation and disere-
ton might cause annoyance Of the
seyefet character to business men
For instance, the prosecuting attorney
hi a county can go into a store room,
any part Of IT. and open any box,
package, barrel. bottle or other re-
ceptacie, which contains, or which
he sppposes contains. drugs or foods
that are adulterated or impure.
eHe may take samples Of the CON
tents and the chemist Of the State az.
department must analytic
these samples, and certify the result
to the prosecutor. In case adultera:
tion is found, or impurities, or Il the
contents Is not Just what It IS repre-,
scented to be, the merchant handling
the goods, or his agent, or both. may
be indicted, and upon proper evidence
convicted. The prosecutor has Ike
powers and privileges in any labora-
tory otsfactory where foods, drinks
or drugs are manufactured.
west Virginia had pure food
law previous to this act but it was
not so wide in its scope, and pro
yided that the merchant could not be.
indicted and fined for selling impure
goods unless he made the sale know,
ingly.' In the new law, the word
knowingly has been omitted. In 9th,
er words, ignorance Of the character
Of the impure Or adulterated or infe.
rlor goods Is 40 longer an excuse. The
merchant mist know that his goods
are pure ami just what they are rep.
resented to be. Sugar must be SUI
gar, pure and unauthorized. Native
products cannot be sold as imported
goods, and the manufacturer cannot
make raspberry jam from apple peel
ings and clover or timothy seed.."
Any substance mixed with food,
drink, drugs or CONNECTIONS, lower
ing, depreclating, or inturlously af.
fecting its quality, strength, or
purity Of the omission Of any nee
essary ingredient constitute viola,
tions, IN other words, acetic acid
mixed with water is not pure cider
vinegar
It Is a violation TO arrange goods
SO as to conceal their inferiority.
Pink netting over a basket of green
peaches to give them the blush Of
rlpeness will not go. 1t will not do
to coat, powder, or polish confec.
lions to make them look better than
they are. There must be no labels
indicating a purity that does not ex,
list or bearing any false claims for
the food value of the stuff.
The law of course covers all drugs,
patent medicines and similar stuffs
Extrayagant claims for the strength
and curative value Of medicine
will not go, Preparations that are
compounds or mixtures must be lab
eled as such. The label must be In
letters at least half as large as the
largest on the bottle. Prepara'
lions containing alcohol, choral, NOR
phine or similar drugs must show this
fact, and, the per cent. of each.
The penalty for the sale or offering
for sale of such goods is a fine Of
from $50 to 500 for the first offense,
and similar fine, with from 20 to 60
days Imprisonment for each subse,
quent. Upon conviction, the defend
ant is required to pay all the costs
Of analysis, prosecution and inspec;
ton into the county treasury. For
each conviction, the prosecutor is to
receive fee Of 500. In no other mis-.
demeanor is a fee of more than $40
provided
aa.,- nAnr uIMe