Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-21

A LTHOUGH the pure food and
"A drug act went into force on
January 1, IL will probably be
at least two months before the govern
ment will have working force Of in
spectors and examiners who will be
capable of making it really effective
This does not mean, however that
manufacturers and dealers can go on
meanwhile in the old way, for it is
probable that a small force will be put
at work at once collecting samples
from which to make their analyses.
And there could be no possible assur-
ance that any particular offender might
not be the very one upon whom the
hand of the law would fall.
The headquarters of the new force
Of government officials will be on the
top floor of the appraisers stores,
where for three years past there have
been laboratories for the examination
of imported food products. The act re-
quiring the examination of imported
food products was a sort of precursor
OF the present pure food law, and its
results have been more than justified
The work is done by the bureau of
chemistry Of the department of agri-
culture, of which DIR. Wiley is the chief
At the New York laboratories about
eight chemists are already at work
Under the new law r. T.. Doolittle, the
chemist in charge, expects to have a
force of some twenty five chemists and
half as many inspectors. The delay in
getting this large force in active opera
ton is due to the delay in the civil SER
vice bureau in certifying the required
number of chemists and inspectors.
The salaries are rather small, and in.
dustrial chemists command such high
salaries at present that some appre-
hension is felt lest a sufficient force
may not be obtained. If the recent ex-
aminations do not provide enough to
fill the demand new examinations will
be held.
The method of work will be simple
and unobtrusive. Some delicatessen
dealers, it is said, fearfully await a
troop of uniformed officers whom they
expect to have swoop, down upon them
any morning, confiscate their entire
stock, and lock them up for indefinite
periods for selling minnows for sar-
dimes or Neuchatel cheese made in Or
ange county. Actually, the inspectors
will go forth quietly and gather up
samples here and there. Naturally, a
dealer or manufacturer will not be ap-
praised of an approaching visit.
PURCHASING OF SAMPLES
Samples will be purchased in the
open market either in the original
package or in bulk. If in bulk the
marks or brands upon the wrapper, box
or carton, whether written or printed
thereon, will be carefully noted. The
inspector will carry the samples away
with him to the laboratory, where it
will be divided into three parts, each
one of which will be sealed and la
beled. One of these samples will be
retained by the local laboratories for
examination, one transmitted to Wash
ington for Independent examination
there, and the third will be delivered
to the dealer from whom the goods
We're purchased or to the one guaran-
teeing them. The receipt of such a
sample from the inspectors may be the
first information a dealer will have that
his goods are being examined.
If the analysis proves that the sam
pie in question shows the pure food act
to have been violated, notice will at
once be sent to the dealer or maker and
n date set for a hearing Such hear
ings will be private, and confined to
questions of fact, the accused parties
being allowed counsel and the priv
ilege of submitting oral or written
evidence to show fault or error in the
findings of the analysis. If error is
shown, the secretary of agriculture may
order second analysis to be made.