Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-19
SECRETARY VIII SON Is ACTIVE in
CARRYING OUT THE PURE
FOOD POLICY.
REMARKABLE PROGRESS
HAS BEEN MADE
Hundreds Of consisnments Of Impure
Goods Have Been Seized - Many
Shipments From Other Countries
Shut out-courts and State Officials
Are operating With Department.
Especial correspondence.1

the enforcement Of the pure food and
drugs act and the differences of opin-
ion over several subjects in contro-
versy arising from enforcement of this
measure, have given rise to more or
less criticism of the department of
agriculture to the effect that the pure
food policy is not being carried out
with the vigor which the country de-
mands.
For this reason, It is worth while
to examine into the question of what
Secretary Wilson and his aides in the
department of agriculture actually are
doing TN the way Of pure food law
enforcement.
Any such examination will show
that regardless of criticism, remark
aple degree OF progress has been made
IN the way of securing purer food and
drug products fer the people of the
United States. The law has been en-
forced without much stir as a rule
and for this reason it is not generally
appreciated what has been accom-
plished.
Six Hundred Violations Reported.
The pure food and drugs act pro-
vides for the seizure and condemnation
OF shipments Of food or drugs which
are In violation of law and for the
criminal prosecution of persons who
violate the law. Since the law went
into effect. nearly 500 cases have been
reported to the attorney general for
criminal prosecution and the seizure of
about 24O consignments of goods has
been recommended. The value of the
merchandise recommended for seizure
is estimated at about $4,000
Something like $4,000 in fines has
been collected. The law went into ef-
feet June 80, 1906. This represents.
therefore, something Of what has been
done in three years.
Import Shipments Shut Out.
Within the last week alone, 1875
cases for criminal prosecution have
been reported to the attorney general
and In the last ten days there have
been fourteen seizures of shipments of
merchandise. Eight Of the fourteen
have been seizures of shipments of
bleached flour.
OF course, the matter of paying at
tention to domestic violations of law In
not the only one incumbent on the
department OF agriculture. Many thou
sands OF import shipments have had
to be examined. A thousand shipments
OF food and drug products have been
shut out Of American ports and sew
era1 times as many have been allowed
to land after they have been relabeled
in accordance with the rulings Of the
government officials.
Courts Are Friendly.
AS the officials Of the department Of
agriculture view 1t, one of the most
important developments since the law
went into effect Is the fact that the
courts Of the country generally are
friendly to the law. The disposition
seems to be to construe 1t favorably
TO the protection Of the public from
adulterated and misbranded food prod
ucts and drugs of inferior quality,
Over $50 cases Of criminal prosecutions
have actually been tried and the gov
eminent has not lost case on the
law points involved. Two or three
cases have been losS on the showing of
facts.
Probably the second most important
development is that the large manu-
facturers Of food and drug products
seem generally anxious to comply with
the law. They are averse to getting
into any controversy over the quality
of their goods. They realize that they
are the losers In such a controversy
and can not afford to have 1t go out TO
the world that the brands OF goods
they manufacture are OF low standard.
About 400 letters per day are sent to
the department Of agriculture by man.
ufacturers, inquirng as to whether the
course they are taking Is legal.
State Authorities Active.
Still another development Is that
state food and drug authorities have
been encouraged to much greater ac-
tivity since the federal pure food law
'1ras been enforced. The law allows the
secretary Of agriculture to receive re-
ports as to shipments which are in
violation OF law from the chief food
and drug officer of the state. In order
to facilitate the pure food work, Sec
rotary Wilson has named all these
state officers as collaborating federal
officials, given them commissions and
has appointed chemists at the expense
of the federal government to further
their work. This close cooperation
with the state food and drug commits
sions has no doubt done a great deal
to tighten up the law and make dts
circumvention more difficult.
Secretary Wilson's Burden Heavy.
Secretary Wilson has taken a close
personal interest in the enforcement Of
the pure food and drugs act. He has
given about third of his time to It'll
enforcement, and 1t has increased the
burden of duty on him enormously HI
has no less than sixty -two inspectors
of food and drug products In the field
These inspectors are scattered all ovel
the United States and the hapless drug
man or food maker does not know
what moment federal inspector will
ahght in his establishment and begir
to ask pointed and embarrassing ques.
lions.
One Of the features of the work un.
der the pure food and drugs law which
is of much Importance is the inspection
of the milk supply of cities. This has
achieved commendable results. Nh,
supplies of Chicago, ST. Louis. Kansa+
City and Cincinnati have been Inspect
ed More than 100 cases arising from
the Interstate shipments OF impure ant
watered milk have been reported t,
the department. OF Justice.
Frauds in Food and Drugs.
In the course Of the three years tn
law has been In effect, the department
has uncovered = long and mos
anna cling list a. fraande In thu shane q