The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-11-14

some high compliments, The Journal
attributes TO him powers and authority
not given him by the law, and con
cludes with the remark that, "a great
responsibility rests upon his shoulders
neither more nor less than the
health of the people of the state"
The entire duty Of the inspector OF
foods and drugs is defined in section
Of the Pure Food Law of 1907,
which SAYS: His whole time shall
be at the disposal of the commission
er Cof agTiculture), and his duty shall
be to travel about the state as di-
rected and take samples of such arti
cles as directed, and forward them to
the department of agriculture for
scientific examination and analysis"
OF course, he cannot carry a labo-
ratory around with him to determine
authorizations or impurities, but in
many cases he can decide as to mis-
branding. To this end, to pronounce
goods misbranded that he knows to
be misbranded and TO cause their
seizure by the sheriff, he has recently
been given enlarged powers by the
adoption of additional regulations as
provided for in section Is of the Pure
Food Law. That section directs the
commissioner of agriculture and the
attorney general ito establish such
rules and regulations, not inconsistent
with the act, as will best carry out
the requirements thereof" and this
has been done accordingly. The in
spector now has the power of sum
mary seizure of misbranded goods,
but he will exercise this power with
extreme caution.
We say extreme caution, for It
should be understood that the retail
grocer, with whom the inspector
comes into most frequent contact, is
not responsible for the misbranding
Of goods in his stock, as he buys them
in good faith from wholesalers and
manufacturers, upon whom he relies
for the good character Of their wares;
and to seize his stuff and hale him
into court as a malefactor and thus
advertise him as selling impure or
misbTanded food. would be a cruel
wrong to him. In such cases, the in
speCJOr simply orders the withdrawal
from sale of the Dlisbranded article
or its immediate re-labeling Tor
brandiug) in accordance with the law
If, upon his next visit, he finds that
his instructions have been disregard
ed. he is directed under the new
regulation to have the sheriff seize
the goods
all Of the violations of the law yet
discovered were committed by deal
ers or manufacturers outside of the
state, whom our officials cannot reach,
unless the violations come within the
scope of the federal law. For in
stance: whiskey bottled in Baltimore
comes into the state labeled in full
compliance with the federal law, but
not in full compliance with cur state
law. The state officials can only pro-
hibit the sale OF such miSbTanded
liquor. or require il TO be Te-labeled
or seize If. The first alternatives,
withdrawal from sale or re-labeling,
have been ordered at Pensacola, Jack
sonviIle, Tampa and other places.
Next viii follow seizure, If the deal
ers neglect 10 comply with instTuc-
lions given
Finally, it should be remembered
that the state is a pretty large one
and. TO cover the field thoroughly,
would require the services Of several
inspectors and as many more assist
ant state chemists. II takes the one
inspector two months to make the
rounds of the state, during which he
can visit only the most important of
the 200 or more places in which
foods and drugs are sold. His travel
ing expenses are limited to SIS
month: and as It costs more than that
To travel, he has to lay off, occasion
ally for a few days. But, as The
Pensacola Journal kindly concludes,
he is conscienti0usly trying to do his
duty and that. too, with all necessary
caution and discretion.