Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-23
Nebraska
MAINS FILES FOOD REPORT
State Commissioner Would Enlarge
Scope of Weight Law.
TO APPLY IT TO ALL PACKAGES
Declares Department Has Been
Hampered By Lack of Funds and
f. in vital Need of More
Inspectors,
lion a staff correspondent.l

LINCOLN, Dec. 22-(Special) - State
Food Commissioner s. L. Mains. in his
biennial report, makes the following rec
concentrations for changes in the food,
drug and dairy laws Of Nebraska:
l. An amendment 10 the weight or meas
ure clause TO embrace all food ottered TOT
q An increase OF two food and drug in
spcctors and a provision allowing six extra
dairy inspectors during the months OF
June July and August each year.
3. To repeal the tax to operate q cream
cry or cheese factory, or to make TAX
of s. on all creameries ana cheese rae
tories which produce 100000 pounds or less
and an additional graded tax on eRch
additional 10000 pounds or fraction
thereof. A similar tax should be made on
each ice cream factory.
T. An amendment to the paint law max
ing a heavy penalty for adulterauon OF
s An amendment to the sanitation law
making II possible to close without, notice
any unsanitary place where food Is served
g. A law on standard weight and meas
ure and the creation Of an office OF state
sealer Of weights and measures under TINS
4 Repeal Of the law requiring commits
sion merchants 10 file a bond OF S2OO Win
their county Judge and TO pay a tax OF AlV
per year to this department. 1t appears
10 the commissioner that this law has been
drawn almost entirely for the benefit of
Finally, and most urgent OF all, a
larger appropriation for inspectors sal
aries and travelling expenses. This depart
ment has been hampered through the
whole bienpium by lack OF funds.
Finances of office.
During the biennium, the food commits
sioner collected from creameries for per-
rnits 20 operate s517O8; from operators for
permits to sample or test, S5.6i4; for oleO-
margarine permits, S5735S; from commits
sion merchants, $500, making total
amount collected of $11,324.64. The former
commissioners biennial report showed total
collections OF S44s7.S6. The total increase
in fees collected is $6sS7.2s.
The report shows that Mr.. Mains as
sumed the duties of his office January
q, 1900. Early in his administration he
ruled that where any question existed as
to the meaning Of the state pure food law
and where the national pure food law was
explicit on the same subject the Nebraska
law would be interpreted in accordance
with the national act The principal para
graph of the Nebraska law that was under
discussion, which related TO misbranding,
contained this wording
"If sold for use in Nebraska and in
package form, other than canned goods,
contents. weight or measure are not di-
rectIy stated on the outside Of the pack
age
Some commended that this section was
obeyed when the contents alone were
stated. Others argued that the contents
must be stated in terms OF weight or
measure. The national act deemed ar
ticles misbranded II in package form and
the contents are stated in terms Of weight
or measure they are not plainly and cor
rectly stated.
Interpretation of Net Weight.
Food Commissioner Mains interpreted
the Nebraska act in conformity with.the
national law and his ruling allowed food
manufacturers who had retired from the
state to place their products once more
ON the Nebraska market. The Nebraska
legislature. being in session. amended the
law. making 1t clear and explicit. The food
commissioner reports that all manufac-
turers willingly complied with the weight
or measure law, except one cracker com
pany and the manufacturers Of lard and
cottolene. Suits are pending in the courts
against these concerns
During his term Rood Commissioner
Mains has Inspected bakeries, hotels, meat
markets and other places where food is
prepared and sold He says he believes
the food laws of Nebraska are being
strictly obeyed by manufacturers and dis
trtbutors as those of any state in the
union, and that this result has been at
tainod with a minimum number OF prose
cutions. AtM
The lesislattre OF 1909 amnded the food
law by approving the bleaching Of flour
for state consumption by the nitrogen
peroside method. This amendment was ap'
proved By the food commissioner upon in.
psstigations made by DIR. Away of Ne.
braska, and Drs. welsner and Teller OF
Columbia laboratory.
In the National Association Of State
Food and Dairy Departments. Food Com
missioner Mains and State Chemist Red
fern cast the Nebraska vote for resolu
ton approving the use of banzoate Of sodl
as o food preservatlve, and the resolution