New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-03
NOT ADEOTATE

The Department Of Agriculture issues
bulletins from time 70 time giving the
details Of cases prosecuted under the
provisions Of the pure food and drugs
act These bulletins are instructive in
showing the Discrimination Of many deal
ers In foods and drugs 10 take the law
seriously At first glance their ef-
frontery in risking indictment is aston
ishing. in view Of the activity Of the
department in tracking down adultera-
tors and misbranders. But that eff
fronterv becomes more or less explica-
bic when the record Of penalties in
1icted is examined The pettiness Of
the punishment inflicted in most cases
is enough 70 make greedy manufactur-
ers and dealers contemptuous and reck-
less.
According 10 bulletins issued on
August - last a Pennsylvania concern
caught selling a table oil 90 10 20 per
olive oil" was fined il the federal
court The notwithstanding sum OF S25.
An Illinois company pleading guilty Of
selling as "Brace-up Tomato Tonic. pre-
pared from the concentrated extract Of
tomatoes and seasoned with choice
spices and condiments" what the Blu
reau OF Chemistry found % consist lin
whole or In part of a filthy, decOm-
posed and putrid vegetable substance ~
was let of with a nominal fine of SO.
A cheese misbrander in Wisconsin. who
sold fOrry-three pounds Of cheese for
fOrty-fve pounds was mulcted IN the
modest sum Of $50. An adulterator and
misbrander Of maple sugar, an adultera-
tor Of cayenne pepper and a misbrander
Of coffpe-all operating in Missouri, the
original show me- state-were let of
with penalties Of SO apiece.
Another catsup maker, selling "a
filthy. decomposed and putrid animal
cor vegetable substance" was fined in
district court in Iowa $50 instead Of SO.
and in the same court similar offender
was sentenced to pay fine Of 500.
which was afterwaru cut 70 $40. A
misbrander Of butter in the same terri
tory was first plucked 5000. but tine
court rpDented and let him off with SO.
The top-Iofty penalty Of 500 was in
ficted on an ingenious Pennsylvania
who was selling Egg Murine. whole egg
substitute" one pound Of which, dis
solved in one gallon OF warm or cold
water was said Ito compare In work
"iug properties 70 one gallon or seven
"or eight dozen fresh eggs bur which
the Bureau OF Chemistry discovered did
not contain any egg at all. The same
extreme punishment was meted out 10
TWO Californians vending artitcially
carbonated domestic white wine az
..Cbampagne brand Dufeur Fills & Gle,
grand win royal, guaranteed under the
pure food and drugs act June 30
1906. serial No. 1OlG.
What do trivial fines ranging from
SO 10 500 mean 10 miscreants who are
roaming a harvest through swindling
the public with fake foods and drinks
What respect can they have for fed
eral law with no teeth 10 IT, defying
which costs no more than would
venial breach Of the peace Adultera-
tors and misbranders are wholesale
swindlers, getting money under false
pretences in just az dishonOrabe a way
as the panhandler gets IT, But the latter
Is sent to jail and they pay out mill
or two on 81 or Sl00 Of their illgOtten
profits.
II the pure food law is to strike ter
ror 10 evildoers il ought to be equipped
with teeth and claws and those who
violate il ought to be made 10 realize