The Washington times., 1911-10-16
TEAPR|CES TOSOAR
OWING TO SWEEPING
TREASURY CRUSADE
Product Bearing Coloring
and Facing Matters Barred
From Country.

A stiff rise in the price of tea, Is an
ticipated by Government officials here
as a result of the Treasury Department.
crusade against the use of coloring and
facing matters in all tea imported.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds OF
tea have been held up at customs
houses on both the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. and 1t is estimated that over
100000 pounds of this will not be per-
mitted to enter. This will make a de-
cided shortage in the tea market, with
an inevitable increase in price to the
consumer.
China green tea, the variety most af.
fected by the Government policy, now
Is selling retail at 60 cents poune.
Just how long this price will prevail ls
problematical. but the increase is sure,
In the opinion of Government experts.
1t was declared at the Treasury Depart
ment today that the crusade would be
continued, irrespective of this impend-
ing increase in price.
DR.. Wilton G. Berry, chemist, and DR..
Anthony j. SCHNEIDER. tea expert, OF the
Treasury Department, in the customs
service, today were ordered from their
stations in New York to the West to as
sist in the disposal OF the vast quanti-
ties of tea that have accomplished at
Pacific coast points since the Treasury
Department order to let no artificially-
colored tea through the custims houses.
Assistant secretary Curtis sent ou:
today a-Iorrffuia for a uniform nethoo
OF testing tea. for the presence Of color.
ing matter or other alleged adullerants
This formula is a chemical test which
will determine the presence OF either
uItramarine or indigo blue, or the Prus.
sian blue that js most generally used
This rest also VIII determine the pres
ence in tea OF so-cal1ed facing m alter
which is taie or soa5stone Substance
rubbed over. the tea to give 1t gloss.
1t was ANNOUNCED At the Treasury
Department today, that the Jann ant
coloring matters. The Japan and Cey
Ion officials and importers have cooper
ated with the department in its crusade
but the Chinese exporters, 1t Is declared
have paid no attention to tho Treasur,
edicts and go on coloring their teas JUS
as ever.
Means Big Loss.
All Chinese tea found with colorint
matter will be sent back, and will bt
practically useless, and total loss II
the exporters, unless they can by SOM
means remove the coloring matter, al
the United States practically is tn
only big user Of Chinese green teas Ii
the world.
China green tea Is used PRACTICAL!
by all classes in the United States. par
ticularlv the poorer people, because it II
cheap. AS result. 1t will be the SO
called common people that will have t.
bear the brunt Of the increased price.
Great pressure has been brought upol
the Treasury Department by the te;
exporters with out result. The diplo
ina tic representatives Of the most Of tn,
tea exporting countries have demon
strated against the crusade withou
avail.
MacVeagh Determined.
Secretary MacVeagk is determined
that the American people shall be giver
nothing but the purest tea to drink. HI
Is as fixed on this point as Is DR.. Wiley
DIR. Berry and DR.. SCHNEIDER will go a
once to San Francisco. and after re
lieving some of the tea congestion a
tfat port. will go to other Pacific sea
port cities in turn.
The erect of the holding out of hun
dreds Of thousands of pounds Of tea ha
not vet been felt by the big Easter
wholesalers and retailers.
Inuuiry today illicited the information
that China green tea still was selling a
so cents retail. and that the othe
varieties were holding about the usua
price,