The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-11-08

than sixty days, or either or both, In
the discretion of the court.
Warning For the oyster Man.
With the coming of the "R" mo~ths
the oyster dealer is again active. The
skeptical buyer of the shucked bi
valves may inquire, "and how busy is
the pump?" The skeptical may take
comfort. The state solons have consd-
cred his woes and provided for his re-
lief. The dairy and food commissioner
has instructed his force of agents to
be on guard, that the unlawful bust.
ness partnership between the oyster
pail and the pump shall be dissolved
and the practice ended by which the
public is compelled to pay the regu-
lar price of oysters, 40 cents pc.
quart, for water and so-called Juice.
Recently woman went to Commits.
sioner Foust's office with vessel con.
tanning oysters. She had paid 40 cents
for the contents. On examination it
was found that there was less than a
pint of oysters. The rest was ice and
water. The pure food law forbids the
addition to any article of food of any
substance cheaper than the original or
anything that will adulterate it in any
manner. Some fish dealers are in the
habit of buying oysters and filling up
the tubs with ice. The-jce melts, and
the resultant water is sold to the Gus.
toners as juice. Under the law the
rustOn er is entitled to oysters pack
ed as closely as they will lie to-
gether.
Commissioner Foust has informed
fle dealers of the laws requirements.
ard any dealer who finds himself in
.he clutches of the law for adding ice
or water to oysters will be prosecuted.
f the dealers want to avoid trouble
they should sell their oysters from
the original packages and place the
ice around the outside, as the law re-
quires.
Milk Dealers Pay Fines.
The conviction of nearly 400 milk
men for violating the milk law en-
acted by the legislature last spring
has had wholesome effect upon the
dealer who regarded that law with in
difference. During one month the new
milk law was put to the test in POI
towns in fifty-two counties. In 21i
towns there were violations, showing
that there was vast need for law
establishing standards of milk and
cream purity in the state. Agents of
he department discovered that many
!'eard of its existence and continue
q adulterate their milk and cream,
feeling certain that they would not be
detected.
Milk dealers in many communities
had a system by which they were
promptly informed of the arrival of
the state agent and thus were en-
lbled to conceal their practices. Re.
GENTLY the pure food agents have
rorked so quietly that they were en-
.bled to secure samples from these
.iolators without being suspected. The
irst intimation the men who watered
heir milk had came when they were
invited to the magistrates Office to
Oay fine of $25. They paid and de-
2ided that in the end it would be more
profitable to sell real milk and cream
Now that the pasture months are
losing and the price of butter has
advanced the oleo man renews his
smile. Lest he forget the past and
the householder be uneasy, a warning
word comes from the dairy and food
commissioner. The legislature permits
he sale of oleo, but only such as is
Kept free from all coloration causing
it to look like yellow butter The SUI
perior court, in an opinion written by
Judge Rice, has declared that the law
prohibits the sale of oleo made in re-
semblance of butter, no matter by
what process this coloration is Sc.
cured. Upon this decision the COM
missioner takes his stand. The legis-
lature regarded this provision so inn
portant for the protection of the con-
sumer and of the honest dealer and
butter maker that, despite great pres
sure, it refused at the last session to
strike it from the law
Convictions In oleo Cases.
SooCS Ny
Foust before the courts of Schuylkill,
Northampton and Venango counties
for violations of the oleo law have
been terminated by the conviction of
the offenders. Judge Kennedy, of AL
legheny county, recently sentenced a
dealer to pay fine of $1,000 and for one
years parole for second otfense. Ii
is significant that of all the federal
oleo licenses issued in Pittsburg by
the internal revenue bureau for the
year beginning July l, 1911, not one
was sought for the sale OF colored
oleo, that is, of oleomargarine colored
by added dyes. This is marked i'm
provement in district where in recent
years many federal licenses were issued
Tor the sale of such oleo illegal in
Pennsylvania, and where "moonshin.
ers" sold great quantities of dyed oleo
without taking out either federal or
state licenses. The food bureaus agents
have been instructed to visit every store
in their respective districts and vigi.
lantly see to it that the law is obeyed.
During Governor Teners admins
tration, embracing the period from
Jan. II to Oct. l, the dairy and food
bureau analyzed about 5000 food sam
Piles and prosecutions to the number of
about 1000 were started. These prose-
cutions were based upon violation of
L.. .N..NF F..a. /,