Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
FAVORS BAN ON SULPHITES
Would Have ALI Infected Cattle
Classified and Labeled.
TO APPEAR AS A WITNESS
Will Make Recommendations Before
House Committee Conducting
Investigation.

Dr. Harvey ". Wiley. the govern
ment's former food expert, will urge
enactment Of drastic amendments to
the meat inspection act. designed to
classify meat from cattle slightly af-
fected with tuberculosis. prohi biting
the use of sulphites in meat preserva-
tion and adulteration of sausage with
cereals, when he appears as witness
before the Moss committee, now con-
ducting a preliminary inquiry under
the Nelson resolution attacking the
meat inspection service. DR.. Wiley
will he called before the committee
next Thursday or Friday
The meat inspection act needs
amendment badly" said Dr. Wiley.
Had its provisions been iron clad
there would be no ground for accusa-
tions of laxity in it's administration
and the notorious secret service an
nouncementS. with their resultant
abuses, which have brought on this in
quiry- Its administration is open to
Label Infected Cattle.
Il shall urgently recommend an
amendment 10 the law when l appear
as witness to compel the stamping
with tuberculosis and passed with the
following legend: Meat from an ami
NAL in which tubercular noduIes were
found by federal inspector and con-
sidered fit for food. United States in
spected and stamped. A stamp of that
character will be sufficient warning to
retail buyers and housekeepers.
i shall also urge an amendment to pre-
Vent adulteration of sausage with cereals.
The present marking of such adultera-
ton is. no protection to the ultimate con-
sumner, as he seldoms, if ever, sees the
label There : better reason. / see
no earthly cat-~ -!sy sausage should con-
tain any cerea. iteration whatever.
"A third g.. .t:nent / shall suggest
will prohibit Iac use of sulphites in the
preservation of meats. Their effect Is to
keep old meat red and fresh looking.
They are a remarkable preservative in
this respect. Sulphite makes meat al
most any age appear particularly inviting
and luscious.
Had No Hand in Inquiry.
Il believe these sulphites are Injurious
substances and have declared this belief
in the report of my Investigations on pol
son squads. Use of the fumes of the
burning sulphur and the resulting acid
and sulphites to preserve meats is per-
mtted by the Department of Agriculture
pending decision from the Remsen board.
That board has had the matter under
consideration for years. There is no rul-
ing yet"
Il want ii understood said DIR. Wiley
emphatically, that had had nothing to
do with this inquiry, notwithstanding as
sertions to the contrary. / understand
I've been charged with having been the
arch conspirator. l shall appear as a
witness, because 1 consider il my duty
Wilson Explains Letter.
In bulletin issued from the Depart
ment of Agriculture last night Secre-
tary Wilson is quoted in answer to
statement made by Mrs. Caroline Bart
lett Crane. instisator of the Nelson
charges. Mrs. Crane says the bull
letin. said that Secretary Wilson is
sued regulations and then chose ex-
perts TO pass on them whose views were
known TO him in advance"
Secretary Wilson's statement gives
long list of distinguished pathologists
Manufacturers Association in December,
1906, to pass on the meat inspection
regulations OF the Department of Agri-
culture The commission approved the
regulations. but said some of them were
rather strict.
1T was to this commi ssion," the bull
letin quotes the Secretary among
others. that / referred in my letter to
Mrs Crane. when / said that these
meat inspection regulations had been
approved by the most eminent patholo-
gists. both medical and veterinary. in
the country.