The Washington herald., 1912-07-28
WHAT IS B[ER?'
CONGRESS TO ASK
Anderson Resolution Hints at Con.
spiracy Between Brewers
and Department.
AIMED AT Mr.. WILSON

What is beer?" This question, sup
posed to have been answered legally by
the government some months ago. is still
agitating barley raisers and brewers. DIR.
Harvey w, Wiley. former government
chemist, has Joined the fight in behalf of
the barley raisers and the great army Of
consumers. Representative Anderson Of
Minnesota will introduce resolution in
the House next week calling upon James
Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, to in
form Congress why beer has not been
defined under the terms of the pure food
law.
The charge will be made by inference
IN the Anderson resolution that the brew
cry interests have. through their influ-
ence in certain quarters, succeeded in
evading the pure food aw. although the
| statute was passed. five years ago. 1t
will be pointed out that whisky is now
labeled as to its constituents and that
practically all food and drug products
are subjected to government regulation.
Representative Anderson wants to know
why the product OF the breweries is not
labeled as are other beverages and
foods that enter into interstate COM
merce.
DIR. wjley's Definition.
Just before he retired from public Of
flee DR.. Wiley. as member of the
board of food and drug inspection.
framed an answer to the question what
is beer?" DIR. Wiley held that beer is a
fermented product from a mash COM
posed or barley. malt and hops, with or
without a small quantity of unmalted
cereals not exceeding 30 per cent of the
barley malt used" -.-..-. 4.
Paeans Of praise for DR.. Wiley were
sung by consumers and barley raisers
when the Wiley definition of beer was
given to the public 1t was assumed that
the Wiley definition would be approved
by the Doctors colleagues on the pure
food board and that in due season II
would be promulgated IN the >form of
law.
Representative Anderson and Miss
Alice Lakey. Of Crawford. n. j., presi-
dent of the National Consumers League
have been endeavoring to find out for
a long time why Secretary Wilson has
delayed in announcing a ruling as to
what constitutes beer under the law.
They have addressed letters to the Sec
retary on the subject, but the replies
have not been entirely satisfactory.
Secretary Wilson said in one of the
letters to Representative Anderson that
government experts were making an in
quiry into the beer industry in this and
other countries in order that a conclu-
sion might be reached on the point in
controversy that would be fair to all in
terests concerned.
DIR. Wiley sees no reason why there
should be further inquiry. In a letter
10 Representative Anderson, he made the
statement that the methods of making
beer are fully known"
Charges q Conspiracy.
Miss Lakey. OF the Consumers League,
In letter addressed to Mr.. Anderson,
charges that "A conspiracy" has been
formed by interested concerns to delay
a legal Interpretation OF the term beer
as long as possible She said in part:
Il believe that something should be
done. and done quickly. to head OF the
plot OF the Department of Agriculture to
issue a decision on the labelling of beer
that will be in favor of the brewers and
absolutely detrimental to the consumers.
As you will remember, DR.. Wiley signed
a decision on the labelling of beer be-
fore he left the department. We know
that II he signed one it was in favor
Of the consumer and In line with the
pure food law. II he signed 1t, prob
ably one other member of the board
signed II, and this is why Secretary
Wilson is now having his men rushing
about the country. so as to serve as
pretext to reverse that decision signed
by two men. Can you not have the
matter taken up in the House? Some
thing should be done soon, or else We
shall have decision issued that Will
mean another knife stroke for the pure
food law. Please do something"
The Anderson resolution of inquiry
will set forth that extensive hearings
have been held for the purpose of de-
filming the term beer" and such allied
products as ale. stout. porter, &C.: that
Immediately preceding the resignation of
DIR. Wiley as member of the board of
food and drug inspection. he made and
signed food inspection decision defining
the term beer" &C.
Seeks Information.
The Anderson resolution will call upon
Secretary Wilson to inform the House
whether such a decision has been made
and IL SO submit a copy OF It; also II no
such order has been issued why an Of
fetal order or decision upon the ques-
ton has not been made or framed" The
Anderson resolution will also call for in
formation as to why a supplemental in
vestigation into the brewing business has
been ordered inasmuch as an investiga-
ton covering a period of about a year
was made prior to the date upon which
DR.. Wiley defined beer.
Under the pure food law the govern
ment must eventually, as 1t did in the
case OF whisky. prescribe that packages
containing beer shall bear labels setting
forth the constituents of the contents. 1t
is charged that many beers now On the
market are deficient in hop and malt con-
tents, composed largely Of rice, or Corn
grits, or hominy or glucose Such a
product. 1t is charged, generates an un-
fermented vegetable matter that sours on
the stomach and is injurious to health.
Representative Anderson insists that the
consumer has a right to know whether
he is buying rice or corn grit beer. other
wise known as "Coney Island beer" Or
whether he is getting pure beer. Accord
ing to Mr.. Anderson. 1t il up to the gov
eminent to come to a decision on the
beer question and he intends to make
an effort to smoke out the Secretary OF
Agriculture by bringing the matter to the
attention Of the House.
Draws Thirty Days.
Alfrad Rarn