The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-10
FROM OTHER PENS
DEFECTS IN PURE FOOD LAW.

DEFECTS IN PURE FOOD LAW.
Some serious defects are pointed out
by DIR. Carl Alsberg. chief of the bu-
| reau of chemistry, relating to the use
fulness of the guarantee label used by
manufacturers to the lack of stand
ard1Zation in states and federal re-
quirements, and the necessity of pro-
teCting the owner and the public in
the denaturing of domestic food sub
stances unfit for food. For the infOr-
nation of the consumer DIR. Alsberg
points out that the label: Guaranteed
under the foods and drugs act' found
upon many boxes and bottles contain
ing foods or beverages, is not required
by the law. Nor is the manufacturer
required to print his serial number on
his label, though this aids the govern
ment by enabling it to trace the pro-
Queer of the goods The label is de-
ceptive. says Dr. Alsberg, for it i'm
plies to the consumer that articles so
labeled have been approved by the
government, while the guarantee
means only Il notice from the manu-
facturer to wholesale or retail dealers
that he and not they is to be held
responsible in case the goods should
be questioned or repudiated by the
government. Such guarantee on the
bill of lading of an interstate ship
ment grants customers the same pro-
lection. Articles sold only within the
states where they have been manu-
featured, cannot be seized by federal
officials, label or no label The con-
sumner should understand this And
in interstate commerce the federal
authorities are not able to secure any
heavier penalty for adulteration or
misbranding because the goods are
labeled: Guaranteed under the food
and drugs act The chief chemist ex-
presses the hope that the federal and
state governments can agree upon re-
quirements stringent enough to secure
pure foods and drugs. entirely just to
the producer, but still flexible enough
to fit the peculiar conditions in diff
would relieve the states from a dupli-
cation of expensive analysis and make
the laws free from contradictory pro-
Washington Herald.
THIS is JUSTICE.
Wisconsin has a new law which pro-
vides that the governor, with the mem
bers of the state board of control, shall
constitute a board of relief for persons
who have served terms of imprison-.
ment upon conviction for offenses of
which they were innocent. Compensa-
ton for wrongful Imprisonment up. to
the amount of $4,000 can be granted by
the board. The board may award COM
pensation not to exceed $1,000 in any
case and at rate of compensation not
greater than $1,000 year. If the board
finds that the amount it is able to
award will not be adequate compensa-
ton it shall recommend to the legisla-
ture an amount which it shall deem
adequate and shall recommend its APP
preparation. In England, unless the
law has been changed lately, there is
no redress for one ,wrongfuIly convicted
and imprisoned except a pardon from
the crown. The state does not even
admit that it made a mistake. In the
United States, outside of Wisconsin,
the rule is simply to turn the man loose
after his innocence is discovered. He
has no redress except a suit for dam
ages against the officer that arrested
him, who is generally impecunious The
new law of Wisconsin represents a long
step forward. Its general adoption
would have the further good effect of
forcing the public, in self-protection, to
choose police and prosecuting officers
and judges who would do their work so
carefully that the taxpayers would be
in no danger of being mulct in heavy
damages.-Buffalo Express.