74 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



ants subjected to a fme of $100.00 and costs. In order to avoid the 

 possible plea of ignorance, every superintendent and manager of 

 such institution within the Commonwealth was advised of the ex- 

 istence of the law in question, and informed that all violations, when 

 discovered, would be rigidly dealt with. Although there are nearly 

 live hundred such institutions in Pennsylvania, including hospitals, 

 almshouses, county prisons, workhouses, homes and asylums for the 

 deaf and dumb, blind and insane, etc., all of which are subject to the 

 supervision of the Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners of Public 

 Charities, the information and warning imparted was not lacking 

 in (>lfect. The enforcement ot this commendable legislation protects 

 the unfortunate inmates of such institutions who have no means 

 for self protection from such imposition. 



VALIDITY OF LAW AFFIRMED. 



Hon. Hampton L. Carson, Attorney General of the Common- 

 wealth, rendered an opinion and in discussing the aboAc act of As- 

 sembl}', ex]3ressed himself as follows: 



"The inmates of such charitable or penal institutions have no option in the 

 matter, either in the purchase or in the consumption of the article. They are 

 not clothed witli the discretion vested in all other citizens of the Commonwealth 

 as to whether or not they shall buy or use the article so manufactured and 

 sold after receiving, through the marking of the packages, full notice of its 

 contents. They are obliged to take exactly what is furnished to them, and, 

 inasmuch as it is prescribed by the act of the 23d of May, 1903, as a part of 

 the management of the charitable institutions, that the inmates shall not be 

 furnished or compelled to use the substance described in the act of May 21, 

 1895, I view this as a regulation, not of the manufacture and sale of oleomar- 

 garine, but as a part of the regulation and discipline of a penal and charitable 

 institution." 



The best evidence of the fact that the law is being generally ob- 

 served is the statement made by prominent dealers in oleomargarine 

 that their trade from such institutions has entirely A'anished. As 

 these unfortunate human beings are obliged to use whatever may 

 be furnished them, it is deemed proper to avoid, so far as practicable, 

 all possible imposition upon the inmates of such institutions, as well 

 as the taxpayers who suj)port them. 



COMPOUND LARD. 



The field for educational work was also extended so as to reach 

 those who were selling compound lard for the genuine pure fat of 

 swine, contrary to law. The sale of compound lard, under certain 

 restrictions is not prohibited, and it can be sold without subjecting 

 the vender to prosecution when the provisions of the law regulating 

 its sale are complied with. After the proprietors or owners of 



