No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 79 



RULINGS AND REGULATIONS. 



Aftor a tareiul consideration of the requirements for an intelli- 

 j;ent and conservatiA'O interpretation and enforcement of the pure 

 food law of June 26, 1895, and after consultation with my attorneys 

 I was satisfied that no fixed "ruling" could be safely or legally 

 adopted, as no otlicer or citizen not connected with the judicial 

 branch of the government has a legal right to annul an act of As- 

 sembly. Hence, the so-called "rulings" which were in force under 

 previous administrations were revoked. This action was rendered 

 necessary because of the possibility of such personal views interfer- 

 ing to a greater or lesser extent with legislative enactments, and 

 tlie further fact that certain manufacturers and dealers were in- 

 clined to interpret such "•rulings" more liberally than may have been 

 originally intended. The attitude of the Commissioner can not be 

 better or more fulh^ expressed than by the phraseology of the laws 

 with the enforcement of which he is charged. Where exceptional 

 cases may appear to work a hardship or cause excessive trouble 

 and expense, the only remedial agency that can be safely recom- 

 mended is legislative in its character. The Commissioner can only 

 enforce the laws in their entirety, and it is not within his province 

 to pursue any other course. 



CRITICISMS OF ARTICLES OF FOOD. 



I desire to call attention to the fact that my special agents are 

 specifically instructed to withhold criticism of any articles of food 

 or drink that may be found in the markets. It is not within their 

 province to eitlier condemn or recommend and thereby hinder or 

 aid the sale of any article of food or drink which may come under 

 their notice, excepting by a special order to that effect from the 

 proper authority, should the exigencies of the case demand such 

 extreme action. When in the regular routine of their official duties, 

 samples are purchased, sent to the chemist for analysis, and adulter- 

 ants or harmful ingredients are found, or where fraud is practiced 

 the Commissioner orders prosecutions to be instituted, but ever 

 in such instances a general condemnation of such an article ot 

 the part of agents would not be permissible. Different manufac 

 turers employ varying formulas, and it often occurs that the same 

 manufacturer produces goods under the same label with vei'y ma- 

 terial changes of ingredients, to meet competition in different lo- 

 calities. 



PUBLICITY IN ENFORCING LAWS. 



Publicity is most efiicacious in enforcing the pure food laws. This 

 has been well illustrated in numerous instances. While such treat- 



