50 ANNUAL. REPORT. OF THE Off. Doc. 



vaiiia, who in various instances refused to protect their patrons in 

 nuy manner, and asserted (hat they would not reimburse them for 

 lines and costs that were imposed. In such cases a National Pure 

 Food J^aw would remove the bars of interstate commerce and grant 

 to the home merchant and dealer a relief from questionable or unbusi- 

 nesslike transactions on the i)art of commercial men representing 

 a few non-resident firms. Merchants, however, who take the precau- 

 tion to buy goods from non-resident manufacturers or wholesalers 

 under guarantees of purity should be able, if they are defrauded, to 

 obtain redress by prosecuting those who sold them the adulterated 

 goods by misrepresentation. 



FAIRNESS IN ENFORCING LAWS. 



The Dairy and Food Commissioner of Pennsylvania has never 

 failed to make the amende honorable when special cases of gross 

 imposition were brought to his attention by innocent parties who 

 were duped by unscrupulous dealers. If the goods resultant in a 

 suit were purchased from a Pennsylvania dealer, the Commissioner, 

 after a suit was finally terminated, did not hesitate to supply full 

 information for the benefit of the defendant in case he desired to 

 secure legal redress. Copies of the official chemist's report were 

 supplied, and the sworn special agent of this Bureau who had pur- 

 chased the original sample upon which the suit was based, gave 

 testimony in certain cases. The growth of commercial frauds has 

 been rapid and, emboldened by their success, dishonest manufactur- 

 ers have frequently in the past duped both the retailer and consumer. 

 The manufacturers of deleterious and fraudulent foods have been 

 made to realize that Pennsylvania has placed a ban upon their pro- 

 ducts and practices. As a large per cent, of all food products sold 

 may be regarded as articles of inter-state commerce before reaching 

 the consumer, the need for the enactment of a proper national pure 

 food law is plainly apparent. It is also equally evident that the 

 manufacturer of a good and pure article of food will not sail under 

 false colors, but that the public will quickly recognize its merits, and 

 will therefore accord it the confidence and patronage which it may 

 deserve. 



EXAMINING THE LIQUOR SUPPLY. 



The history of the preliminary examination made into the liquor 

 supply of Pennsylvania will prove of special interest in connection 

 with a decision rendered by the Superior Court of this Common- 

 wealth, at Philadelphia, on November 21st. This case was an appeal 

 on the part of the Commonwealth, in the case against F. J. Kebort 

 and Nick Kebort, of Crawford county, who were convicted in the 

 Court of Quarter Sessions of that county upon the charge of having 

 sold adulterated blackberry wine to a special agent of this Bureau, 

 contrary to the Act of June 26, 1895, which is commonly known as 

 the "Pure Food Law." The learned Judge of Crawford County 

 declared that the Act of Assembly was unconstitutional. The decree 

 of the Superior Court reverses the Crawford County Court, sustain 

 ing the Dairy and Food Commissioner's appeal. 



Judge Orlady, of the Superior Court, who delivered the opinion, 

 held that it is^not necessary that the title to the Act should embrace 



