52 ANNUAL REPORT. OF THE. Off. Doc. 



EFFICACY OF PURE FOOD LEGISLATION. 



The wisdom and efficacy of the pure food laws of Pennsylvania 

 has again been demonstrated, and, while an incalculable amount of 

 good has been accomplished, the Commissioner is hopeful that the fu- 

 ture will show even greater benefits than have been shown in the 

 past. There is no law in force in Pennsylvania that has attracted 

 more general attention and respect than the pure food law of 1895. 

 The Commissioner realizes that there are still some avenues .of es- 

 cape for certain unscrupulous manufacturers and dealers, but in- 

 dulges the earnest hope that the next Legislature will afford the 

 desired help. It has been fitly said: "As it is the commendation of a 

 good huntsman to find game in a wide wood, so it is no imputation if 

 he hath not caught all." The moral is obvious, and, with careful and 

 concerted action, still greater results will doubtless follow our 

 efforts. 



SCOPE OF THE DAIRY AND FOOD BUREAU. 



The enforcement of the pure food laws is a difficult, particular 

 and somewhat serious matter, as the "Monthly Bulletin" issued by 

 the Dairy and Food Commissioner of Pennsylvania demonstrates. 

 The bulletin gi^, es a list of the many samples analyzed by the chem- 

 ists employed, together with the results of such analytical examina- 

 tions. A list of prosecutions is also given, together wdth a state- 

 ment of the final disposition of such prosecutions. It may be truly 

 said that there is possibly no other Department or Bureau of the 

 State Government where as many legal and scientific requirements 

 are so frequently needed for the judicious and proper conduct of an 

 office. It is also true that the scientific investigations and discover- 

 ies of our ow-n country, as well as those of foreign nations, are util- 

 ized when considered of practical value in connection with the 

 working of our own laws. 



SERIOUS MENACE TO DAIRY INTERESTS. 



The Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner gave prompt 

 warning to the dairymen and farming interests of Pennsylvania, 

 when it became known that representatives of the oleomargarine 

 interests of the entire country contemplated making an effort to 

 secure the repeal of the bill passed by Congress in 1902, which im- 

 posed a tax of ten cents a pound on colored oleomargarine. The 

 committee to procure the repeal has formulated its plans, and liberal 

 contributions from oleomargarine manufacturers and dealers in the 

 United States are being solicited, and an immense fund is prac- 

 tically assured at the very beginning of this formidable attack upon 

 the dairy interests. Social, political, as well as financial, pressure 

 no doubt will be brought to bear upon Congress to secure the repeal 

 of the "Grout Bill." It is hardly necessary to add that strong ef- 

 forts to circumvent such attempts to deprive the dairyman and 

 farmer of his just reward have been instituted, and not without 

 hope of a complete success. 



LEGITIMATE DEALERS PLEASED. 



A'^'hile a paramount question before the country to-day is that of 

 national pure food legislation, it is but fair to state that there are 



