100 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



reports printed in the ''Monthly Bulletin" will show. That the 

 adulteration of food products is now a fine art and approaches 

 nearer to a science than ever before, cannot be controverted. In 

 view of the many difficulties which encompass the analytical field, 

 the Commissioner feels gratified to be able to report that in not a 

 single instance has any one been injured or harm done by the 

 publication of an analysis. Whether analyzed to determine the 

 nature of the constituents, or whether one or more foreign sub- 

 stances are to be sought for; or whether a quantitative analysis 

 is to be made, or whether only proportions of only one or two con- 

 stituents are desired, these chemists bestow the same careful and 

 conscientious work upon the sample. The attention of those specially 

 interested in the analytical work done during the past year is in- 

 vited to the "Monthly Bulletin" which contains a large proportion 

 of the analytical reports received from the several laboratories. 



FAIRNESS OF NEWSPAPERS. 



The Pennsylvania press, with very rare exceptions, it is pleasant 

 to note, has again remained loyal to the objects and purposes of 

 the Dairy and Food Commissioner, recognizing that the work per- 

 formed was that of public necessity, and that the officials, as true 

 friends of pure food, deprecated sensational and false statements, 

 knowing that such a course would be certain to produce a revulsion 

 and rather thwart, instead of aiding the cause of fairness and justice 

 in executing the laws. The people of Pennsylvania, through the 

 medium of the newspapers, have learned much of all the phases of 

 food manufacture, introduction and distribution. 



For their continued help, equitable and just treatment of all 

 matters relating to the work of this Division, grateful and appre- 

 ciative acknowledgments are due and are hereby freely tendered to 

 all the newspapers and the fraternity in general. 



HOW COMPLAINTS ARE CONSIDERED. 



The charge of espionage, informant, etc., is not agreeable to 

 the mind of the average individual, and for this reason there are 

 many persons unwilling to co-operate in the work of enforcing the 

 dairy and food laws. In nearly every case where correspondents 

 saw proper to call the attention of the Commissioner to alleged 

 wrongs, such parties would insist that their communications should 

 be destroyed after reading, and that the source of information be 

 regarded in the strictest confidence. These requests were regarded 

 inviolate, and in nearly every instance the charges brought were 

 fully sustained and the evil stopped. Numerous violations of the 

 oleomargarine laws were brought to light through the medium of 

 unknown but friendly correspondents, and the service was, there- 

 fore, welcome and appreciated. 



In some instances where the regular special agents of the Division 

 were well known in a district, thus making the collection of evidence 

 doubly hard, if not entirely impracticable, the Commissioner se- 

 cured the services of intelligent and trustworthy representatives 

 to visit such sections, and to make a careful and thorough examina- 

 tion into the prevailing conditions. That the course adopted was a 

 wise one, the results obtained amply prove. 



