The Commoner
VOL. 14, NO. 6
I-
w
1
The Work of the President's Cabinet
IB
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FARMERS' COOPERATIVE LAUNDRY
. Tho United States department of agriculturo
announced during tho month that the first farm
ore' cooperative laundry in the United States is
now in successful operation at Chatfleld, Minn.
Ohatflold is only a small village and the patrons
of. the laundry come almost entirely from tho
open country around.
1 Coarso clothing of all sorts, overalls, rugs,
hod clothing, and lino fahrics as well are handled
at, a uniform price of 5 cents a pound for wash
ing' and ironing. An extra charge is made for
such articles as need to ho ironed hy hand. The
laundry is managed in connection with a co
oporativo croamory, paying to the creamery a
rcasoriahlo rontnl for tho uso of a part of its
b.uilding. Modern machinery was installed at
tho beginning, and an experienced luundrymnn
engaged as superintendent. For tho first year
of, operation, which has just closed, tho receipts
woro $5,403, 70 per cent of which was paid out
for wages.
A BIRD CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES
Bird lovers have been invited to send data to
tho department to aid in game preservation. A
census of all tho birds in tho United States is
planned for this summer, tho object being to de
termine how many birds of each species breed
within definite arons. By comparing the figures
of tho now census with thoso of subsequent
onon it will bo possiblo to ascertain whether the
prosent stato and fodoral laws are effective and
whether game and Insectivorous birds are in
creasing or diminishing. Voluntary observers
aro relied upon to furnish most of tho data.
May 30 is about tho proper dato to begin tho
census in tho latitude of Washington., which
should bo completed about, a month later. In
quiries about this ceiiBUfi'and others to follow
should bo, addressed to tho Biological Survey,
-ftIOTtmont of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
WARNING AGAINST DANGEROUS PRESERV
ATIVES Tho attention of the department has recently
boon called to tho widespread use, especially in
rural communities, of salicylic acid in putting
up preserves. This practice is not confined to
salicylic acid under its own name only, but large
quantities of this acid and of boric acid as well
aro sold under fanciful names as preserving
powders or canning compounds at prices which
are much in excoss of their real value.
' mwi0 ajrecttons 'or "se the housewife is told
to nil the jar with tho fruit or vegetables, cover
with water, and add a teaspoonful of the pow
der. It is truo that those powders may prevent
the decay of the fruit or vegtable, but they also
encourage uncleanly or careless work, and their
excessive use may bo attended with very serious
effects upon tho health. Salicylic acid is a medi
cine of tho greatest value in acute articular
rheumatism and ceitain otlnr diseases. It is
3 A, nn nfA PiBOnous substance, and one
of the evils which may accompany its use is de
rangement of the digestion. It is therefore plain
that its extensive use in food may lead to dis
turbance of digestion and health.
It is ontiroly practicable to put up both fruits
and vegetables in such a mannor that, if not
opened, thoy will keep indefinitely, by steril
ising the products by means of heat, and there
is no excuse forunning any risk by using pre
serving powders. The department of agriculture
has issued the following Fanners' Bufletins 01i
canning and preserving:
Jellies 23' Canned Preserv and
" w S' 3r5o9i 9,atini,ng Vesetables in the Home
inFCluBb Work. CannlnS Tmat0eS at Home aid
These bulletins, which may bo obtained with
out cost by applying to the division of , ubl en
tons of the department, give exact direct ons f01"
preserving and canning foods without the i"se of
powders or canning compounds.
- ABOLITION OF GUARANTY LEGEND ON
FOOD AND DRUGS.
-- Tho legend "Guaranteed under th i?nn,i
Drugs Act". has been hold to bo mifo aml
deceptive and tho -use & ri &?1 r
and drugs 1s prohibitive after May T lJin h d
food inspection decision, signed by he secarv
of the treasury, agriculture and cLmerce, a8 S
products packed and labeled prior to May 1,
1916, in compliance with law and with tho pres
ent regulations, the dato will be postponed until
November 1, 1916.
Many peoplo have been induced to believe
that all articles labeled with the legend have
been examined and approved by the government.
The facts aro that putting the legend on labels
by manufacturers is entirely voluntary and that
the government never guarantees the whole
someness or purity of food or drug products.
Certain manufacturers have employed this
legend in such a way as to lead the public to
believe their product had been passed upon and
certifiod by the department of agriculture. The
widespread deception necessitated the abolition
of the practice of accepting guaranties for filing
and issuing serial numbers.
PACKAGES MUST TELL THE TRUTH
Tho secretaries of the treasury, agriculture
and commerce during the past month also signed
regulations for the carrying out of the so-called
"net-weight law." This law compels manufac
turers to make a clear statement of the weight,
volume, or contents of their packages of food.
These regulations apply to foods shipped in
interstate commerce or sold in the District of
Columbia or the territories. The regulations as
signed become effective at once, although the
aw passed March 3, 1913, as an amendment to
tho food and drugs act, defers the exacting of
penalties for violations until September 3, 1914
TO PUT SMITH-LEVER AGRICULTURAL EX
TENSION LAW INTO EFFECT
The secretary of agriculture has written to the
governors of all the states asking that they
designato tho college or colleges to which tho
funds provided by the Smith-Lever cooperative
agricultural extension law aro to go. This is
the first step in putting into effect this act, ap
proved by the president May-8, which provides
for the granting of federal funds to the state
agricultural colleges to aid in diffusing among
m!wP e w?ful axnd Poetical information on
subjects relating to agricultural and home
thons0ameS " l encouragG tha application of
The conditions of the act are that each qtntP
must duplicate the money above $10,000 a yea?
appropriated to it by the federal government
rhe money raised by the state may come from
the state county, college, local authority
individual contributions from within the state
for the maintenance of cooperative agr cultural
extension work The governor of each state n
the interval until the legislature meets i called
upon to designate tho agricultural coffeS or
college, to which the federal funds are ?o e
The act provides that each state in which in
agricultural college L designated shall receive as
additional funds however S? JK?Jn &ese
maintenance of the .ooUrTtlve agXltural '
tension work provided for in this net
HAILHOADS PINED FOR CRUELTY TO LIVP
STOCK ,L
Additional fines for violntinn- ih oo t,
that prohibits the confinement o? Hv iTl '?W
more than 28 hours withou? unloa"inc f0rkfi,r
tho Pennsylvania Co ,25 against
SHEEP AND WOOL CONFERENCE CALLFD
A public conference of persons Interested
the sheep and wool induntrv !,," in
be held in Washington JSSS 2 3 2nd 4 ied to
the topics suggested by the secreterv L ng
sion wero the manufacturing value 'of Am18.0"8"
tvooIs; the improvement of fj?m ami ?
methods of handling wool; the possible adSh
tion of foreign methods to American conditR?
the standardization of tho "SlcMpS !the
prevention of damage by dogs and predatory
animals.
The animal husbandry division of the bureau
of animal industry has made an educational col
lection of wools and wool fabrics, which shows
the advantages of proper , preparation of wool
for market, and market requirements. This col
lection was on exhibition during the conference"
DEPARTMENT OF IiABOR
HARVEST HANDS NEEDED
Below will be. found copies of telegrams re
ceived from the state labor commissioners of
Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, ' asking co
operation in securing men to help in harvesting
thp wheat crop:
Topeka, Kansas, May 27, 1914. T. V. Pow
derly, Chief Division of Information, Washing
ton, D. C: Kansas will need upward of forty
thousand .men, beginning June fifteenth, to help
in harvesting wheat. Wages will range upward
frohi $2 a day and board, average probably
$2.50. Men can go direct to towns in wheat
belt in central and western Kansas assured of
work. Will be distributed to farmers by local
organizations or write this department for di
rections. Large percentage of men will be need
ed for ninety to one hundred twenty days. W.
L. O'Brien, Director State Employment Bureau
Jefferson City, Mo., May 27, 1914. T V
Powderly, Chief Division of Information, Wash
ington, D. C: It will require thirty thousand
hands to handle the wheat crop in Missouri.
Early harvest will begin about June 15th.
Should the drouth continue harvest will begin
eariier. Wages from two dollars to three dollars
arid a half a day according to experience, class
of, work and conditions. Period of employment
from three to five and six months. The state
board of agriculture and my department are co
operating in the matter of supplying and dis
tributing this needed labor. Three free employ
ment offices in my charge are located one each
n St. Louis Kansas City, St. Joseph. Much of
tho labor will bo distributed from these points
not alone to Missouri farmers but to those in
Kansas, Oklahoma, etc. John T. Fitzpatrick,
Labor Commissioner,
w1hma CiJ?' 0kla" May 25 1914. Hon.
W. B Wilson, Washington D. C: Would it be
possible for you to communicate the needs of
this state by way of men for the wheat harvest
through any of the official channels of the stato
department. We will need from twelve to
tnii ?u,fand men at from two t0 two and
one half dollars per day with board to help har-
Itl "l W,heat and thresh same and eighty-five
iJL .me!i,B0 eml)loyed will be given em
5Snt Jn this state by the farmers in
J??- te .various frage crops which
promise a big yield at this, time thereby guar-
Tho6?!? fr,n fou,r t0 six months steady work.
Ali I intaln free employment offices
BWHnvma, ?ity' Enid' Alva' Woodward,
dlMh,,5 na ther P0ints in the state to help
cvo thief ihe,meand any Publication you can
hi J-if, matter through your department will
iW; appreciated by the citizens of this
sioner ' Daugherty Labor Comrais-
m
DEPARTMENT OP COMMERCE
CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Win?iWinSi,s,Jfn, address of welcome by Hon.
William C. Redfield, secretary of commerce:
rtv'JSXF of the Oonference
sav1 von"18 a0very necessary thing for me to
mean bPonaif Twelcom hereunnecessary, I
becJ T 2 am sure you a" know it, and
in a? that w? ho" Pf rt,try to make " so obvious
itvShplfohratesetlof.ao and to say to you that
Th7nar? a SOr5 of an obect of envy to me.
totJlmA hi8 Particular branch of
to me i n ?? if aCtivity' has always appealed
wasanv suoh thf Way' Years o, before there
want aid to ' a manufacturer I used to
?wlZ' V16 inforraatio1IJ
wav T hnri ."; ii, suPP"ed. In a very small
hfch is fow h.rn fd ? n a PriVatG aS that
Sat VeJZZ freely sPPlied to all the world
burtrofBhikn,0Wledw; and this particular
SSwS?bothJlB',theMfor akes a strong
I C in ? ! y 3u?sment and to my interest,
both conffrIe,y wfked way the confidence of
Bavtnvmw8 anlthe executive, and I need not
that wlh Jn?Wat D"r stratton has gone out)
that we have in him one of the most useful and