The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-24
PURE FOOD AND DRUGS.
Salient Points of the Hin Which Ea
Passed thu. Senate.

Salient Points of the Bin Which ERS
Passed thc Senate.
The Paddock pure food bill has been
passed by the Senate. Its object is 10
secure along the lines of interstate
commerce the qua! aatees against maud
ulCnt adultelatiOnS which are low lur-
nished by some Of the States and which
1t is in the power Ct all the other States
to provide for their citizens. Its most
salient terms are in substance that
every person who manufacturer and de-
livers for slipmt nt t. any ont outside
the State or Territory any drug or arti-
Gle of food, and every person who exposes
for sale or delivers such drug or article
of food outside the State or Territory III
which il is manufactured. shall, on de-
mand, furnish a sample OF the same for
examination or analysis under the direc-
ton Of the Agricultural Department.
Such articles as ere found TO be adultCr-
ated, within the meaning OF the iic',
aud are transported or being transported
fiom one State 10 anoth + Tor sa ard
are still III the original or unhluhen
packay. :, shall he liai lie TO he proceeded
against in the District Court Of The
United States and seized for oonf.sca-
ten or condemnation. If condemned as
being aGulterated they shall be sold,
and the proceeds, minus The costs
and charges, shall be la.d into
the United States Treasury. A
trial by jury may he demanded.
1t is believed by the advocates of tho
measure that if it become law this pro-
vision, which can Toe enforced against
the article itself. will ef.cctually prevent
the transportation Of fraudulent aduitcr-
ations across State lines. Tic: say
| that with such a rod hanging over him I
man who is conscious of having il his
possession adulterated food within the
meaning Of the statute never will ven
ture to send those goods across IL Statc
line for sale and disposal. 1t was cx-
planned. by Mr.. Paddock that in framing
| the measure sufficient care had been
taken in regard 10 the publication Of
| analyses 50 as to prohibit the
mention Of the name of the PERSON
! or corporation that is under sus-
| picion. There is 10 be no pullica-
! tion of such analysis until after the trial
and conviction of the person. There
| will thus be no invitation to competitors
| in trade or individuals who might
through spite work feel like entering
complaints against others who are
manufacturing different commodities to
inform against them without sufficient
/ reason.
| The measure was strongly objected to
as nding 10 interfere with the con-
sumption of cotton-seed oil and some
other substances which are used in
compound food products on large scale
and are widely claimed to be equally
healthful as the material for which they
are complete or partial sui stitutes. But
! If such claim be a correct one the
products ought to be offered for sale on
their merits, and no honest manufacture
er should object TO being obliged to label
or otherwise designate his goods i'll ac-
cordance with fact. The rights Of con-
sumers of food and drugs ought to be
considered, and they constitute q much
more numerous class than the manu-
facturers and venders put together.
The person who pays out his money for
an article has the right to know what he
is buying, to choose for himself whether
he or she will take the genuine thing or
another thing which is guaranteed to he
Just as good" Especially should this
right be jealously guarded in the case OF
material to be taken into the system.