Evening star., 1897-02-03
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Representative Mccormick Heard in Behalf
of Two Important Bills.
Measul to He FavOrnbIy Reported
to the HOuse-Other Matters
of Local Interest.

Representative Mccormick of New Yorl
appeared before the House District com.
mittee today in behalf of the pure food bill
| blouse bill 9S42).
Gov. Mccormick said this was one OF
| two bills which he had introduced at this
| request of old friends in the District He
| took an interest in local matters, he said
! by reason Of long residence in the District
| He said there Is a prevailing idea that a
! great deal of adulterated food, drink and
| drugs has been sold in the District.
Gov. Mccormick commended the enact
| ment of the law regulating the practice OF
| medicine in the District. He said it would
have the effect of driving quacks from
| the District. The pending bill had been
| recommended to him by some of the most
| prominent physicians of the city, who were
| certainly acting a patriotic part in doing
| SO, for If there was anything that would
| be good for the business of the physician
/ il would be the use of impure foods and
/ drugs.
| Mr.. Babcock remarked that he had been
\ informed by a physician that the analysis
| of a well-known beef extract showed that
| there were no nutritive sustaining quail
| ties in the beef extract at all, and that 1t
was only Stimulant.
Governor Mccormick said he had intro
duced another bill regulating the sale OF
impure drugs and poisons. He hoped that
| both bills would be passed by Congress.
There was no better place in the country
to commence such regulation than in the
District, and he hoped to see adequate reg
ulatiols for the inspection of foods and
drugs.
Dr. Harper made a brief statement in
support of the antfpoison bill and the
| pharmacy bill.
Mr. ]. K. Redington, in behalf of the Ho-
meopatlc Pharmacy, advocated the phar-
| macy bill. He said there was no question
| Of greater interest to the people than this
matter of pure drugs and pure foods. He
desired amendment to House bill $3.50
known as the pharmacy bilD, which would
protect the Homeopathic Pharmacy from
possible discrimination.
AT the request Of Representative Linton
of Michigan, the House District committee
today took UP House bill 1O10S. to regulate
the business of fraternal societies in the
District.
Mr.. Philip R. Walker representing the
fraternal congress. explaine the merits of
the bill. He said there is at present abso-
lutely no control of any insurance com
ponies in the District. The pending bill is
designed to regulate the business of fra
ternal societies and associations and to
require them to make annual reports
The bill makes it obligatory upon the for
i eign beneficial associations to file with the
assessor of the District, as a prerequisite
to the right to do business in the District
certificate from the proper state authori-
ties that the company is organized under
the insurance laws of that state. The as
SCISSOR Is also made the attorney of the
company for the purpose of serving pro-
cess.
Mr.. Walker said the fraternal congress is
composed OF the supreme Representatives
or about forty fraternal orders. The con-
giess represents a membership of three
and one-half millions, who carry about
three billions and tWenty-six millions in
surance- Special legislation Is asked for
these companies, so that they may be kept
separate on the statute books from the
three other classes of insurance companies
the level premium life companies the open
assessment business companies and the
endowment companies.
Mr.. Mines of the committee said he knew
OF company now doing business in the
District of Columbia which had been driven
out of Michigan and out of Indiana. 1t was
operating under the insurance laws of
West Virginia. which, he said, were very
loose. Mr.. Mines added that there were
more than one sucn company in operation
in the District
To Reduce Salaries
Senator Chandler was asked by a Star re-
porter this morning whether he expected
to press his amendment to the legislative
executive and judicial appropriation BILL
providing that during the next three years
the salaries of all government employees
should be reduced 10 per cent
Il shall certainly do all in my power to
press it, he replied. "if I can secure a re-
port on 1t from the committee to which it
was referred. l simply introduce this
amendment in order that the several mil
lions of dollars which 1t would save the
government might be secured to bridge
over period Of depression at time when
the government is running short in its ac-
counts"
Favorable Reports Ordered.
The House District committee today Or
dered favorable reports to be made upon
| the following bills:
House bill 1O1Os, regulating fraternal ben
eficiary societies in the District.
House bill $3.50. to regulate the practice
of pharmacy in the District, with an
amendment protecting the homeopathic
pharmacy.
House bill 9s42, relating to the adultera-
tlon of foods and drugs in the District.
| This is Mr.. McCormicks bill, and has been
| published in full in The Star.
House bill 1Ue}S to regulate the sale of
| poisons in the District.
House bill 1Ol22. relating to the inter-
ment of bodies in Graceland cemetery
The committee will give a hearing to-
morrow morning at 1890 o'clock upon
House joint resolution 212. suspending the
act of February IL, 1885, relative to claims
| against the District.
To Prevent Smoke.
Mr.. Mcmillan introduced In the Senate
| this afternoon 4 bill for the prevention of
| smoke in the District of Columbia and for
| ether purposes" The measure provides
! that from and after January L. 1895, the
| emission of dense or thick black or gray
| smoke from any smokestack or chimney
| used in connection with stationary engine,
| steam boiler or furnace of any description
| when in the District of Columbia shall be
/ deemed and is hereby declared to be a
| public nuisance. Provided, that nothing in
| this act shall be construed as applied to
| chimneys of buildings used exclusively for
| private residences" A penalty of from
| $40 to sioo Is provided for every day of the
| violation of this law 1t further provides
| for the appointment OF a smoke inspector
| al a salary OF 81 800.
Mr.. Morrill, introduced in the Senate to-
| day petition from the Garden Memorial
| Presbyterian Church of Anacostia, d. c.,
| against the sale Of intoxicating liquors in
| the Capitol.