The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-12
THE PURE FOOD BILL.
Report of the Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee.


The report of the House Committee On
Interstate and Foreign Commerce on the
Pure Food bill has been presented by Nj.
Barham This BILL" the report recites,
does not interfere with any legitimate
trade or industry. or prohibit the Use
of any product whatever SO long as that
product has not been duly adjudged in
furious to health by an impartial commits
sion. 1t simply requires that every product
offered for sale and which is transported
from one State into another shall be
branded true to name. 1t lifts an immense
burden from the shoulders of the retailer.
who, under existing State laws, is made to
bear the burden of the wrongdoing of men
outside his State who sell to him. Ii per-
mits him TO secure a certificate of purity
from the men from whom he purchases,
and this enables the agent of the Govern
ment TO follow to its fountain head the
misbranded product and bring the penalties
for violations of the proposed law upon the
head of the guilty man, and not upon the
innocent druggist or the modest corner
grocerymen.
THE report of the Agricultural Depart
ment estimates that the amount OF fraudu-
lent adulteration reaches Is per cent, and
of injurious authorizations per cent of the
product consumed. The latter figures We're
based on careful estimates prepared by the
American Grocer of New York, and the
former were based on figures secured by
representatives Of the Department who di
vided the averages received from nearly all
the States in half so as not to exaggerate
These figures have been generally accepted
by the officials as a basis that could not be
impeached.
1T is estimated that each person In the
United States consumes of food, drugs, and
liquors an average of only 81 per week. and
that the population reaches 1900, coo, from
which it follows that. the consumption
reaches $150,CO0,0 coo weekly, $500, OCO, 900
annually, and that on basis of 10 per cent
the fraudulent adulteration reaches 81, 170
100000 every year, and hurtful and injuri
Gus authorizations amount annually to the
sum of s156 COO. 0t0-a sum, altogether out of
proportion to the benefit received even by
the perpetrators of the crime but which.
through such frauds. the honest producer
OF pure product and the honest dealer in
handling such product and the consumer
who buys the impuregand misbranded prod
uct are compelled TO pay or lose as the case
may be. 60 that the fraudulent vender may
enrich himself at their expense, to the dis
credit OF the American goods
This bill does not in any way inter-
Iere with the production or manufacture
Of anything that is not deleterious to
health. 1t specifically provides that no
manufacturer shall be compelled to make
his trade formula public. Such publication
would teopardze many honorable and
lucrative business interests. 1t protects
the producer and manufacturer against
competition with those who improperly
brand their products. The object and
purpose of this legislation is TO secure
freedom from fraud and misrepresenta-
ton in the commerce OF food products To
this end it forbids:
"First-Interstate traffic in articles in
furious to health.
'Second-Improper branding. 1t in no
way interferes with any article that is
properly branded. No compound or mix
ture is legislated against. 1t provides that
all food products shall be properly brand
ed. An imitation. IF it is an imitation,
shall be branded as such. and a compound.
If it is compound, shall be so branded
that any man who goes upon the market
to buy shall be protected in his rights in
securing the article for which he asks and
for which he pays his money He is Sc
cured from the danger Of having some
bogus or injurious product passed off upon
him.