The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-09
The Substitute Discussed.

I
Mr. Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, spoke
| at great length in favor of the appointment
| of a Food Commissioner in every State who
| must be a man of answering integrity. 1t
| is not absolutely necessary. however. that
| he should have grown up in the laboratory
| to fill the office with credit. He can APP
| point expert chemists. Mr.. Hamilton ar
| gued that it is not necessary TO have
| bureau of chemistry in order to protect the
| community from impure foods.
Mr.. Kline of Philadelphia spoke in sup
| port of Mr.. Hamilton's argument. 10 whose
/ ability and integrity he paid high trib
ute. Mr.. Kline said that he could not I'M
| derstand the unseemly desire on the part
| Of some delegates to create the office of
| Food Commissioner: there must be some
reason for 1t. He said that the work could
be conducted under the supervision of the
Secretary of Agriculture of the United
States. as well as the work in Pennsylvania
is performed under the supervision OF the
State Secretary of Agriculture Mr.. Ham
ilton.
Mr.. Abbott of Missouri. was puzzled at
the desire to establish a new Office for
somebody. He appeared to grow excited
and used some sarcastic and severe Ian
guage
Mr. Parlin. of New York. arose on a
point of order. claiming that the argument
of Mr.. Abbott was not to the point. which
objection brought forth loud applause.
DIR. EckcIs Expresses Curiosity.
DR.. Eckels. of New York. said he would
like to have his mind set at ease as re-
CARDS the apparent strong desire 10 es-
tablish the Office of Food Commissioner with
thousands of chemists travelling over the
country at s. per day. Dr. Eckels said he
had heard, while in Washington. that there
was far-reaching conspiracy between a
New York trust and the Bureau of Agri--
culture of New York to dominate this con-
gress.
Mr.. Furnicliffe the author of the resOiu-
ton, said that he had no idea of being a
candidate for the possible Office of Food
Commissioner. and that he had no friends
who had any such idea.
Mr. Hobbs. of New York, stated that he
had seen in some newspapers that his sin
certify in preparing the article which was
ordered eXpunged from the minutes was
doubted. Mr.. Hobbs said he was a grad
uate of one of the best-known chemical
schools of the country, had had fifteen
years practical experience as a chemist,
and had prepared his paper strictly upon
authentic statistics. He said his every
statement was laboratory fact and could
not be successfully contradicted by anyone.
He had nothing to take back
Mr.. Parlin, who, at the morning session,
had severely criticised Mr.. Hobbs paper,
stated that he did not question Mr.
Hobbs integrity, but his good judgment
The president advised Mr.. Parlin to speak
TO the point under discussion. He there
upon stated how the work of investigat-
ing food cases is carried on in the State
Of New York. He said the chemical work
could not be performed in Washington.
-
advised the elimination of all personal
matters from the discussion. He said
that the congress was not body OF poll
ticians striving for Office. but that It
should get down to work on the bill and
dispose of it as body OF good and sen
sible men should.
The Furncliffe substitute for section |
of the Brosius bill was then read by the
recording secretary for the purpose OF
taking a vote upon it.
The motion was finally put 10 stand
ing vote, resulting in its defeat by a
to "A.
There was request for call OF the |
roll on the vote, the charge being made |
that the District of Columbia was repre- |
scented by more delegates than II was on
titled to. There was considerable discus
sion regarding the privileges of the Dis |
trict. 1t was said that there were men |
in the hall who were not members of the !
association and who did not know any |
thing about the pure food question. It |
was charged that the house had been |
packed by Washington interests TO the |
detriment Of outsiders.
The chair ruled section . of the bill in
order and advised the members TO act in
good faith; TO leave all unnecessary de- !
bate out and treat every member with
respect.
J. C. Bell. member OF Congress from
Colorado, vas introduced as the next
speaker He said he was accustomed TO
act and speak under the Reed rules and
he would not talk long. He declared that
the pure food movement was good thing
it not only had in interest the health
Of every man, woman, and child OF the
United States, but also had "A moral side. |
The movement is bound to make the deal
er stand by his goods; it is bound to make
him say butter is butter and oleomarga-
rlne is oleomargarine. He spoke strongly
In favor of pure food legislation and prom
ised his support in Congress when hill
is presented.
DR.. Motter arose and complained that