Washington sentinel., 1901-03-16

i tull Dill Will be necessary 10 nnC
out whether in any OF its otheI
sections powers are given beyond
those laid down in the amendment
here referred to.
The second part OF this amend
ment has reference to imported
liquors, foods and drugs, and
placed dealers in these articles
absolutely at the mercy OF who
ever might happen to be at the
head Of the Agricultural Depart
ment. For instance, if we had a
Secretary OF Agriculture who was
in favor oI prohibition, and he con-
celved the idea that all liquors are
dangerous t. the public health, he
would thereupon call upon the
Secretary OF the Treasury
liver in the original package such
consignment for investigation; and
should he de;ide that the liquors
were dangerous to the public
health--to the health OF the people
of the United States il consumed
he would thereupon virtually con-
fscate the consignment, and the
Secretary of the Treasury, upon
such a decision. would refuse to
deliver the goods to the consignee.
This amendment turns over
everything that any citizen of the
United States might desire to buy
from abroad which might properly
come under the designation OF a
food or drug or a liquor into the
control OF the Secretary of Agri
culture. 1t puts a sweeping au
thority IN his hands to absolutely
forbid and preclude its importa-
tion.
II a citizen or resident Of the
United States desires to import
from abroad any one of the arti-
cles coming within these general
descriptions to be used in a way
that would be innocent and not
deleterious or dangerous at all,
and the Secretary OF Agriculture
should conceive the idea that the
importation OF that article ought
to be forbidden, or If we had Sec
retary who might yield to i'm
proper influences-he might shut
out the article in order that some
manufacturer at home might have
monopoly OF it. He can cause
an investigation to be made, and if
it is determined that the article
would be dangerous, il used in any
way. to the health Of an individual,
he might thereupon entirely ex-
clude it, ana deny to the owner OF
1t the right to use it,
This is certainly giving a power
to one man that ought not to be
gwen in a republican government.
No man, no matter how just and
tsir he may be nor how pure his
intention may be, ought to be
vested with the sole power of pre-
venting the importation OF an arti-
Gle into this country simply on his
own ipse dixit.
Debate on this part OF the
amendment developed so much
opposition to it in the shape in
which it was offered that on mo-
ton Of Mr.. Tillman it was amended
so as to provide that the Secretary
OF the Treasury shall refuse deliv-
cry to the conslgnee OF any such
goods which, "6D reason of such
adaItey0ti0N" the Secretary OF Ag.
riculture reports to him to have
been inspected and analyzed and
found to be injurious to health
"6ecaASF Of such 0dulhrakiON"
These additions removed some oi
harshness in which the section was
clothed, but still left much that
was Objectionable.
In calling attention to this mat
ter the SENTINEL will not be un-
derstood as in any way suggesting
wrong motives to the Secretary oi
Agriculture. II these powers are
to be placed in any mans hands,
Mr.. Wilson's will suit US. Nor
will we be understood as opposing
the meritorious features OF the
measure. We simply contend that
its enactment should have been
surrounded with at least the safe
guards provided by the Brosius
pure food bill, we call attention to
the absence of these safeguards,
and aim to impress our patrons
with the necessity of keeping a
sharp eve on all proceedings in
augurated under this bill,
Against 'AIcoh oIism.
The Department OF State has re-