The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-13
NATIONAL FOOD LAW
ISOLATION RECEIVES
DRAFT OF BILL
TO CREATE NEW DEPARTMENT
Provides for the Construction of II
Laboratory ira Washington,
Where Food Compounds
May he Inspected.

The National Association of Retail
Grocers has prepared bill providing
for a pure food commissioner and a
national pure food law, a copy of which
has been sent to the Minnesota Asso-
cation of Retail Grocers' association,
asl.ing for the support Of that organi-
cation. Accompanying the draft of the
bin in the request for Endorsement, great
stress is laid upon the fact that among
the states of the Union Minnesota is
noted for its pure food laws, and its
manner of enforcement, for which rea-
son the national association is eager to
have its cooperation in congress.
While the Minnesota association has
made no formal decision as to the merits
of the bill, the members are in favor Of
it on the whole. There are some details
OF the bill. that some, perhaps, would
like to see amended, and il is possible
that when the bill comes up before the
local associations Of the state, it may
be changed in some of the minor clauses.
The legal name of the department,
which will be created by this BILL will
be the dairy and food commission. It
provides that the president shahf ap-
point the dairy and food commissioner,
who shall hold his term of office for
four years at a salary of $1,000 a year.
The president also has the power to APP
point an assistant commissioner when
ever he thinks it is necessary. His SAL
airy is to be $500 a year.
Provision is made for the construction
of a laboratory in Washington, where
all foods and articles used in the prepa-
ration of foods may be examined as to
their fitness for human consumption. Elk
Ception is made of food imported from
another country, or food destined to be
exported from the United States.
To carry on this inspection the COM
missioner has the power to appoint twen-
ty-fiVe assistants, whose salary shall be
$3.50 a year. He is also allowed a
chief chemist at a salary of $1,000 a
year, and five assistant chemists at a
salary of $500 The commissioner is
also allowed to hire such clerks and
laborers as the department may need to
perform its duties, whose individual sal
aries shall not exceed $500 a year.
The bill carries with it an appropria-
ton of $150,000 to provide for the carrying
out of its clauses.
The following is an excerpt from the
bill relating to the inspection of food
products, and the course of action of the
commissioner:
Any article of food or drink, or any
article or compound intended to become
an ingredient in g composition or prem
aTdtion for food or drink containing any
substance or substances which are, in the
quantity used o. intended to be used
3eleteriOGs 10 health. and is transported
u being TRANSPORTED from one state to
another for Gale, or if it be sold or Of
fel eG for sale in the District of Column
bia o. any of the territories OF the Unitel
States or if it be imported from for
ejgn country for sale, or if intenda1
fer export to a foreign country. shall
be liable to ne proceeded against in any
district court of the United States with
In the district where the same is found
en6 seized for Confiscat ton by a process
OF libel for condemnation. And if such
article is condemned as being deletericIs
to health in the quantity used or intend
ed to be used. the same shall be disposed
of as the laid court may direct AMI
the proceeds thereof. if sold. less the
legal costs and charges, shall be paid
into the treasury of the United States
of America, but such goods shall not be
sCid IN any state contrary to the laws
Of that state The proceedings of sucn
ibei cases shall conf0 m a. near as NAV
be to proceedings in admiralty except
that either party NAV demand trial by
jury Of any issue of fact Joined in such
case: and all such proceedings shall De
a the suit of and in the name of the
United States.
Tie following is portion of the circular
sent out by the National association:
We have endeavored to construct a
bill that is liberal and broad and will
not antagOaize any con1merciA! inter
est in an arbitrary manner. Our pur-
pose in a food bill is to protect the pub
lie against harm from deleterious foods
to health: this object is fully covered
by the bill. We do not believe it is good
law to prosecute well-meaning and limo