Evening star., 1902-03-14
FOR PURE FOOD LAW
Discussion Continued Before
House Committee.
MR.. MILLER'S VIEWS
DECLARES HEPBURN BILL
WOULD WORK GREAT INJURY.
Mr.. Moses of New York Says Confec-
tionery Clause of Brosius Bill
is All Right.
MR.. MILLER'S VIEWS

| Pure food was again the subject of dis
cussion before the House committee on
commerce for an hour and half today.
Mr.. NJ. NJ. Miller of Chicago completed his
remarks in advocacy of the Corliss bill be-
gun yesterday.
Mr.. Miller dire the force of his argu-
ment against the regulations promulgated
by state food commissioners under state
laws. 1t was his belief that the Brosius-
Hepburn bill would give a national food
commissioner power to also promulgate
rules which would be a great hardship to
dealers
Mr.. Miller was emphatic in his declara-
ton that the Hepburn bill would make in
nocent persons liable to arrest and impris-
onment. He declared that any legislation
which went beyond dealing with food prod
ucts which were deleterious to health
would be disastrous to the business inter-
eStS of the country.
Chairman Hepburn asked Mr.. Miller If,
in his opinion, any national food legislation
was necessary, to which he replied in the
negative.
Opposed to Hepburn Bill.
The provision in the Hepburn bill re-
quiring goods to be labeled SO as to show
their contents would. if that bill should be
put into effect July /, for instance, render
valueless a large proportion of the goods
on the market, according to Mr.. Miller. At
the same time Mr.. Miller declared that
there was not, in his opinion, wholesale
house in the country which was selling
deleterious food.
The concise explanation of the Corliss bill
given by Mr.. Miller was that 1t would alb
solutely prevent the shipment from one
state to another of food products which
were deleterious to health. The penalty
would be confiscation of the goods and pub
licity, which would absolutely ruin the firm
manufacturing them.
Mr.. Miller admitted that this bill would
not prohibit the retail dealer from making
adulterations, but said the state laws would
provide against such frauds AT the close
of Mr.. Millers remarks Mr.. Hepburn in
formed him that the committee was not
committed to any bill in particular.
Representative of Confectioners.
Mr.. Robert H. Moses. wholesale confec-
toner of New York city, and member Of
the National Confectioners' Association,
spoke for delegation present, consisting Of
Mr.. James J. Matchett, president of that
association. and Mr.. H. w. Hoops. chair
man of it's executive committee. Mr.. Moses
said:
1--WE appear before your committee as the
representatives of the National Confection-
ers' Association, which was organized eigh-
teen years ago it's first object being to pre-
vent the hurtful adulteration Of confection-
cry
Through the efforts Of this association
pure candy laws have been passed in thirty
three states and the District of Columbia
and similar laws also exist in six other
states.
The association has been represented at
each of the pure food congresses held in
this city since 1855, and has steadfastly en-
deavored to have incorporated in national
pure food bill the same provisions that now
exist in the statutes of nearly all the states.
Confectionery Clause All Right.
What is known to us as the confection-
cry clause was embodied in the Brosius bill
as favorably reported by the committee on
the interstate and foreign commerce two
years ago. and this bill was entirely satis-
factory to the confectionery industry which
we represent.
The present House bin, No. 31O9 also
contains the confectionery clause and all
that we ask is that it shall not be elimi-
mated, and that whatever pure food meas
ure may be reported by this committee
shall contain the specific definition of adu-
teration in confectionery which is found in
lines l6 to -, inclusive, on page Of bill
No. 3lO9.
This clause distinctly defines what shall
constitute adult Grafton in confectionery, and
is precise III it's terms and easily under
stood. Any pure food law which does not
make a separate and specific classification
OF confectionery would restrict and annoy
honest confectioners, while lacking that
clear and exact definition which would eff
fectually prevent harmful adulterations.
To Prevent Adulteration.
This separate classification of confecton-
cry has been almost universally adopted by
such states have enacted general pure
food laws, and 1t is Of the very greatest
consequence tC confectioners that national
law intended for regulating interstate traf-
fc shall not conflict with the state laws now
in force dealing on the same subject.
1.-The National Confectioners' Association
has devoted it's energies for eighteen years
to the prevention of adulteration Of con-
fectionery. We want Congress to help us,
not to hinder u.s. The confectionery clause
as it now stands in House bin No. 31O9. is
all right. We want to be sure that it will
stay there"