The Washington times., 1902-03-17
OPPOSE PENALTIESFOR
ADULTERATING FOOD

bill and favor the Corliss bill In justice
to Representative Corliss of Michigan.
whose name is attached to the bill, II
should be said that he introduced the bill
"by request" as stated on the bill This
proposed measure is a modified form Of
the Mann bill. introduced hy Representa-
tive Mann of Chicago. and was drafted by
became evident that some form of a pure
food bill was likely to pass.
The bill contains in its first section the
statement that 1t is bill for the pur-
pose OF preventing the transportation OF
articles OF food and drink and articles
and compounds intended to be used in the
preparation Of food and drink offered for
sale in the District of Columbia, ETC."
The section does not mention the char
acter of the food products whose trans
portation is to be prevented.
The section provides. however. that
there shall be created new bureau OF
the Department of Agriculture. whose
head shall be known as the food COM
missioner. who shall be appointed by the
President for a four-year term and re-
Sections 2, 3. and 4 recite the extraordi
nary powers which 1t is proposed to con-
fer upon the food commissioner.
He is first empowered to have ana1yzed
articles OF food or drink or compounds in
tended to be used in the preparation of
such articles offered for sale in the Dis
trict of Columbia or Territories or found
in any other State than where they we're
The results OF such ex-
aminations are to be communicated to
Congress.
Should the food commissioner find
that any article of food or drink or any
article or compound intended to become
an ingredient in composition or prepa-
ration for food or drink contains amy
or substances which are in the
quantity used or intended to be used
ieleterious to health" and 1t has come
within the scope OF interstate Commerce
laws, he Is empowered to seize the same
and conf1scate it by a process Of libel
Tor condemnation" The proceeds of the
sale OF such confiscated goods are to be
paid into the United States Treasury
The bill also provides that ANY per-
on, company, or corporation engaged or
in the manufacture of food
PRODUCTS" may submit to the food COM
missioner a formula for the manufacture
t any preparation Of food or drink II
he food commissioner approves the for
nula it is provided the act shall not ap-
ly to any preparation prepared in ac-
ordanee with the formula If he does
ot approve the formula he shall enter
is disapproval on a record and his rea-
ons for disappearing it.
Section provides that nothing therein
ontained shall apply to any article in
ended to be used as a medicine only"
Confscation the Only Penalty.
The Corliss bill proposes to infict no
lrther penalties than the. confscation of
ie products found to be aduiterated and
len only when they are adulterated with
distances which are 'in the quantity
;ed. or intended to be used, deleterious to
,alth." In other words under this bill
cd products may be adulterated ad libi-
m so long as .'deleterious' substances
e not used in quantities ''deIeterious"
health. Again. the possibilities of tho
lvertisement contained in the reports
ade to Congress OF the analysis of food
oducts are magnificent.
But by far the greatest opportunities
e afforded in the section relating to the
proval of the formulas. After for
ula is once approved by the food COM
ssioner it is made impossible for any
wer to interfere with the transporta-
m or sale OF products man1Ifsa eets.rati In
cordance with the formula. The power
IS with the food commissioner to ap-
owe or reject the formulas.
The Hepburn bill which is opposed by
E Illinois manufacturers, provides the
-ictest regulations for the sale of food
oducts and severe penalties. including
nfiscation of the goods. fines, and i'm
isonment for the violators of the act.
applies to confections and drugs as
III as to food products, and instead of
lging all power in food commissioner,
ovides for a board composed of physi-
ms. experts. and others who are to de-
mine the food standards
The committee is said to be more kindly
iposed toward the Hepburn bill than
: Corliss bill. and the former will prob
ly be favorably reported TO the House.