Evening star., 1902-03-17
A PURE FOOD LAW
Testimony Before a House
Committee Today.
DIR. WOODWARD TALKS
HE HAS A LIVELY COLLOQUY
WITH REPRESENTATIVE MANN.
Criticism of the Mann-Corliss Meas
ure-The Hepburn Bill Favored
by Other Witnesses.

Albert Kaiser, president of the Retail
Merchants Association of Pennsylvania and
Of the Philadelphia Retail Grocers Asso-
cis ton, was heard by the House committee
on commerce today on the pending pure
food legislation.
Mr.. Kaiser said the grocers of his state
were not in sympathy with the contention
of the National Retail Grocers' Associa-
tion that to require goods to be labeled SO
to show their contents would be unde-
srable legislation.
I'VE think that the consumer has right
to know exactly what he is buying for food,
and also the retail dealer ought to know
what he is selling said Mr.. Kaiser.
The provisions of the Hepburn bill In
this regard were declared to meet the de-
sires Of the Pennsylvania retail dealers,
and Mr.. Kaiser said that this bill was the
only one of the pending measures which
would result in protecting the public These
interests would be conserved only to a linn
tied degree by the Corliss bill. which
sought only to prevent the sale of deleteri-
Gus articles of food. but fails to define the
contents Of any article
Health Officer Woodward.
Dr. Woodward. health officer of the Dis
trict of Columbia was also heard by the
committee. On taking the stand DR.. Wood
Secretary Wederburn Of the national pure
food congress to call attention to some Of
the technea! defects of the Mann-Corliss
bill 1t is understood that both DR.. Wood
ward and Mr.. Wederburn are advocates of
the Hepburn bill but the doctor said he
did not care to go into detail on that meas
ufe at this time.
The first criticism DR.. Woodward made
brought him at once into SEE ming conflict
with Representative Mann. and lively
cOlloquy followed regarding the success OF
the pure food laws of the District of CO.
lumbia.
DR.. Woodward had said that there was
no provision in the Mann-Corllss bill to re-
uuire food samples to be sold to inspectors.
such provision as that would be un-
constitutional and silly" remarked Mr.
Mann. land any lawyer knows that it
could not be enforced"
I'VE have such a provision in the Dis
trict law replied Dr. Woodward.
But you have never prosecuted any one
under it, retorted Mr.. Mann.
"Oh. yes. We have" was the reply.
A Lively Colloquy.
"Well, if the one prosecuted had gone
into court on that question he .would have
won.' said Mr.. Mann But" he contin-
ued, 'you are not a lawyer. DOCTOR"
Il am a member of the District bar" was
the reply of the doctor.
Then what do they call you doctor for?"
interjected Representative Adamson. Are
YOU doctor of divinity?"
II am an NJ. D. and a LII. D." replied
the doctor, land as health officer of the
District have had experience in all phases
of enforcing pure food LEGISLATION,
rs there any impure food sold in the
District now?" queried Mr.. Mann.
YES" replied DR.. Woodward.
why don't you stop it?" again queried
Mr.. Mann Haven't you got a perfect
pure food law here?'
mo, SIR" was the reply. I'VE also have
laws against robbery and murder, but still
those crimes are committed" replied the
doctor. Still, we have succeeded in pun
ishing several violators Of the law"
But robbery is done In the dark and
murder in the heat Of passion" retorted
Mr.. Mann. "and impure food is sold delib-
erately. But do you have any difficulty In
enforcing the pure food laws Of the Dis
trict of Columbian
None, SO far as the health department
is concerned, except in the lack Of money
for laboratory purposes.
"Of course exclaimed Mr.. Mann, with a
wave Of his hand. you are always def
cient In money down there"
snact Are af ask foaa no new reniad the doc
tor. He then pointed out that there was
no way under the Mann-Corliss bill to
hold goods subject to condemnation pend
ing an investigation. If food inspector,
under the bill, should buy sample of food
and take it away for analysis, which would
doubtless take a week or two, II the goods
were deleteriOuS there Is nothing to pre-
vent the dealer getting rid of them during
that time, and when condemnation pro-
ceedings should be begun there would be
no goods to condemn.
With these criticisms DR.. Woodward fin
ished..
A. c. Morrison, secretary-treasurer of the
American Baking Powder Association of
New York city, advocated the Hepburn BILL
Mr.. Morrison's testimony related entire
ly to the baking powder business He said
he appeared for the alum baking powder
interests, who wanted the most stringent
pure food laws that could be passed.