Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-13
Commissioners Want Control
of Local Traffic.
MAKE SUGGESTIONS
COMMUNICATIoN TO BE ADDRESS
ED TO CONGRESS.
Copies of Correspondence to Be For
warded Also-Exceptions to Pro-
posed Legislation.

Commissioner Mcfarland, who has super
vision of the health department. has recon-
mended to his associates that letter be
addressed to the appropriate committees. OF
the Senate having Jurisdiction of proposed
legislation relative to traffic in foods and
drugs, st ating that the Commissioners earn.
estly recommend that In any law that may
be passed upon the subject provision BE-
made bringing the standards for foods and
drugs in the District into correspondence
with the standards to be established Tor
foods and drugs IN Interstate commerce, and
reserving to the Commissioners the enforce
ment Of the law so far as it relates to local
traffic.
Mr.. Mcfarland suggests also that the
Commissioners recommend that no law be
passed which does not expressly preserve
the integrity Of the present laws regulating
in the District Of Columbia the sale Of milk
and of other perfshable commodities conn
ing under the head Of food products. MI
Mcfarland moves that copies Of the COM
municatfons of the District health officer
on the subject of the legislation be sent to
the committees.
Dr. Woodward, the health officer. recon-
mended that the Commissioners take such
action as might be necessary to secure the
exemption OF the District from the opera
ton Of the pending legislation. He argued
at some length as to the value Of the laws
now In force in this city. and spoke of the
complications that would arise II the local
laws were wiped out in favor OF the inter-
state bill. DR.. Woodward also called atten-
ton to the fact that the Department Of
Agriculture would be given exclusive au-
thority IN the enforcement of the laws. He
thought this power should rest with the
health department. Mr.. Macfarland's rec
ommendatiOn Is in line with these sugges-
tons The national pure food congress
asked the Commissioners not to oppose the
legislation The Commissioners do not Op-
pose The legislation, but merely suggest the
amendments which they deem necessary to
meet local conditions.
Mr.. Frailey's Letter.
The latest communication on the subject
Is letter from the Association of Manufac-
turers and Distributors of Food Products
signed by L. NJ. Frailey of Camden, NJ J..
chairman OF the food committee Mr. Frai-
ley says the need for the legislation Is ap-
parent, but he sees no reason why the Dis
trict should be exempted
I'VE note" he writes that Dr. w c.
Woodward, the health officer, is endeavor-
ing to have the District Of Columbia ex-
empted from the provisions Of the pure
food bill of Mr.. Hepburns that has just
passed the House. and the McCumber bill,
now in the Senate. AS an association in
terested in the passage Of a national pure
food bill, comprising a large majority of
the extensive manufacturers in our particu-
ton OF DR.. Woodward to the passage of
the national pure food bill, In as far as his
request for the exemption of the District of
Columbia from It's provisions be withdrawn.
Inc necessity OF congressional legisla-
ton on this subject is apparent to all fair
| minded people, and it would be source of
regret were any action on the part Of the
Districts health officer to cause the hold
Ing up or the defeat of this act at this ses-
sion OF Congress- There are large united
interests behind this bill. endeayoring to
get a proper consideration by the Senate,
end with the hope Of having 1t passed be-
fore Congress adtournS, we do not, If pos
sible, wish to see any obstacle placed In the
way of Its being given prompt considera-
ton In the Senate and becoming a law. II
DIR. Woodward's views are favorably re-
ceived, 1t would require an amendment
which would send the bill back to the
House for action. and We fear that such de-
lay would be fatal Besides, as the bill Is
fair and equitable in It's provisions, we can
see no reason why the District of Column
bia should be excluded and have it's pure
food authority administered on different
basis from the other territories
Health Officers Comment.
This letter was referred to Dr. Wood
ward and he has reported upon 1t, saying:
The health officer regrets very much the
necessity for differing with the writer of
the communication as to the merits Of the
legislation herein referred to- The rea-
sons for such difference have been so fully
set forth in recent reports that 1t does not
appear necessary to repeat them here. 1t
Is respectfully recommended that the writ
ers be informed that the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia do not purpose
either to promote or to retard the enact
ment of the legislation referred to, but only
to seek its amendment so far as may be
necessary to maintain within the District
a single lawfully established standard for
each drug or food sold-not one standard
for interstate commerce and another for
local commensurate to preserve for the
people of the District at least such auton-
omy as they now have with reference to
the prevention Of the misbranding and sale
Of adulterated or unwholesome foods CT
drugs"
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