Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-05
AGAINST EXEMPTION
WIN. FREAR AND OTHERS TAKE
ISSUE WITH HEALTH OFFICER.
Inclusion Of the District Under Provi-
sions Of Pure Food Bill Before
Congress.

tive committee, and other representatives
of the National Pure Food Congress have
written to the District Commissioners, ask
ing them not to oppose the pure food bill
now pending in Congress. The communica-
ton was called forth by the letter Of DR..
w. G. Woodward, the health officer, in
which he urged the Commissioners to rec
ommend the exception of the District OF
Columbia from the provisions of the law,
saying it would interfere with the present
entirely satisfactory local laws.
Addressing the Commissioners, the rep
resentatives Of the Pure Food Congress
say:
1.-THE National Pure Food Congress, OF
which your health officer was an influential
member, formulated bill which was IN
troduced into the House of Representatives
by the late Mr.. Brosius, under number
1913. At the following session Of Con-
gress (Which Is the present one) the same
bill was introduced by Mr.. Hepburn, under
No. S1O9. The same bill was introduced
in the Senate at the beginning of the pres
ent session by Mr.. Hansbrough, under NO.
3342.
Was Carefully Considered.
blouse bill No. 31O9 was carefully con-
sidered by the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce. and after a hearing last
ing more than three week was reported
with few amendments, not affecting the
purpose or scope Of the measure, and
placed on the House calendar. In like
manner. Senate bill No. 3342, after an elab-
crate hearing, was reported to the Senate.
after unimportant amendments, and placed
on the calendar.
"All these bills contain a provision which
all your petitioners heartily indorse and
support, to the effect that inasmuch as the
bill is intended to regulate interstate COM
merce solely, its provisions should not ap-
ply to the police laws of the states, terri
tories and the District Of Columbia, relat-
ing to adulterated foods and drugs.
when House bill No 3109 was on its
passage a motion was made to strike out
this provision, in so far as it related to the
District of Columbia, and this motion pre-
vailed. 1t is claimed, therefore, in the
communication Of the health officer, to
which reference has been made, that the
enactment into a law Of the food bill. as 1t
ing law and place the administration Of
the food law of the District In the hands
Of the Secretary Of Agriculture.
Health Officers Request.
"To avoid this, the health officer requests
you to endeavor to reinstate in the bill the
exception relating to the District Of Column
bia, in which request the undersigned
heartily concur, and toward which they
promise to use their utmost endeavors
Your health officer, however. goes further
than this and in essence requests you to
use your good offices to prevent all legisla-
ton unless this particular proviso be Sc
cured. In this respect, we beg to submit
our opinion that such an extreme action on
your part is unadvisable. The pure food
bill now pending affects the welfare OF
SO, 100000 people, and secures honesty and
freedom from frauds in commerce which
is worth, at low estimate, two billion
dollars. 1t is a measure which has re-
ceived the approval Of three successive pure
food congresses. Of practically all the mu-
nicipal and state boards of health that have
considered it, Of the great food and dairy
associations, Of the national and state
oranges and nearly all other organized
bodies Interested In pure foods that have
given it consideration. The measure. there
fore, is Endorsed by all the people of the
United States who have given it consid-
Grafton. Any opposition to the bill which
does not spring from conviction that 1t
is too paternal unconstitutional arises
from interests which offer to the public
food products which the law pronounces
deleterious or fraudulent.
ITO oppose such law because 1t might
alter the method Of the execution of a
pure food law in the District of Columbia,
affecting not to exceed 100000 Of our citi-
zens, seems to us a character of Oppos-
ton which your honorable body. after due
| elaboration, would be unwilling to adopt.
Disasters Not Anticipated.
1--WE do not anticipate that any of the
| disasters which your health officer foresees
would really occur, even in case the bill
| should become law as 1t has passed the
| House. The Secretary Of Agriculture Is
not likely to alter in any essential way the
| methods in vogue at the present time, and,
1t is more than probable. would prefer to
utilize the machinery now operative.
without doubt, the definitions and stand
ards found in the proposed bill are better
than those in the existing law, since they
have been formulated from wider and
| more varied experience and by larger
number Of experts. The substitution Of
these definitions and standards would there
fore be a distinct advantage, and If this
should be coupled with a restoration of the
provision struck out by the House the con-
ditions of the administration Of the law
would be better than at the present.
1--WE earnestly request your honorable
body not to oppose the passage of the bill
now pending in the Senate. which safe
guards the rights and privileges Of the
health Office of the District, but, on the con-
trary to use your best offices to secure its