New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
The PURE FOOD LAW.
genious o

II Is 70 he boped that before Congress au-
iourns the Senate will act favorahiy upon 'ne
pure Food bill which passed the House peioie
4be halliday recess There has been some aifel-
sitv of opinion to the precise form "hich '"'A
legislation should take, and this measure sa'
of compromise 1t is not so severe anu eiipna''c
as many would like, but perhaps IL is the oe'.
that the country is likely TO get ior 'e'e."i
wears Good judges hope that dehhlte pehe,'''
lii reSult from its enactment without further
obonoe The subject has been agitated so Wig
orouslv of late that little new light is hkeiy 10
he obtained by further discussion. Ii cahhot oe
truly alleged that the adoption OF the measure
now would be premature. Finally, IL Is e'Auei't
that there is a distinct demand Tor Ieoeiai
law of this sort. Mr. Hepburn SAID TO tue riouse
q few weeks ago that on no questoh oi ia'e
wears have the petitions to congress peen 'o
numerous and urgent as on that OIL pure ioo''
and drugs
There cannot be any reasonable doupt that
tbe neople need protection from fraud in the
.obasa of these articles The legal maxim,
caveat erlptor does not here apply, because IL
is not in the power of the buyer 10 ten the
quality of the goods he is getting Indeed, he
huvs even without suspicion articles in WHICH
some harmless substitute for the genuine thing
has been introduced or to which for preserVa-
five nurposes chemical agents have been adoeo
that NAV prove deleterious to health NOW, IL
he wants grated turnip for horse radlsh, CARROT
paste for tomato catsup cornmeal for mustaro'
chalk for sugar in candy, cottonseed OIL TOT
olive oil perhaps it would be naroship "
deny him the privilege. At any rate thoush'
they should be so labelled that there can pe no
deception Manufacturers and dealers shoulo
be compelled either to mark these adultefatohs
conspicuously or else not to sell them at all
Still more urgent is the necessity Tor prohipit
inc traffic in less innocent articles, like en-
balrned beef fruit and vegetables. Since uls
putes may arise as to the nature and erect u
such preparations, the law in question creates
a competent commission to examine them "heh
il is asked to do so. Though the conhscauon oI
merchandise shipped from one State to ahothel
in violation of this statute seems like hght
penalty few prompt prosecutions VIII GER
tainly have a salutary effect
Not the least important advantage Oh a leu
oral rure food law would be that it would tend
TO encourage uniformity in State Ieglslauoh
At the present time no less than thirty-six
States have laws relative to this subject, but
their requirements differ widely, and they are
no+ all enforced with the same zeal. Mr.. Hep
burn has expressed regret that the bill now
rndar consideration disavows interference with
the police power of the States Perhaps that
precaution was wise, however 1t would be un-
fortunate 10 have any question OF conStltu-
tionality arise to embaTass the lmmedlate en-
forcement of the law when it is once placed on
tbe statute books Due Difference to the prln-
cipIe of State sovereignty, moreover, VIII tehu
to hasten those changes in existing laws whlch
are needed TO promote aSsmliauon a ihoIe
impetuous crusade at the outset might possibly
have defeated its own object, and it, after a
fair trial, the law appears inadequate steps
NAV then he taken to render it more strenuous