Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-14
NEW PURE FOOD Law
Complete Federal Jurisdiction
Given Over Imports.
DIR. WILEY'S CIRCULAR
SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS TO BE
FURNISHED.
If Adulterated Goods May Be Confis-
cated-Articles Likely to Be Bar
red-Home Products Affected.

Federal jurisdiction OF the most COM
plete and drastic kind Is given over the
imports OF foods, drugs and liquors by
a simple paragraph in the law making
appropriation for the expenses Of the De-
partment of Agriculture for the year be-
ginning July next. The bureau of chem
istry of this department, under Dr. w. H
Wiley. has issued a circular setting forth
the text Of the new Jurisdiction, which,
1t Is declared. will be strictly enforced as
soon as the law becomes operative.
Under its terms the Secretary of the
Treasury Is authorized to furnish to the
Secretary of Agriculture for analysis sam
pies of foods, drugs and liquors imported
into the United States. If this analysis
Shall show that such samples contain i'm
purities, are adulterated, that the label
on the package does not state exactly
what the package contains or that the
goods are put up in violation of the laws
or the country in which they were manu-
!actured or from which they were shipped
the goods may be confscated The sam
pies are to be obtained from original pack
ages as they arrive by the customs officials
Language Of the New Law.
Heretofore there has been a limited
authority exercised over the imports of
FOOD and drug products, but the burden of
proof was placed entirely on the United
States and goods condemned were turned
back to the shipper. The new law, which
Is declared to meet all requirements for
complete control Of foreign food and drug
products sent to this country, was passed
through Congress without exciting atten-
ton or comment, and is regarded as the
greatest victory yet obtained by pure foor
opponents. Its exact language is as fol-
lows:
To investigate the adulteration of foods,
drugs and liquors, when deemed by the
Secretary of Agriculture advisable: and the
Secretary of Agriculture, whenever he has
reason to believe that articles are being
imported from foreign countries which by
reason Of such adulteration are dangerous
to the health of the people of the United
States. or which are forbidden to be sold or
restricted in sale in the countries in which
they are made or from. which they are ex-
ported. or which shall be falsely labeled
in any respect in regard to the place OF
manufacture or the contents Of the pack
age, shall make a request upon the Sec
rotary of the Treasury for samples from
original packages of such articles for In
spection and analysis; and the Secretary
of the Treasury is hereby authorized TO
open such original packages and deliver
specimens to the Secretary Of Agriculture
for the purpose mentioned, giving notice 10
the owner or consignee of such articles,
who may be present and have the rlgnt
to Introduce testimony; and the Secretary
of the Treasury shall refuse delivery 10
the consignee of any such goods winch tne
Secretary Of Agriculture reports 70 MN MN
have been inspected and analysed ana
found to be dangerous to health, or Wmcn
are forbidden to be sold or restricted IN
sale in the countries in which tney are
made or from which they are exported or
which shall be falsely labeled IN any re-
snect in regard to the place of manufacture
or the contents of the package.
Authority Not Generally Known.
DIR. Wiley called attention to the ne"
authority in discussing the advisabliity OF
federal pure food law before the congress
of American physicians and surgeons. nc
said the fact that this added authority hao
been given was not generally KNOWN pu.
that it was regarded as highly important
legislation; that the Department OF Asli
culture was preparing through 1000 anu
drug ANALYSIS to put the same into 1mme-
date effect, and that by reason OF the lew
ports of entry where such prooucls canle
into this country the enforcement Oh ,Ie
new law would not be an expensive under
taking.
ticles that might be barred under the rev
law, among which were French wines ana
German sausages The wines from France,
he said were labeled pure French wines
but as matter of fact, he asserted mat
none of them were pure french wines Dut
blends of French and other wines. ms
fact had been ascertained by inspectors OF
the department abroad. The German sau-
sage imported into this country contained
bOraX, ne SdlQ, ana dS dtIludiJ WAS oU-
jecting to American meats on the ground
that they were preserved with botaX, 1t
would doubtless be impossible to get any
imported German sausages In the United
States after the LIST of July.
The enforcement of this law will be Il de-
cided step forward toward securing pure
foods in the United States According to
Dr. Wiley 1t is the forerunner of federal
pure food law which will give the De-
partment of Agriculture the same author
ity over foods, drugs and liquors in this
country. He declared that the united oppo-
sition of the food manufacturers in this
country to a national pure food law had
been withdrawn, and that the next Con-
gress would doubtless consummaue this
legislation, which had been the subject of
debate and contention for many years.
Supervision of American Foods.
In the sana section of the appropriation
bill referred to there was re-enacted au-
thority for the supervision of American
foods intended for export to foreign coun-'
tries. This paragraph gives authority to
the Secretary of Agriculture to examine
and analyze food products intended for
shipment out of the United States. and
has been enforced by the department with
good effect.
DIR. Wiley explained that the manner of
putting the new authority into effect would
doubtless be through the consular agents
of the government. The nature of intend
ed shipments of food products to this coun-
try from abroad would be obtained in ad-
vance. and the consular officer directed to
turn back the consignment The average
monthly imports of foods, drugs and drinks
into the United States are approximately