Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-07
REVIEWS OBJECTIONS
Health Officer Restates Views
on Pure Food Bill.
THE ISSUE DISCUSSED
REPLY TO MIR. FREAR AND HIS
ASSOCIATES.
Application Of the Proposed Law on
Interstate Commerce-The Diff
ferences Noted.
THE ISSUE DISCUSSED

DR.. W. c.. Woodward, the health officer,
has submitted a statement to the Com
missioners in reply to the letter OF Mr..
William Frear, chairman of the executive
committee Of the Pure Food Congress, and
others, dated January 8. 1903. relative to
certain pure food legislation now pend
ing in Congress, and to the recent commu-
nication Of his office concerning the same.
1.-The health department has approved
none of the so-called pure-food legislation
which Congress has recently been so
strongly urged to enact" said DR.. Wood
ward. ut has, however. not felt called
upon to oppose such legislation so long as
the interests OF the District were not in
volved. The letter recently addressed by
the health officer to the Commissioners
relative to such legislation explicitly rec
commended that the Commissioners. with
out committing themselves generally either
for or against any Of the pending legisla-
ton for the regulation Of traffic in foods
and drugs, take such action as may be
necessary to secure the exemption Of the
District of Columbia from the operation OF
such legislation as may be enacted
whether the pending pure food legisla-
ton will, If enacted, repeal all or merely
a part Of the laws now in force In this Dis
trtct relative to such matters Is not yet
apparent. even after a most painstaking
view Of the fact that the writer's Of the
communication now under consideration
have failed to state any reason for their
opinion that it will not repeal such legis-
lation except in SO far as relates to inter-
state commerce, the health department
must decline to accept such opinion.
Would Hesitate Even Then.
eff the enactment of the pending legisla-
ton were likely to result in such incalcul-
able benefit to eighty million people, as
suggested by Mr.. Frear and his associates,
and 1t were impossible to amend it so as
to duly protect the interests Of the three
hundred thousand citizens of this District.
the health department would hesitate long
before taking any action that might him
der or prevent its enactment. The depart
ment has, however never been able to dis
cover the enormous benefits to be derived
from the enactment of this legislation and
is quite confident that, in any case, the
proposed proviSo exempting the District
from its operations will in no way impede
its general efficiency. In view of the fact
that by the communication submitted by
the gentlemen above mentioned the general
merits Of such legislation have been drawn
into controversy, and it is sought to sac
rifice what the health department believes
to be the interests Of the people Of this
District If necessary, to secure the enact
ment of this measure, the views of the
health department relative to its general
value may well be considered.
THE object Of the legislation now under
consideration is to insure purity in foods
and drugs sold throughout the United
States. combined with uniformity of trade
conditions, as to standards, etc. This OBJ
ject is admittedly meritorous. The merits
of the legislation itself, however must be
determined by the manner in which this
object is sought and the extent to which
it will be attained, and cannot be predicated
on the mertorious object for which such
is designed