Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-10
Bill MEETS APPROVAL
Marks Long Step Forward In
Legislation to Restrict
Fsod Adulteration
NEW OFFICE CREATED BY IT
The State Dairy and Food Commission
or Will Succeed to All the outies and
Compensation Now Pertaining to
tho Dairy commi.sioner-Part of the
Bill is Somewhat Novel.

Bill is Somewhat Novel.
| Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Dec. 10.-The state board
of agriculture has taken the initiative
in the movement for placing the laws
of Iowa on the same basis as respects
shutting out adulterated food as the
laws of the most progressive states.
The law creating the board of agricul-
tura provides that the board shall in
vestigate the question of food ad'llter-
ations and report needful legislation to
restrict or prevent the same. In ac-
cordance with this law the board last
year appointed a committee consisting
of ex- Governor S. B. Packard. of Mar
Molnes, to make investigation and re-
port. This committee has carried on
an exhaustive investigation the past
year and has prepared report of great
interest which includes, also, draft
OF bill which has met the approval of
committee of the grocers association
and other bodies interested in the
measure. The board will use all it's
ers, jobbers and consumers, to have
the bill enacted into law at the next
session OF the general assembly. In
view OF the strong backing OF the bill
It is believed that II will be accepted
by the legislature almost without
change. The law will mark a long step
forward in legislation OF this class for
lows.
Governor Packard has taken especial
pains to investigate the whole subject.
The board placed some money at the
disposal of the committee with which
to secure analyses OF food products in
this state and the committee had an
alyses made by DR.. j. B. Weeins, of
Iowa state college. and his report is
|arpcnded. From this and from study
of the reports of the committees cf con-
gress which Investigated the subject
and reports of food commissioners In
other states the committee reached the
conclusion that adulteration and mis-
branding OF food products reaches 10
per cent Of the products consumed, and
that per cent is harmful or deleteri-
ous In some cases "the doctors dis
agree" as to the harmfulness Of certain
foods. All the states have laws against
adulteration, many of the laws are like
those in this state, imperative because
there is no provision for any system of
inspection or practical method of en-
forcemerit, and such states are made a
dumping ground for adulterate1 food
stuffs that cannot be sold in states hav-
ing food commissioners authorized to
enforce the laws The legislature of
Iowa is therefore urgently requested
to pass bill that will accomplish the
results intended. In the past various
objections have been raised to the bills
presented by manufacturers, whole
salers or retailers Indeed the commit
tee Is of the opinion that the strife be-
tween the cream OF tartar baking pow
der men and the alum baking powder
men has been the chief cause for the
failure OF congress to adopt a national
law. The committee endeavored to
frame q bill that will give to the trade
ltle1 &lultCSt4 lIGCQOii lioAA AiAoy dhSS
possible while preventing frauds and
deception.
The bill creates the office Of "State
Dairy and Food Commissioner" and he
succeeds to oil the duties and COM
pensations now pertaining to the dairy
commissioner. With the approval of
the executive council he may appoint
assistants who shall receive So a day
and expenses, and 5000 year is added
to the present salary of the dairy COM
missioner An official chemist is to be
appointed at $1,000 a year and labora
tory and apparatus shall be furnished
him. The commissioner shall make
rules for carrying out this act and pro-
cure samples of food offered for sale
for examination by the chemist. The
certificate Of the chemist as to the
contents of substance shall be prina
facia evidence The commission er shall
have the facts certified to any county
attorney who shall proceed to prose-
cute for violations The essential clause
of the bill is "No person by himself
his servant or agent. or as the servant
or agent of any other person, shall
manufacture or introduce into the state
or SOllCll or tdhG oi 0SiS ASi 'aciiS 81 -
or sell, exchange, deliver or have in
his possession with intent to sell. ex
change. expose or offer for sale or
exchange, any article of food which Is
adulterated or misbranded within the
meaning of this act
The part of the bill that is new and
somewhat novel and which 1t is be-
sieved will draw to the bill many sup
oorters is in the phrase "or solicit or
AXE orders for delivery" which Will
tasten the responsibility upon the
lgent who goes about disposing of
goods that are not right. The chief
objection of the retail grocers of the
state has been that the penalties have
.pplied to the seller only, since thf
manufacturer, If he lives in another
tate, can not be reached. The word
food is defined in the bill to include
III articles used as food. drink, con-
dictionary or condiment by men or do
nestle animals. "Misbranded' signifies
earring false statement as to ingredi
,nts substances or quantity contained
n package offered for sale, or false
tatement as to the state or country
here manufactured or produced. The
definition Of "adulteration" Is identical