Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-21
PASSED BY THE HOUSE
VOTE ON PURE FOOD BILL WAS
2O1 TO SO.
Amendment Making It Incumbent or
the Government to Prove Intent
to Deceive Rejected.

The House of Representatives passed the
Hepburn pure food bill yesterday after
noon on a rising vote of 201 to 6S. A roll
call on the bill could not be obtained. The
amendment previously adopted in commit
tee of the whole inserting the word will
full" referring to persons who sell adul-
terated or misbranded goods, and which
would have compelled the government to
prove intent to violate the law by the ven
doris. was stricken out on a yea and nay
vote in the House. Several attempts were
made to amend the bill. but no material
changes were made. The bill fixes the
standards of foods and drugs as to their
purity, strength and character, and defines
what shall be considered authorizations or
misbranding Of foods and drugs. 1t also
prohibits interstate commerce, importation
and expectation Of such misbranded or
adulterated articles 1t is proposed to en-
large the scope of the bureau of chemistry
to include the bureau of foods. and impose
ical work for the other executive depart
ments. This bureau will be charged with
the duty of inspecting food and drug prod
ucts which belong to interstate Or foreign
commerce. The Secretary of Agriculture is
given authority to employ such chemists.
inspectors. clerks and laborers as may be
necessary for the enforcement of the act.
One section of the bill provides penalties
LOT the INTRODUCTION OI dOulLeTatGQ OF HIS
branded foods or drugs, and another sec
ton requires the Secretary of Agriculture
to prescribe rules and regula tons to gov
ern the director of the bureau of chemistry
and foods in the examination Of such arti-
cles which are required to be inspected I'M
der the law.
The Division.
In committee of the whole Mr.. Shackle-
ford CMo) made an unsuccessful at
toro Mt To cfrf toa
ton Z, which provides that the Secretary of
Agriculture shall fix standards of food
products. when advisable, for the guidance
Of officials charged with the administration
of the food laws. He contended that 1t
clothes a government officer with too much
authority
Mr.. Clark (Mo), continuing his contention
that sections and of the bill, regarding
the acquisition of samples, were unconsti-
tutional, moved several amendments for
their elimination and modification, but all
were lost.
On motion of Mr.. Fuller Qn3 the bill
was amended SO as to take effect February
l. 1904.
Mr.. Clark (do.) opposed the meas
ure, declaring it to be faulty in many re-
spects, although he favored the object
sought.
Mr. wadsworth IN. ", who had op-
posed the measure on the ground that the
agricultural appropriation bill gave the
Secretary of that department ample au-
thority over the subject, moved to recommit
the bill to the committee. This motion was
lost on a vote of Ill to 100.
The bill then was ordered favorably re-
ported to the House.
AS soon as the bill was reported to the
House Mr.. Hepburn moved an amendment
eliminating the amendment adopted on mo-
ton of Mr. Stephens (Tex.), which made 1t
necessary to show "willfuP' intent on the
part Of persons prosecuted.
The previous question was ordered on the
bill and amendment by rising vote of 1873
to 95. A roll call was demanded on Mr.
Hepburn's amendment Mr.. Hepburn said
that with the Stephens amendment in the
bill it would be entirely ineffica cious as a
law.
The Bill Passed.
The Hepburn amendment was agreed to
by vote of las to 126. The bill then was
passed by rising vote OF 201 to 68, the
yeas and nays having been demanded, but
refused.
Mr.. Hull Qowa), chairman of the COM
mittee on military affairs, reported the
army appropriation bill to the House from
his committee and gave notice that he
would call the bill up for consideration to-
day.