The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-21
PURE FOOD BILL PASSES IN HOUSE Bureau of Chemistry Will Have
 to be Enlarged VIOLATIONS ID BE REPORTED
Act Provides Penalties for the Intro duction of Adulterated and Mis- branded Foods and Drugs.
 Must Inspect Article.

Washington, January 2o-The house passed the Hepburn pure food bill today on rising vote, eO1 to 6S, its opponents being unable to secure a roll call.
 The amendment inserting the word "willful' with reference 10 persons who sell adulterated or misbranded articles, and which would have compelled the gov ernment to prove intent to violate the law by the vendors, 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 what should be con sdered adulterations and misbrandng Of foods and drugs. It also prohibits inter- state commerce, importation and exporta- tion of such msbranded or adulterated articles.
 It is proposed to enlarge the scope or the bureau of chemistry to include the bureau of foods and impose upon 1t the duty of performing all chemical work Tor the other executive departments.
 This bureau will be charged with the duty of inspecting food and drug products which belong to interstate or foreign com- meree 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.
 Penalties Are Provided.
 One section of the bill provides penalties for the introduction of adulterated, mis- branded foods or drugs. and another sec- ton requires the secretary of agriculture to prescribe rules and arrangements to govern the director of the bureau of chem istry and foods in examination of articles required to be inspected under the law.
 Violations of the law shall be reported by the secretary of agriculture to the proper district attorney of the United States who is to direct the case.
 The session opened with the house In continuation of yesterdays sitting in com mittee of the whole. Section was amend ed bys striking out the provisions that the certificate of the secretary of agri- couture showing the results of an analysis in cases where 1t appears that the act had been violated. shall be admitted In evidence in all courts of the United States without further verification."
 Amendment Was Adopted.
 The amendment was adopted only after a long debate.
 MT. Clark Missouri, was supported in his opposition to the provisions by mem bers of both sides of the house. MT. Hepburn said it was the purpose in framing the bill to impose penalties and not to get up a measure without pro hibition or penalty as some dealers might desire.
 On motion of MT. Butler, republican, H. linois. the bill was then ordered favor ably reported to the house.
 As soon as the bill was reported, MT. Hepburn moved an amendment eliminat- ing the amendment adopted yesterday on motion of MT. Stephens, democrat, Texas, which made 1t necessary to show will ful intent on the part of persons in pros- ecution." MT Hepburn said that with the Stephens amendment in the bill, 1t would be entirely inefficacious as a law.
 The Hepburn amendment was agreed to by a vote of 145 to 126.
 The bill then was passed by rising vote of POI to 6s, the yeas and nays being refused.
 Reported Army Appropriation Blll. MT. Hull of Iowa, chairman of the com- mittee on military affairs, reported the army appropriation bill and gave notice that he would call 1t up tomorrow. | MT Payne, chairman of the ways and means committee, reported a substitute | for the Hitchcock resolution calling on | the secretary of the treasury to furnish the house information regarding the number of carriages furnished his depart | ment at the governments expense The substitute, MT. Payne explained, called | for the same information as the original resolution It was agreed to. I Mir Zenor, democrat, Indiana, was granted forty-five minutes speech on good roads He maintained that the general l government should bear 50 per cent of l the cost of construction of the public | highways.
 At 5:30 D. m the house adjourned