Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-07-12

NOTABLE LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS.


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In number of laws passed. in size OF
appropriations, in length of debates, the
session of Congress just closed was q
-ecord-breaker. Four great laws stand
out as the most important in the recent
history of the country. The railroad rate
bill, the pure food bill, the meat inspec
ton bill and the isthmian canal bill-eacf
IN itself is a conspicuous piece of con
structive legislation, but above them al
The rate bill towers as the memorable
achievement of the entire seven months
work.
Railway Rate Regulation.
Ine bill for the regulation of railway
rates requires all interstate carriers to make
through routes aud reasonable joint charges
1t sweeps into the category of common car
riers all oil pipe lines, express COMPANIES
sleeping car companies and private car lines
Railways are prohibited from engaging in
production or any other business than trans
portation, such as coal mining. but pipe
lines are excluded from this provision.
1t provides that all rates shall be just
and reasonable. and it gives the interstate
commerce commission full power, upon com
plant and after 4 full hearing, to fix d
reasonable and just maximum rate, which
snail take effect within thirty days anG
snail remain in force for two years unless
changed by the commission or set aside by
the courts 1t increases the number OF
commissioners from four to seven, makes
thelf terms seven years and raises theiI
salaries to $4,000.
Violations of the orders OF the commits
sion, IL knowingly committed NAV be nun,
lshed by fine of $4,000 n day, each day
constituting a separate offense,. and enforce
ment of the orders of the commission NAV
De secured either through injunctions oil
mandamuS.
1t provides for a limited review by the
courts of the orders of the commission
but no injunction or decree restraining the
enforcement of an order may be granted ex
cept after not less than five days' notice to
the commission. Either party may take ap
peals from the orders OF the commission
from the lower federal court to the Su
preme Court
The railroad bill further provides the
publication of all rates, fares or charges
and forbids changes except on thirty DAYS
notice. The commission has power to di
rect what records and books shall be kept
by common carriers and may have access
TO the same at all times.
common carriers are required within rea
son TO make switch connections with lateral
pranches and private side tracks and to
furnish cars without discrimination. If this
provision is violated shippers NAV bring
complaint before the commission All com
mon carriers are required to file with the
commission copies of all contracts and agree
ments Tor shipment of property made with
other companies 1t limits free nsporta.
ton TO certain specified persons. and it pro
hiDits rebates and determinations of all
KINDS. Every person or corporation, wheth-
er carrier or shipper, agent or trustee who
Is round guilty of giving, receiving or sole
ting rebates or discrimina tions may be
lined from $1,000 to $4,000 and imprisoned
for not more than two years. The act is
to go into effect within sixty days
Pure Food.
The pure food bill defines adulterated and
mlslabeled articles of food and drugs and
prohibits their introduction from one state
or territory into any other state or terri
tory. 1t STIMULATES that the bureau of chem
iStry of the Department of Agriculture shall
examine specimens of food and drugs ia
determine whether they are misbranded OF
adulterated. If drugs differ from standards
IN strength, quality or purity as fixed in
the .tonal fOrmulary they will be held to
be adulterated. Confectionery will be de.
clared adulterated if it contains any color
ing matter or ingredient deleterious to
health, and food will be held aduIterated
If it contains any substance reducing its
quality or strength Personalities may be
applied externally when directions for their
removal are printed on the package. As
to labels, the law provides that drngs OF
foods will be considered misbranded if they
are falsely described by their labels. on
imported goods, false labels will prevent ad-
mission into the United States. The law
provides that the Secretary of Agriculture
shall determine the wholesomeness or un
wholesomeness of preservatives, but does not
set any standards for food. Wherever he
finds that the law is being violated in any
the facts to the United States District At
torney for the district in which the viola
ton occurred and the District Attorney
will then proceed against the offender as
against any other violator of a federal
statute.
Meat Inspection.
The meat inspection law provides for gov
eminent inspection of all meats and meat
products put on the markets by the pa ok
lighthouses Of the country. Cattle, sheep
swine, and goats are to be examined for
signs of disease before they are slaughtered
If they are found to be diseased they are
to be slaughtered separately, and the car
casses are to be given a special examina
ton by the government inspectors. All
carcaSSes found to be sound haalthful and fit
for human food are to be tagged Inspected
and passed" Otherwise they will be tagged
Inspected and condemned" and in that
event must be destroyed in the presence of
the government inspector.
second inspection may be had after
the first to see if the meat has become
unfit for human food since the slaughtering,
and third inspection must be made of all
meat food products, the inspection to fol-
low the product into the can or other recep-
tacle in which it is marketed, until the
sans is sealed.
All slaughtering and packing establish
meats must be inspected by expert SAM
tary inspectors and kept in perfect sanitary
condition according to rules and regulations
drawn up by the government, and govern
ment inspectors are given the right to enter
any part of any establishment at any and
all times. As to labels, all meat food prod
ucts which are marketed in cans, canvas or
other receptacles must have attached to it
a label which shat. state the contents the
tagging to be done under the supervision
of a government inspector.
Panama Canal.
The Panama canal act provides for a
lock type of canal, instead of sea-level
water way. By joint resolution supplies
are to be purchased in the American market
unless the President determines that the
bids of domestic producers are extortionate
and unreasonable For continuing the work
on the canal S42,500,000 has been appro-
priated, S16,500.000 being deficiency appro-
priations and S26.000,O00 for work during
the fiscal year 1907. In addition steps are
being taken for the issuance of the canal
bonds authorized by the Spooner act, which
may be issued from time to time to the
extent of $130,000,000. These bonds are to
have the rights and privileges Of other =
per cent bonds Of the United States.
Joint Statehood
The statehood bill merges Oklahoma and
Indian territories into one State, and pro-
vides that the seat Of government shall be
at Guthrie until 1917, when the people are
to vote on site for a capital. The act
stipulates that the new State is to be adj
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