New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-22
PASS PURE FOOD BILL.
Only -Four Votes Cast against 1t an
the Senate.

Washington. Feb. 21-After fifteen years of
more or less serious consideration of the sub
tect, the Senate to-day passed Pure Food bill
by the decisive vote of 50 to 4. The vote was
taken after a day devoted almost exclusively TO
debate of a desultory character on the measure.
Several efforts We're made to amend the bill. and
the committee accepted a number of sugges-
tons, but only those thus accepted were incor-
porated in the bill passed.
The bill makes II a misdemeanor to manu-
facture sell adulterated or misbranded foods.
drugs, medicines liquors In the District OF Co
lumbia. the Territories and the insuIar posses
sions Of the United States and prohibits the
shipment of such goods from one State to an
other or to foreign country 1t also prohibits
the receipt of such goods. Punishment by fine
OF 5000 or by Imprisonment for one year, or
both. is prescribed. In the case of corporations.
officials in charge are made responsible. The
Treasury Department and the departments Of
Agriculture and Commerce and Labor are re-
Quired to agree on regulations for the collection
and examination OF the articles covered by the
bill. but no specific provision is made for inves-
tigauon except by the Department of Agricult-
ure The Investigations by that department are
placed IN the hands of the chief of the bureau
or chemistry, and If he finds that the law has
been violated, the Secretary of Agriculture is
required TO report the facts to the United States
District Attorney, who in turn is required to in
stitute proceedings in the federal courts. The
Dill also defines foods, drugs. medicines and
liquors and the standards for them. There is
an exemption for dealers who furnish guarantees
against aduIteraton and misbranding.
The important amendments adopted were the
Following: Providing that official notice of
nnding against any article shall be given
until after the announcement of the final judg-
ment OF the court before which the case is heard
providing that when in the preparation of food
products for shipment they preserved by an
external application applied in such manner that
the preSerVatlVe is necessarily removed mechan-
lcally or by maceration in water otherwise.
the provisions of the act shall be construed as
applying only when said products are ready for
consumption; requiring that mixtures or blends
containing alcohol or opium shall be branded or
Labelled so as 10 show that fact, and changing
the provision regarding the misbranding OF
liquors so as to make it read; 1T shall be
deemed misbranding if II is blended rectt-
fed or consists Of an admixture Of different
grades OF the same liquor contains or Is
mixed with the substances and the word blend
ed. rectified' or mixed the case may be. Is
not plainly stated the package" etc.
There were only two rollcalls on amendments,
and in both instances the committee was sus-
offered by Mr.. Foraker eliminating the word
added from the following provision: In the
case OF liquors an article shall be deemed adul-
terated If it contain added ingredient of a
poisonous or deleterious character"
The amendment was lost "a to 46. The other
rolcall was on change suggested by Mr.. Fora
ker in the labelling of rectifed liquors, which
was lost by the close vote Of 33 TO 30. The
amendment that point which was afterward
accepted similar lines.
Mr.. Moneys substitute bill and amendment
by Mr.. Spooner authorizing the Secretary OF Ag-
ricuture TO fix standards Of food drugs and
liquors were both voted down without calling
the roll.
On the final rollcau N1essrs. Bacon, Bailey.
Foster and Tillman. all Democrats, cast the only
votes in the negative.