Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-05
SOME OBJECTIONS MET
SENATOR HEPBURN DISCUSSES
THE PURE FOOD BILL.
Accused Parties Have Full Opportu-
nifty to Defend Themselves
in Court.

Senator Hepburn. discussing some of the
objections to the pure food bill as IT passed
the Senate, said to a Star reporter:
= An erroneous impression has been
sought to be created for the purpose of
prejudicing the public mind against the
Senate bill, that it places the power Of
determining whether or not parties have
violated the law in the hands of Dr. Wiley
or the bureau of chemistry, or some other
bureau or department of the government
There is not the slightest foundation for
such charge. These officers are author
lied only to make Investigations and gather
testimony for the use of the courts No
article is either branded or denounced as
adulterated or fraudulent by any action
of the department or any officer thereof
III in their Judgment article Is in vio-
lation of the law, they report the fact after
giving the parties a hearing. TO the United
States attorney in the proper district and
II he. in his judgment, thinks that the tes-
umony and facts presented to him by
the department constitute a violation of
the law, he brings a suit in the United
States court for the determination of the
question as to whether the law has been
violated, and the parties have as full op-
portunity 10 defend themselves as they
would have against any other charge of
violating the law.
6p1AlS 1AtNla1 SI1llclSIIlS.
THE principal objections that are being
urged at present against the Senate bill as
1t was passed are that the people will be
compelled to make the acquaintance of a
few articles of food in lieu of the adul-
terated or misbranded articles to which they
have been long accustomed The critics of
the bill are indulging in some rather trivial
criticisms. which amount to an argument in
favor of the legislation rather than one
against it. They are complaining that the
people Will have to acquaint themselves
with well-known articles under new colors
etc. There is nothing in this argument that
ought to appeal to an intelligent people hav-
ing the interest of the public at heart The
people are not so welded to color of a pickle
or catsup or salt meats as to be willing to
subject themselves to confessed adultera-
ton of these articles rather than accustom
themselves to the change of colors from
that to which they are accustomed.
In regard to breadstuffs meats and
the staples of life, no argument worthy OF
conservation is being advanced against
the protection afforded by the Senate bill.
Liquors and Patent Medicines.
The arguments that are being urged on
behalf of the liquor dealers against the
bill are in themselves confessions Of the
vicious practices in which they have been
INDUCING and a plea. for permission to
continue them. No argument other than
that of cupidity could possibly defend the
admitted practice of connecting various
drinks under the name of whisky and
other beverages merely in order that the
MANUFACTURED should, at the expense of
the health of the customer make money.
The people will not lose anything by the
restraint upon patent medicines and the
discoura cement of their use which will re-
suit from this legislation. 1t is TO be hoped
that the millions of dollars which now go
to the manufacturers and vendors of these
utterly fraudulent and harmful deceptions
called patent medicines will remain in the
household and be expended in such man
ner that it will be a help to its members
rather than to provide palatial homes and
establishments for the owners Of these
nostrumS.
THE bill being under reconsideration by
the committee on interstate commerce in
the House of Representatives al this time, I
can only hope that its provisions win not
be materially changed. and l have great
confidence in the ability of the House COM