Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-02-14
PURE FOOD BILL UP
IOWA LEGISLATURE LIKELY TO
PASS MEASURE.

Thomas w. Lawson Of Boston Deliw
ers Speech on Insurance Before
Both Houses Of General Assembly
Wants CLmmins on Committee.
Des Moines. Feb. 13.-The chances
for the adoption of a.pure TODD bill
for Iowa are better now than at any
previous time in the history Of the
state. The measure has been before
the legislature in one way or another
for several sessions, but has never
come to a vote. The committee of the
present assembly having the bill in
charge has given it close and careful
consideration for several weeks, and
has reported to the senate measure
which is declared to have the sup
port of the dairy commissioner of the
state, H. R. Wright, and of the whole
sale and retail grocers' associations.
The bill is built along lines laid out
by Commissioner Wright, but bears
the names of Senator B. w. Newberry
of Clayton county and Representative
Cummings of Marshall county. Sen.
ator Newberry has been a consistent
advocate of this piece Of legislation
and has de,oted great deal of time
to study of the subject and personal
investigation as to the necessity of
reformatory movement which will as
sure the people of the state pure and
better food supplies. The bill as 1t was
recommended by the committee and
as it will undoubtedly pass the legis.
lature provides an increase of the du.
ties OF the state dairy commissioner
and makes him the state food and
dairy commissioner He is charged
with the duties Of carrying into eff
feet the provisions OF the act and is
given power to appoint such assistants
as he may. deem necessary. the pay
of said assistants not TO exceed SO
day in addition to their necessary
expenses when under travelling orders.
The commissioner is to receive an in.
crease in his salary. because of his
additional duties, of $500 per year
With the approval of the executive
council, the commissioner is given
authority to appoint state chemist.
at a salary of $1,000 a year. furnish
him with the necessary laboratory. APP
paratus, chemicals and supplies and
have him make the examinations
needed in enforcing the act.
Provisions of the Bill.
The commissioner has authority to
make all the rules for carrying out the
provisions of the act and can cause
to be procured at his discretion for
examination and analysis samples OF
food shipped into the state or offered
for sale in the state. Violations of
the law are to be certified to the coun-
ty attorney and 1t is the duty of the
latter to conduct prosecutions or the
governor may appoint an attorney for
that purpose. The bill inveighs
against all authorizations in food.
drink, confectionery or condiment.
used either by man or domestic an.
finals, whether simple, mixed or COM
pound. What shall constitute adulter.
alton of food is set forth in the meas
ure, as follows: II any substance shalt
have been mixed with 1t so as to re-
duce its strength, quality or purity; IL |
any valuable constituent shall have
been wholly or in part distracted: If |
1t be offered for sale under the name |
Of another article; If 1t be mixed, col
ored, powdered or stained whereby
damage or inferiority is concealed; II
It contains any ingredient injurious to |
health: if it be labelled or branded so |
as to deceive or mislead the purchas.
er; If 1t is the product of diseased
animal or one that has died otherwise |
than by slaughter.
Mixtures and compounds are al |
lowed to be used under their own |
names, and in case of baking powders |
each can is to be labeled so as to show
It's contents, and chocolates and can
dies are considered adulterated IL Ger.
tain constituents are used in their |
All cases and packages con. |
tanning food are to be labeled with |
labels printed in the English language |
and showing the ingredients of the |
food and the proportion of each used |
For each violation of the act the |
guilty person Is subject to a fine of |
800. The act is to take effect Jan
|, 1907 This last concession was
made at the request of the dealers |
who have many articles on their
shelves now which they must take |
time to dispose of.
Life Job for Thrift.
1t is proposed by Adjutant General |
Thrift and Governor Cummins to reor-
ganize tie entire military code of the |
state. A bill to that effect has been
offered to both houses OF the Assem-.
bly,. Among other things. 1t does away
with the permanent staff and has all |
staff officers, except the adjutant gen.
eral and assistant adjutant general.
detailed for the time being from the
four regiments of the state guard The
law also says that hereafter
the adjutant general of the state Is to
be appointed from the membership OF |
the guard. The latter provision has
occasioned considerable comment
among Grand Army men and members
of the Loyal Legion. and something of
a fight is to be made against enacting
1t into law. The trouble. ii appears.
is in mixture of this law, with the
one adopted at the legislative assem-.