Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-22
Pure Food Bill Passed Yester-
day Provides For Destruction
of Adulterated Articles
ONLY FOUR VOTES AGAINST 1T
Much Surprise Was Made Manifest in
the Senate, Over tho Unanimity With
Which, the Hepburn Measure Was
Passed--strict Supervision is Pro-
vided For in the Bill.

Washington, Feb. 22.-Great surprise
was caused in the senate by the unan-
unity with which the Hepburn pure
food bill was passed Wednesday, only
four votes being registered against it,
these coming from Bailey of Texas.
Bacon of Georgia, Foster of Louisiana
and Tillman of South Carolina. For
years the friends of the bill have been
endeavoring to bring it to vote, and
last session the senate gave consider
able time to it's consideration only to
adjourn without disposing of it.
The bill passed by the senate with
sixty three senators supporting it, pro-
vides:
1. That it shall be unlawful to man
ufacture. sell OR deliver in interstate
or foreign commerce, any article of
food, drugs, medicines or liquor which
contains any poisonous or deleterious
substances under penalty of fine or
Imprisonment.
VoT 0tTISI supervision.
2. That the secretary of the treas
ury, the secretary of agriculture and
the secretary of commerce and labor
shall make uniform rules and regula-
tons for the collection and examina-
ton of specimens of foods, drugs, med
icines and liquors, and the bureau Of
chemistry Of the department Of agri-
culture shall analyze the specimens.
8. That any party charged with
violating the law shall have an oppor-
tunity to be heard, and If it appears
after hearing that the law has been
violated the secretary of agriculture
shall certify the facts to United
States district attorney, who shall
cause proceedings to be commenced
and prosecuted without delay.
4. The words drug" food" and
liquor as used in the act are defined,
and what shall be considered adulter-
ations and misbranding explained.
5. That manufacturers, producers
and dealers must sell samples to per-
sons authorized by the federal or state
governments to receive them.
Will confiscate Goods.
6. That articles condemned as being
VI IillSDFduutu VI VI d pOl-
sonousl or deleterious character shall
be destroyed or sold as the court may
direct.
Z. That articles suspected of violat-
ing the provisions of the law may be
seized for confiscation by process Of
libel for condemnation.
An eleventh-hour fight against the
bill was led by Senators Spooner of
Wisconsin and Bailey of Texas. These
two senators are conceded to share
with Senator Knox of Pennsylvania,
the distinction of being the greatest
constitutional lawyers in the senate.
During their arguments number of
senators appeared to be with them, but
public sentiment demanding the pas
sage of the bill is so strong that when
the roll was called there was rush
for the band wagon.
1t can be stated that a number of
votes were given for the bill in re-
spons,s to public sentiment, but with
the understanding that the bill will not
be finally disposed of by the house at
this session. The plan is to permit
it to go over until after the elections
and at the next session to amend or
defeat it. Whether the opponents Of
the bill can control the house to this
extern: remains to be developed.