The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-28
In Three Congresses Pure
Food Legislation Had
Been Before Enacted.
SENATE ALWAYS BLOCKED.
TON AS SPEAKER PRO TEN
WHEN MEASURE WAS FINALLY
SUCCESSFUL


there seems to have been. at the time
of it's consideration by the House of
Representatives, some misapprehen-
sion as to the real facts of the case, |
assure you that am glad to comply
with your request
Bills for preventing the manufac-
ture, sale, or transportation of adulter
ated, or poisonous, or deleterious
foods, drugs medicines and liquors
were passed by the House of Repre-
sentatives in three congresses before
The last one but failed of passage in |
the senate.
Bill by Hepburn.
On the 9th day of December, 1905, |
the first day of the 59th Congress, |
Senator Hepburn. of Idaho. introduced
a bill for preventing the manufacture, |
sale, or transportation of adulterated, |
or misbranded or poisonous or deleter-I
ious foods, drugs. medicines, and Ii |
quors, and for regulating the traffic |
therein, and for other purposes which
was referred to the committee on man
ufacturers. On the same day Senator |
McCunlber of North Dakota, intro
duced bill providing for preventing |
the adulterating. misbranding and i'm
itation of foods, beverages, candies,
drugs and condiments in the District
of Columbia and territories, and for
regulating interstate traffic therein
and for other purpose s." which was re-
ferred to the committee on manufac
lures. This latter bill was similar in.
character to the one introduced in the
previous congress by Senator McCum-
Der, but which was not acted on by
the senate.
On the 18th LAY of December, 1905,
Senator Hepburn, from the commit
tee on manufactures, reported his bill
to the senate with sundry amendments
Incorporating the main features of the
McCumber BILL with unanimous rec
ommendation on the part of the COM
mittee in favor of the passage Of the
bill as reported.
Was Freely Debated.
On the 9Th day of January, 1906,
Senator Hepburn called up the pure
food bill, Senate IS, and placed it be-
fore the senate for consideration This
proposition was debated freely on that
day, which debate was resumed on the
10th, 18th, 18th and 23rd of the same
month, and continued on the 18th, Goth
and 21st of February, when, after very
full discussion, it passed the senate by
a vote of 63 to 4. the nays being Sena-
tors Bacon of Georgia, Bailey of Texas.
Foster of Louisiana and Tillman of
South Carolina. The bill reached the
house on the 22nd of February and
was promptly referred to the commit
tee on interstate and foreign COM
merce.
On the 9Th day of December, 1905,
Hon. William P. Hepburn, of Iowa, in
troduced a bill in the house, H. r.
4527, for preventing the adulteration
or misbranding of foods or drugs and
for regulating the traffic therein, and
for other purposes which was re-
ferred to the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce, of which Col.
Hepburn is chairman. On the 18th
day of December, 1905, the Hon.
James H. Davidson, of Wisconsin. in
troduced a similar proposition which
was referred to the same committee.
On the End of February, the Hon. Will
liam A. Rodenburg, of ILL.,. introduced
a similar proposition, which had like
reference.
The committee on interstate and for
efgn commerce. after fully considering
the senate measure and all the propo-
sitions introduced in the house. adopt
ed a substitute TO the senate bill II
which was reported to the house by
the Hon. James r. Mann. of ILL.,. on the
18th day of March, 1906. and placed on
what is called the Union Calendar"
Privileged Status.
On the 10Th day of March, 1906, Col
Hepburn asked the unanimous consent
of the house to make a special order
xoP hn n-hin oh
jected to at the time by Judge Bart
lett. of Ga. which objection was aft
erwards withdrawn, and which special
order was afterwards made. This had
the effect of placing it on the calendar
so that il could be called up at any
time before the 18th of May. Appro-
priation bills having occupied the time
and the attention of the house up to
the eth of May, and. it being evident
that the pure food bill could not be
considered before the 18th. when the
special order was to expire. Col. Hep
burn. on the eth day of May. 1906,
asked unanimous consent that the
pure food bill be given a privileged
status. This action placed this bill
in such a position that il could be
taken up at any time. giving it the
same status that the appropriation
bills and revenue bills have in the
house they being bills of the highest
privilege.
Appropriation bills having constant
y occupied the attention of the House
until the Goth of June, 1906. and it be-
ing thought most important TO pass
pure food legislation of some charac-
ter. the committee on rules, on the
goth day of June. 1906. brought for
ward Il special rule for the considera-
ton Of the pure food bill. which spe-
cial rule, after much debate. was
passed by an aye and nay vote.
Under the operation OF this special
Tnle the subject was taken up for dis
cISsion on the 2iSf day of June Which