Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-05
FOOD AND DRUG LAW
Late Enactment Took Effect
January |, 1907.
NOT YET ENFORCED HERE
Commissioners Await Information
From Secretary Wilson.
DRUGGISTS AND DEALERS READY
Arranging for Compliance With the
Law-Action of Druggists
Association.

Although the law enacted by Congress
last June providing for preventing the
manufacture, sale transportation of
adulterated or misbranded or poisonous de-
leterious foods drugs, medicines and IL
quors," went into effect on January l last,
the Commissioners of tie District have
not begun its enforcement. This law is
known as the new food and drugs act. The
Commissioners give as an explanation for
having taken no steps toward enforcing
this new law, the fact that they are wait
ing for some definite understanding from
the Secretary of Agriculture just how the
new law Is to be enforced and how they
are to cooperate with the Agricultural
Department, and to receive detailed list
Of specific regulations to be used in the
District
Notwithstanding this delay on the part
of the federal officials, the druggists, gro
GERS and meat dealers generally are al
ready conforming with the provisions of
the new law as far as they are acquainted
with its various provisions, in the tranSac-
ton of their business. A Star reporter in
terviewed a number of these merchants to-
day regarding this law, and according to
their utterances every reputable druggist,
grocer and meat dealer in the District well
comes the enforcement of the law, declar-
they will not only be able to better suit
their customers by it, but will better sat
isfy themselves and uplift their respective
business generally.
Views Of Druggists.
1t was stated by W. P. Herbst, a drug
gist, with store at 9th and D streets, and
one at oath street and Pennsylvania ave
nue. northwest, that at the last meeting of
the local druggists association the new
law was discussed at length, and it was
decided by all preent to begin at once
to make preparations to conform with its
provisions.
Mr. Herbst said "Of course. the pro-
visions of the law stringent, but you
can say that the druggists Of Washington
welcome Its enforcement and will do their
best to live up to its intent. In a great
many respects we prefer the new law to
the present regulations governing the sale
of drugs in the District, which was pro-
mulgated by the Commissioners several
years ago. In some ways the new law is
more just. For instance, under the old
law District inspector could enter our
store and ask for sample of some drug
or medicine on our shelves and carry it
away with him for analysis.
IF the articles were found to be impure
or adulterated or otherwise not in ac-
cordance with the regula tons, We could be
prosecuted. Under the new law when a
sample of any suspected article is taken
the inspector divides it into three parts He
keeps one part himself sends another part
to the Department of Agriculture and al
lows us to retain the remaining part. These
parts are placed in small bottles and are
sealed and marked in our presence This
method Is more favora BILE and Just to the
druggist. as no mistake could result in the
ownership of the article analysed
Several months ago. DIR. Herbst said
1.-The inspectors were actively engai- :. n
inspecting the sale of olive OIL They col
lected some oil from several different
places, and as a result reputable druggist
was prosecuted for selling an adulterated
Oil, whereas the oil which was attributed
to him, had been taken from an Italian
fruit store.
Packers Observations.
Charles Pfiuger, representative of the
Rosslyn Packing Company, at the Center
market, and representative meat dealer,
when asked about the new law, said it's
enforcement will be of lutte interest to the
local meat dealers, because they have been
arranging their business to conform with
it's provisions for several months and the
enforcement of the new meat law has re-
suited IN many changes which are provided
for in this food and drugs act He, like Dr.
Herbst, said his meat associates welcome
the law, as 1t will do them more good than
harm.
seller of staple goods said that although
the law has not been enforced, his asso-
ciates in that business are demanding that
all sealed packages received by them be
stamped and properly labeled. Aside from
this, the manufacturers of such articles as
are sold in sealed packages by grocers are
familiar with the new law, and they have
received the necessary instructions from
the Department of Agriculture to properly
conform with the new law in prepa ring
their packages. He said the Commissioners
Will find that everything is in a fine condi-
ton when they begin enforcing the new
Wi favx
violations, and that these will not be the
fault of the retail merchant, but the manu-
facurer.
Under Federal Control.
This law will be controlled by the De-
partment of Agriculture throughout the
federal domain, and all endorsements and
prosecutions will be under the supervision
of the Secretary of Agriculture. The chief
provisions of the law has reference to
Original unbroken packages or sealed
packages standards of drugs" pro
prietary foods :"adulteration' and mis-
branding
DIR. w. c. Woodward, health officer who
will supervise the enforcement of this law
for the District, said the old law covered
the question of adulteration fairly well, and
made considerable application to misbrand-
ing. He is of the opinion that his force of
inspectors will have to be increased to
properly enforce this law as 1t is too in
adequate at the present time 10 carry out
their regular work. These additional men
will be asked for.
Mr.. Macfarland's Statement.
When interviewed by Star reporter upon
that question today Commissioner Mac
farland said: THE Commissioners have
taken every possible step to see that there
is no impairment of the inspection of food
products, including milk and drugs and
9th eli ha ina FL, =
the national pure food legislation has been
under consideration IN Congress the Com
missioners have repeatedly brought to the
attention of Congress the local laws and
regula tons for the inspection of such things
with the request that nothing be done to
impair the efficiency of that inspection
When the new law was enacted the Com
missioners sought from the Department of
Agriculture statement as to how in its
practical working 1t would affect the Dis-
trict of Columbia and the terms of co-opera-
ton between the health department and the
Department of Agriculture. The latest for