Middletown transcript., 1907-02-16
GRIPPING THE PURE FOOD BILL

A successful attempt to impair the eff
cheney of the pure food law, a measure
directly affecting every citizen, was made
in the House of Representatives last week
in the opinion of the Peoples Lobby.
which is National organization, sup.
ported by popular subscription. The ag-
ricultural appropriation bill contained an
appropriate of $3.50, 600, to crrry into
effect the provisions of the pure food act.
There was added to this section, on mo-
ton OF Representative Tawney, of Mime
sofa, the following amendment:
Provided, That no part of this sum
shall re used for the payment of compen-
sat on or expenses of any officer or other
person employed by any State, County or
Municipal Government
This amendment, as it stands, would
shatter the plan already adopted by the
Department of Agriculture. Such pro-
vision would forbid the payment, to any
State, county, or municipal official, OF
money for expert opinion, or for services,
or for expenses incurred in appearing
before court, or attending an advisory
board meeting. 1t cannot be questioned
that i'll many States the machinery for
the enforcement of pure food regulations
is well organized, and the men ID charge
thoroughly trained. The Department
plan has always been to secure, when
ever possible, the services of these ex-
perts on part-Iime, and the use OF their
laboratories and other facilities.
This would avoid a very great part of
the expense. To proceed independently
would involve an appropriation of 1--WE
millions, instead of the modest sum OF
$3.50, 600 asked for. This is the estimate
of Representative Mann Of Illinois, who
was largely instrumental in getting the
pure food bill passed last year, and who
opposed this amendment vigorously.
In the fight over the pure food bill the
Especial interests" opposing the measure
did everything to create feeling OF an
tsgonism between State officials and the
advocates of Federal law. BY this
means it was hoped to divide the forces
OF reform and bring about a conflict of
opinion regarding the issues involved.
The plot failed. The pure food law has
received unqualified approval from the
State officers. 1t would now appear that
the same thing is being attempted in
different way-that is, by practically
prohibiting all plans for cooperation be-
tween the National and State authorities.
Representative Tawney was supported in
his attempt to cripple the pure food law
by Representative Fitzgerald of New
York, Representative Sullivan, of Mass
achusetts, and Representative Crum-
packer, of Indiana. 1
The main argument of these Congress
men was that, to employ State experts,
would eventually put the whole cost of
the enforcement of pure food laws-State
as well as Federation the National Gov
ernment. The plan of the Department
OF Agriculture provides ample safeguards
against such a contingency. This state
ment is made on authority OF Representa-
tive Wadsworth, of New York, Chairman
of the Committee on Agriculture, and of
Mr.. Cocks, of New York, another MEM
ber of that Committee, who said:
"The plan proposed by the Department
seems to the entire Committee to be an
entirely feasible and workable plan, not
withstanding the objection made by the
gentleman here"
The agricultural appropriation bill, in
which is incorporated Mr.. Tawney's
'ioker," is now in the COMMITTEES on
Agriculture and Forestry of the Senate,
of which Senator Proctor of Vermont, is
Chairman.