The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-10
UNIFORM FOOD LAWS.

A matter OF decided Importance to
| every section Of the country is the pas
sage and proper enforcement of pure
food laws. In order that pure food
legislation may be of the highest eff
fectiveness-there should be no con-
hfct between national and state laws.
There Is a praiseworthy interest in
the states in the matter OF pure food
Inspection, and this is to be thorough
ly encouraged. AT the same time, all
such efforts should be done in the
closest harmony With the national pure
food law. Should the several states
promulgate laws governing food in
spection that disagree radically with
the national pure food law-there Is
likely to be endless confusion and great
hardship put upon manufacturers who
meet the federal requirements and are
eager to meet the state laws, as well.
A careful student of the situation
has pointed out the following reasons
why uniformity should govern our
pure food laws:
First pure and unadulterated articles
OF food imperatively demand a single
uniform rule, operating equally in all
states. When labeled under the ma
tional pure food law, they ought to be
as welcome and lawful in all the states
as wheat corn, hay, cotton, fruit veg
etables, textiles, metals, lumber, leath-
err, coal minerals, glass, paper agricul-
turaI implements, machinery hard
ware, and all sound articles of COM
/ merce.
Second, uniformity Of law with ma
tional boundaries. for the equal benef1t
of consumers and producers, is as i'm
perative for sound articles of food as
Is the necessity for establishing uni
| form'ty for standards OF weights and
measures. OF money, etc. Diversity Of
law holds all the chaos, inconvenience,
annoyance and loss That would prevail
with different systems In the states
for weights and measures and FOR
money.
Third. the several states can best
conserve the public welfare, and aid
the enforcement of the national pure
food law, by re-enacting it, in identi-
cal terms, without additions, except
to give II force within state boundar-
| les, SO that the food producers of every
state may find their markets freely
untrammelled by trade barriers and
determinations arising from diversity
of law among the states.
Fourth, to harmonic state and ma
tional laws, by identical legislation
probably will necessitate some changes
| but the compromises to be made that
would seem to weaken the law would
be few as compared with the greater
number Of things, concerning which
Identical uniformity OF law would be
OF lasting benefit
/ Fifth. IL changes In the law are de-
sired the people should act first
through congress-, and then, in iden-
tical terms, through their state legis-
latures. to the end that freedom of
competition may be unrestricted, and
that the people may purchase pure
articles OF food in any market on
equal terms.
~ Industrial activity is increasing.
CO The early explorer catches the
pole.
kg VIII the polar state soon be seek
ing admission? Peary and Cook would
be good men for senators.
~ The attempt OF The Chicago
Record Herald to be facetious st the
expense Of the North Dakota climate
shows ali the chumps are not dead
41 Peary doesn't lose much time IL
calling Cook liar. Cooks proof
mp to- date appears TO be as strong
as that of Peary. II cant be possible
the lieutenant Is 30 chagrined ct be-