The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-11
BILL aimed At
impure GOODS
Lindquist to Introduce Reso-
luton to Label Leather
and Fabrics. 4
EXPLAINS THE M SURE
Provision Is Made for P, iuions BY
United States Distn At
torneys.
EXPLAINS THE M SURE

To offer the COnSu11ltI VI
feathers the same Federai protection
which is offered the consumer on food
stufrs through the operations of the pure
food law Representative Francis o.
Iinduuist of Michigan has prepared a
rure fanric-and leather bill for intro
duction when the House meets Tuesday.
The bill, which is as sweeping in its
provisions as is the pure rood law, was
prepared following five-year study OF
the subject and after consultation with
the Bureau of Chemistry and the De-
partment of Agriculture. IL is the first
hill OF its kind in so far as it applies to
feathers, and is unique in that il does
not require that the label on goods shall
state the extent 20 which the fabrics
or feathers have been adulterated.
''Seventy-five per cent of the clothing
sold in the United States has been
shown to be adulterated through IN
vestigations i have made IN the last
five years. said Lindquist in discussing
his measure. The purpose OF my Dill
IS not to prohibit the manufacture OF
inferior merchandise, but to make II
unlawful to sell inferior goods under
the guise of genuine or first-class mer-
chaudise.
Must Label Goods.
The bill provides that the manufac-
turer shall label his products In plain
letters and in a manner which cannot
be detached except by design, and whlcn
shall designate the constituent hoers
In the case of feathers the bill requires
that all feathers or merchandise con-
tanning leather shall be labeled "adui-
terated' when impregnated with glucose
or salts or acids or other material not
essential to the proper tanning and which
add to the weight of the leather
Il do not require that the labels state
10 what extent materials are acuterated.
because in many cases this is lmpossl-
BILE" explained Mr.. Lindquist. I'm the
case of cloths, a microscopic examination
will disclose whether the material is OF
pure wool, cotton, silk, or linen, or
whether il contains low grades or mix
lures of these, but it will not show TO
what extent the low grades or mixtures
have been used
The administration of the proposed law
is vested in the Secretaries of Treasury,
Commerce. and Agriculture The
Bureau of Chemistry is directed to make
examinations of fabrics and feathers, de-
terniine if they are properly labeled,
and demand prosecutions from United
States Attorneys before District Courts
for violations. Before opening prosecu-
lions, the Bureau OF Chemistry is d.
rected to notify the manufacturer Or
producer and give an opportunity Tor
public hearings. The Secretary OF the
Treasury is directed to deliver to the
Secretary of Agriculture for examination
by the Bureau of Chemistry samples of
goods imported into the United States.
The measures defines pure WOOL"
pure cotton pure silk, and pure
linen" as well as stating what consti-
.utes "adulterated leather"
An important feature of the bill re-
uuires fumigation of wearing apparel
the Bureau of Chemistry to determine
when such fumigation is necessary and
can be accomplished without injury to
the fabric.
Nearly Everything AduIterated.
You have no conception or the great
percentage of manufactured commodities
that is adulterated by the manufacturers
for no other purpose than to permit
Them to take an unjust profit from the
pockets of the people. There Is scarce
V an article of any consequence among
ow or medium priced commodities but
IS adulterated in some manner. yet all
are placed on the American market for
he genuine article. / find in my investi-
cations that there is very little adul-
terating in high-class merchandise, eX-
cept in silks, so that the great weight
falls on the people who least can af-
ford to stand the strain.
Il have sent out nearly 100000 pieces
If literature throughout the United States
asking people to advocate this measure,
and more than 600 women's clubs have
agreed to cooperate with me. Tne gov
ernment now employs high salarIed eX-
perts to watch the construction and
manufacture of goods intended Tor gov
ernment use because it realizes the ne
cessity of protecting itself from adultera-
ton The public demands the same pro-
lection for the same reason"
The bill provides for the labelling of
amy fabric or article of wool, cotton,
silk, linen. or leather, in whole or in
,art," used in the manufacture or con-
struction of clothing, bed furnishings,
able furnishings house furnishings sold
ov article, bolt, or yard, and all articles
containing leather. Heavy penalties are
provided in the bill, and may be as
sessed against the importer, American
manufacturer wholesaler, retailer, or
jobber. The bill provides that no dealer
shall be prosecuted when he can es-
tablish a guarantee signed by the manu-
facturer. wholesaler, or Jobber residing
in the United States. The bill, if enacted
into law, is to go into effect July ],
1914