The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-13
WILL ENFORCE
THE PURE FOOD
LAWS STRICTLY
DR.. Carl L. Alsberg, Chief of
the Bureau of Chemistry
of the Department of Ag-
riculture Tells Manufac-
turers of His Intentions.
BIZ ASSOCIATED PRESS.

New York, Feb. 12.-Dr. Carl L. Ais
burg. chief of the bureau of chemistry
of the department of agriculture, in
his first public utterance since he was
appointed to succeed DR.. Harvey
Wiley, told the members of the Asso-
citation OF Manufacture of Medicinal
Products here tonight that he intend
ed to enforce the pure food laws as
strictly as possible. He asked pro-
prietary medicine manufacturers to
aid him to reduce the sale. of mar
cotics to the lowest possible point
''The eyes of the people," said DIR.
Alsberg, have centered upon the de-
partment's struggle for pure foods.
The work of the department has, /
think you will admit, been successful
in improving the quality of our foods
and preventing grave forms of fraud
and adulteration. We realize fully
that much remains to be done, but
public confidence has been won; and
precedents have been created. No
backward step will be taken. There
will be no let up in the enforcement
Of the pure food and drugs act"
WANTS THEM TO ASSIST.
Just prior to this statement DR..
Alsberg asked that the patent medi-
cine manufacturers combine with his
bureau to bring about government
control of the sale, and regulation in
the handling. of all patent medicines
and narcotics. He also asked that
these same manufacturers begin the
agitation for uniform legislation in all
states with the same object in view.
while the efforts of the department
of agriculture" continued DR.. Ais
berg, sin SO far as the control Of the
food products over which it has juris-
diction is concerned, have been at
tended with considerable success, this
has been true to a less degree with
drugs and medicines. The fault has
been in part with unforeseen loop
holes in the law l do not wish to
imply that nothing has been accom-
plished. On the contrary, as you are
well aware, through the great powers
over imports vested in the secretary of
the treasury, the department of agri-
culture has succeeded in keeping out
of the country all crude drugs of an
inferior quality.
''It is far different with the domestic
nostrums Because the domestic man
ufacturer knows how to advertise, no
existing federal law can adequately
protect the people. The Sherley act
will, we hope, enable us to compel the
removal of all false and fraudulent
matter from the package.
A RAY OF HOPE.
Gloomy as the outlook seems, there
is yet a ray Of hope. 1t is the atti-
tude of a small but powerful portion
of the press itself, which has vol
unfairly secured its advertising col
unns till they contain only clean and
honest matter.
Even If we succeed in protecting
the people from quack medicines, a
great task remains. This is to protect
them from habit forming drugs. such
as opium and cocaine We all are
agreed that something must be done
to control their sale and distribution.
The only differences of opinion con-
Germ the best means of accomplishing
this end.
without the help of the federal gov
ernment, no reforms can be introduc-
ed because the states by themselves
can not control the supply. If these
drugs were produced in this country,
it would be exceedingly difficult to
keep track of and to trace the supply.
1t would require an expensive police
force to control the supply of these
drugs and 1t is doubtful whether this
control could ever be made efficient.