New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-12
Tells Civic Federation He
Fears Demand for Fed
eral Ownership.
DR.. WILEY URGES
PURE FOOD ACTION
Many Delegates Assemble for
the Annual Meeting of Ma
tiOnaI Organization.

the railroads of the country opened the
fourteenth annual meeting Of the Ma
tlonal civic Federation al the Hotel AstoT
YESTERDAY. II the railroads were forced
year by year to increase their operating
EXPENSES and at the same time permitted
no means OF adding TO their earnings, the
flow OF capital into American railroad
securities would soon be checked, declared
Seth Low. the president, in his ADDRESS
10 the delegates.
"The actual situation OF the railroads
M this moment" asserted MT. LOW
seems 10 me so serious that. If TINS
application for an increase OF freight
rates is refused. / fear the Impulse tha'
will be given to the demand TOT inc
public ownership and operation or the
steam railroads OF the country VIII NC
inevitably strengthened
such information as | can commahu
leads me TO believe that In Germany
France. Australia, Italy and Austria the
earnings of the state-owned railroads III
each country barely equal. II they 40
equal. the sums paid in taxation by the
railroads of the United States.
THE freight rates prevailing in those
countries are uniformly higher. De-
leve, than the freight rates prevailing IN
the United States; but II is noticeaoie
that the average passenger rate disre-
cardirg the division by classes obtaining
there. is lower in some, and thlhh III
all. OF those countries than here.
Nobody would contend for the adop-
ton In this country Of any division oil
railroad passengers into classes, put IL j.
legitimate to point out that the TaH-
roads Income is derived in part from pas
sengers and in part from freight.
III is perfectly possible, therefore win
out reducing the net returns to the rail-
roads. 10 reduce passenger rates !mpor-
family. without any division of passen-
gers into classes II freight rates are
correspondingly advanced.
The enemies OF pure food and drugs
were taken 10 task by Or. Harvey W.
Wiley. former chief of the Bureau OF
Chemistry, at the afternoon session
devoted 20 a discussion OF food ana
drug regulation. The trouble with the
present efforts to protect public health
in this country was opposition
10 the making OF more effective laws
and illegal interpretations Of the exist
Ing laWs-hc said.
AN the opponents Of health laws
asserted the doctor. are banded to-
gether into Il body known. | believe. as
the League OF Medical Freedom. OF
which the delightful publications Life.
is the official organ. IL Is pleasant
reading. this publication, but / should
like 10 suggest 10 the editor that its
name should be changed. II ought 10
be called Death
The lobby Of this league is exceed
ingly successful in blocking legislation
But after twenty-five years Of sighting
We finally succeeded in getting the pure
food law On the statute books. Why Is
1t that the law has not been as enec-
tive in protecting tho public health as
its promoters hoped II would be!
Chiefly because the interests which #
affected determined in ono way or an
other 10 block II.
Now that / am ont Of public life
can tell the truth When | hailed them
into the courts they went above me "a
the Secretary OF Agriculture and TO the
President-tve almost forgotten his
name by now The President signed al
order creating a board TO decide what
the law provided | should decide. II
they mad let me alone. food adulteration
to-day would be memory in this coun-
try. instead of menace. as It is"
Or. Wiley described the scene before
President Roosevelt, when sunny jim
sherman, then a Senator. told the Pres
dent that his company had saved $4,000
in one year by the use of saccharine
Anybody who thinks saccharine lnju-
rious," roared the President. DR.. Wiley
said. IFS an idiot"
That WAS my official status COM
mentcd the doctor, and that is my
official status to-day. But | am an i'd
lot with a heart and conscience. and
both OF them are at the service OF my
country"
The morning session. after Mr.. Low 3
talk. was given up TO the reports OF
committees. submitted by their chair
men. Among those who spoke were
August Belmont. Emerson McMillin
Marcus N. Marks. William II. Wilcox
Judge Alton b. Parker. Professor Tai
colt williams and Miss Maude Wet
more.