Evening journal., 1914-06-24
SAYS FOOD LAW
DRAFT IS Mild
Mrs. Clarence |. B. Henning
Compares 1t With the
Laws Elsewhere
COUNCIL HEARING ON
ORDINANCE TONIGHT

Mrs Clarence !. b. Henning, chairman
of the pure food committee Of the Con-
sumers League, today asserted that the
Pure Food Ordinance to be considered
by City Council at hearing tonight, is
not as drastic as the pure food law of
many cities.
Mrs. Henning said: 81 have gone over
this ordinance very carefully and have
compared it with the pure food acts and
food sanitation acts and with rules and
regulations of purity and food inspec-
tion decisions of some 33 states and
many cities ] find that there is very
little in the ordinance under discussion
that is not covered in much greater de-
tail by the laws OF the most OF these 80
states.
"rhe impression that the opposition
wishes TO create il that this is a most
drastic ordinance while, as a matter OF
fact. IL is the essence Of mildneaa as
compared with the laws Of many states
and the ordinances Of hundreds OF
cities.
Take for instance the section dealing
with cold storage. IL is almost word
for word the requirements of the state
laws of New York, Massachusetts,,
Connecticut. Pennsylvania, Kentucky,
Michigan. Louisiana, Tennessee, Califor-
mia, Washington and Oregon, all Of
whose cities are subject TO the state
regulations.
"Section one, that deals with the use
of preservatives, Is identical with the
requirements of most of the states men
toned before and others. In some
States, notably California, benzoate of
soda is not allowed at all, and as a mat
ter Of fact, why should it bei The use
of the drug simply allows the dishonest
manufacturer 10 employ dirty methods
in handling his goods and to use rotten
and partially decayed fruits and vege'
tables.
"The sections dealing with milk and
bread are equally mild when compared
with the requirements of hundreds OF
other cities. The chief objection ! can
can find made TO the section on milk is
that the dealers will lose their bottles
This should be as great an objection
in other places as here. / have CORE
spondcd with milk inspectors In othei
cities. and find in Montclair, \. j.. fol
instance, that they have had all mill
delivered bottled for twelve years, an'
the dealers-even the small dealers
have had no difficulty in losing thei
bottles. Boston's principal trouble wa
due to personal jealousy Of the dealer
/. ! Offering inducements to get trade.
. "The requirements for having a
|, food offered for sale elevated "a In
/, ches from the ground Is a commo
one. Likewise the requirements 70
wrapping bread and covering an'
/, protecting food displayed and beinl
transported I'm delivery from files
dirt. SCOT, etc.
1T Is just a question OF for who's
benefit these ordinances are passed
Are they enacted for the Information
and protection OF the purchasing ant
consuming public, or TO give the deal
ers trade advantages, The benefits o
which do not come to the consumer
"The manifest purpose Of thi
ordinance Is to give the purchaser no
tice Of the exact character Of tn
article he is buying and the assur
ancc that the food is handled In
cleanly and sanitary way The sam
rights exist for the protection OF III
I consumers in Wilmington and Della
ware as the consuming public en-
10y In other cities and States. TIL
public should demand these right
from the Dealers