The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-18


the last word. the high tide OF food
regulation. This assertion goes di-
rect 20 the heart OF the raison d'etre
and future OF food regulation. We
aver, without qualification, that, on
the contrary. and as a fact, the fed
eral pure food law Is the beginning.
the basic law from which viii de
yelop diversified regulation.
The most important and funda'
mental problem I'm food regulation
today. in our judgment. the problem
OF food inspection and sanitation
the very first principle in food reg
ulation, is without the operation OF
the federal pure food law. We re-
fer TO food inspection and sanitation
IN all places where foods are pre-
pared or handled for public service.
al essential part of that enlightened
propaganda termed preventative
medicine
The question OF food sanitation
ard inspection is only beginning 10
receive the attention 1t merits and
will have. Year by year advance Is
evident toward the establishment Of
federal department of health, OF
equal foundation with the other
great administrative departments. A
definite. effective and generally &C
ccpted plan Of national cooperation
between the several state food law
administrative departments and the
federal department OF agriculture.
not merely 10 bring about uniformi-
" Of law and enforcement, but 20
Gnderstake the real work OF the fu-
ture food regulation. that OF devel-
oping the science of food chemistry.
for the extension. conservation and
utilization OF our available food sup
plies, experimenting the scientific
promotion OF agriculture,-is but a
question Of time.
Food Regulation Inevitable.
The course of future food regula
ton will be that or co-ordinated eff
fort between the central federal
government and the individual
states acting along a definite ana
generally accepted plan OF coopera.
ton. Then again food regulation
sweeps in on the wave OF great
popular reform, as for example, the
enactment of the federal meat in
spection act However, the method
despite the obstacles. needed food
regulation Is ineyftab1e.
The three fundamental princi.
pies upon which all future develop
ment OF food regulation must be
BASED are:
"A II must be based on a SOUND
public need. promote the general
welfare, and be In harmony with
sound public policy.
"B. II must be inherently just
and practicable, capable OF CONNER
cial application in accordance with
the fundamental laws OF economies,
and in keeping with sound business
principles.
&C. II should be universal and
uniform in effect
~ eegulation attractive In theory
but destructive in practice has no
place In food regulation. a regula-
ton squaring with the three basic
principles above indicated IL ben
Efficient and imposes no undue re-
striction.
Moral Backbone Needed.
We advance now the proposi
tion that the best friend OF the
food industry. that the principal
and most valuable asset in the good
will OF the consolidated food in
dustries OF this nation. is just and
effective food regulation. best ex-
pressed, perhaps. in the homely
phrase, a square deal TO the con-
sumner In unrestrained commerce
some people won't be right, although
they can; others can't be right. II
they would. A little statutory moral
backbone Is needed.
Il confess to the deepest sympathy
with the complaint that we are be.
ing over-regulated, that the good
old.fashioned way in which we grew
up OF doing what we pleased. so
long as we did not step nour
neighbours toes. is rapidly passing.
But | cannot yet believe that a law
prohibiting larceny Is an imposi-
ton on business, that a law prohib-
ting fraud and deception and in
furious adulteration. requiring an
honest statement OF quantity OF
contents. requiring clean conditions
Of manufacture. Is placing an undue
burden upon the industry.
co-operstIon-is Essentlsi.
The food manufacturers who
have vision. who see that q success
fui food business 10 tied Close TO an
ideal. who look ahead toward the
horizon. and catch the faint brush
ing OF the breeze 10 follow, these
manufacturers must actively take UP
the flight for the general adoption
OF the principles 10 which they had
dedicated their own lives and bust
ness. We must now look around
and ahead and put through the reg.
ulation that IL needed, on the basis
that Improvement in and benefit 70
the whole industry ia not only right
In ethics, but good business. The
food manufacturers must canvass