Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-11
HOLDS BILL TO RULE
STORAGE is FAULTY
Agriculture Department Says
Hutchinson Measure Does
Not Empower Congress-.

The United States Department Of Ag-
riculture does not believe that Congress
has sutherity to govern the cpld etrass
'Duetness as ID proposed in the Hufcffm.
son bin. under consideration by the
House committee on agricultursaHhasa
started hearings fdday. In obedie1ce 10
suggestions contained in President WIN.
sons address to Congress. 44.szssz
The federal department. howevnF. IL
drafting a bill for the control Of cold
storage facilities. which may soon be
presented to Congress II approved BY
The opinion OF the department. ID
regard to the Hutchinson bin Vas ok
pressed by Chester M. Morrill,. IRON
the Office of the solicitor OF the de-
partment, who was authori7eda to- rep
resent the department at the hAarink
bers OF the committee he said that the
department was preparing q fill but
he was not authorized to: eayS when
1t might be offered to ConxrAsss Z
Walter G. Campbell. assistant chief
OF the bureau Of chemistry, In charge
OF enforcement Of the food and drug
act, testified regarding certain phases
Of the cold storage business.
Gives Departments Opinion.
Mr.. Morrill, told the committee that
It is the opinion of the department
that the broadcast method of reSu-
lating cold storage business by Con-
gress would be either through its tax
ing powers or the interstate COM
merce powers. He said that there
was a question whether 1t would be
under interstate commerce laws. be-
cause many cold-storage warehouses
are situated near the state line and
could be moved across the border, and
also on account Of the general loca-
tons OF the warenenses. SO that in
evaded. -
Chairman Hau6lX crystallised this
opinion in the question, Then YOU
mean that such regulations cannot
be compulsory, but only by volun-
tary agreement?
was not In the power of ConRress 10
license all cold storages.
Because President Wilson referred
to the New Jersey cold storage Law
and because Mr.. Morrill, referred
frequently to this state statute the
committee proposed that Mr.. Morrill,
should nave made digest Of the New
Jersey law and the laws Of Other
states which he said were not in har-
mony as to the time limit in which
foodstuffs could be kept in cold stor-
age.
In answer to Chairman Hausen. Mr.
Morrill, said that the date on which
should go into effect ought to be- SET
and not Immediately. Mr.. Morrill, AZ.
planned how the state laws could be
evaded by transferring cold storage
state to another.
Questioned as to Storage.
Representative Mclaughlin Of Mich.
igan. Representative Anderson o,
Minnesota. Representative Pincher Al
Kansas. who made q vigorous speech
on the floor the other day on the
question Of the high cost of LIVING.
Representative Lee Of Georgia an
REPRESENTATIVE Helm of Alabams
questioned the witnesses at length
products in cold storage.
The bill under consideration limits
the storage to ten months The
questioning in the COMMITTEES brourhf
out that some 1ood products cannot be
months. while others might probably
be retained for twice the lenpth -
time provided in the bill -
Mr.. Campbell said that any precise
time limit WOuIu not correctly state
ton. Mr.. Morrill, pointed out that
the time limitation should also con.
slider the question Of seasonal nro-
duction. SO that goods might not be
held over from one season to another
to the discouragement of the nro.
ducers.
Mr.. Morrill, warned tho committee
in reply to question from Representa-
tive Lee of Georgia that the taxine
power is practically unlimited and
able to destroy any business II in
voked for that purpose.
Many members Of the commit ~
seemed surprised to learn that the
keeping of eggs in bulk. which after
being taken out Of the shell and
frozen In cans. il In itself an import
ant industry. Staggering statistics in
regard to the business in frozen err
used mostly by baking concerns were
laid before the committee