The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-17

New Measure Would Follow
Lines of the Pure Food
Bill.
(coey'ghl. I920. ~. 7,he Wash.

= .
ngton Star
Especial Dispatch TO The West yirpinianA
WASHINGTON, D. c., March III
/ egisiation to protect the purcha sing
public from fraud lin connection with
all the articles they buy is proposed
m bill Just introduced by Repreuea-
tatiye Rogero of Massachusetts. Every
kind of mi schandise, not covered IN
the pre- food and drug act. is covered
in this bill5of Mr.. Rogers, including
woolens. cotton goods, clothing. shoes.
watches. silks, etc.
The buI as drafted deals only with
goods entering into Interstate com
merce, and goods imported from for
eign countries. The powers granted
congret q under the constitution n,
deal will Interstate commerce ara
invoked. The bill has been referr,,., Z
therefore to the House committee ~, an
Isinterstate and foreign commerce,
which is to give a hearing to ME-.
/ Rogers ana other supporters of tiis
measure ct an early date ii mas a
strong backing nlany of the leading
manu- q tifers OF the country faVorif q
sthe plan ss 5 ses - 3 & y, =
Ever since the e.iacfin, nj of. tlt Z
pure food and drugs law. to guard fra
public against adnlterated foods and
drugs, and its ehio iorcement by tfIe ana
OF the bureau of chemistry in. the de-
partment of agriculture, there have
been demands that the federal gov
ernment take steps to protect the peo-
pie from fraud in the manufacture ana
sale OF other kinds of goods which
they must buy. Proponents of these
measures have, argued that the teo-
pie are entitled to know what goes
into the manufacture of the clothes
they wear to keep them warm in vim
Ter, for instances, as well as to krow
what 1t Is they are putting into their
stomachs. 1t was in line with ttis
oellet that congress year or two
ago enacted a law for the District OF
Columbia imposing penalties for false
advertising OF various commodities.
But the people, according to Mr..
Rogers, have reached the conclusion
that the most feasible way in which
TO deal with the subject is TO have
the articles which are sold, marked.
indicating Just what the article is and
what 1t is made of, in cases where II
IS necessary to describe the ingred
tents which go iuto its makeup. The
british have the bulge on the Amerf-
cans in this matter OF protecting the
purchasing public, he said. AS early
rs 1887, a law was enacted in Eng.
land@the British merchandise marks
law-which has proved of great bene-
fit. The IIeited States has no SINH
lar law. except where foods and drugs
are concerned.
Other "Purer Bills.
Mr.. Rogers bill aims to cover the
whole range of articles sold to tns
public. There :tre other measures now
rcnding before tbs Senate committee
q. 'naIttt t!,5s%Fs pytaCs2is &. dea,
witb certain kinds Of articles. There Is
&.,e Kenyon pure paint bill, introduced
several yeara ago by Senator KenyonJ
OF Iowa, Npnn which exhaustive hear
ings were hal6 by the committee, but
upon which the senate has never act
ed. Another similar measure Is stlle
Capper rure fabrics bill. which pro-
.yides that all yarns, cloths and clcth%s
containing wool must be labeled to-
show what. goes into the make rp o.
the goods. Senator Gapper, who
halls from Kansas. is anxious not only
Continued on page four.)