, 1923-01-04
HISTORY OF TRUTH
IN-FABRIC MEASURE
I. ". Diasmese States That Wye.
ming Delegation 10 Congress
Is Exciting Every tffsft 10 :
Secure Passage Of Dill

SCIoJe V2SS1XS u DjI
On April 10. 1921, Senator Capper
Of Kansas introduced in the United
States Senate q bill known as the
referred to the Committee on Inter
state Commerce. Of which Senator
Cummins Of Iowa is chairman. Since
this time, and until December %,
1929, the bill has been under consid-
Grafton by the above committee,
when it was reported favorably to
the senate with several changes.
In the House of Representatives,
this same bill was introduced BY
Representative French of Idaho and
was referred to the Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce!
Representative Winslow of Massa-
chusetts is chairman of that COM
mittee, and up to the present he has
not reported the measure to the
House.
The bill is designed to prevent de-
ceit n unfair prices that result
from the unrevealed presence of
substitutes for virgin wool in woven
fabrics purporting to contain wool,
and in garments or articles of az
~ - Hs5EtIS - - - rsHTer
in any State or Territory of the
United States or the district Of
Columbia, Or transported or intend
ed to be transported in interstate or
foreigl commerce, and providing
penalties for the violation of the pro-
visions of the Act, and for other pur-
poses.
Although the Senate Committee in
charge OF the bill made several
changes, none of them will operate
against the efficiency or effective
ness OF the measure. They were
inserted to secure n clearer %interpre-
tatiOn and make the more
enforceable. The old designation of
"Truth-in-Fabric Law" was changed
to THE ol-Woven-Fabric Law"
and that seems to be a more sensible
title. The use OF the word stamped"
was changed throughout the bill to
marked" and permits the manu-
facturer to reveal the amount of
wool contained by other means than
stamping the article. The word
"shoddy" was changed to "re-worked
WOOL" and the meaning of the latter
term seems to cover completely the
definition of the first. The original
bill specified that only four ingred-
tents were 10 be marked on the fab
ric. namely. virgin wool, shoddy, cot
ton and silk. The amended bill adds,
"or any other ingredient that is
used" covering more ground and
making more complete the protec-
ton sought. The fabric must be
marked plainly to show the relative
proportion or percentage by weight
of each ingredient. Also, as in the
old bill, each manufacturer of yarn
that contains wool must give a state
ment to the buyer as to the mount
OF wool the product contains. The
committee added a new paragraph to
the bill providing that no wholesaler,
5obber. or manufacturer shall be
prosecuted for having in his possess
sion falscly-marked goods, provided
he can establish a guarantee. signed
by the party from whom he bought
the goods. hat such goods were
truthfully marked or tagged in con-
formity with the provisions OF the
act. This makes the original party
who sold the goods amenable to the
prosecutions. fines. and other pen
alties. The penalties are left the
same rs when the bill was first pre-
scented. providing for the first Of
fence a fine OF not to exceed $500, or
imprisonment for one year. or both.
For each subsequent offense and
conviction thereof. the offender shall
be fined not less than $1,000, or i'm
prisonment for one yea or both.
The Secretary OF the Treasury, the
Secretary Of Agriculture. and the
Secretary Of Commerce are given the
authority to carry out the provisions
OF the Act. including the collection
and examination OF specimens OF
woven fabrics and garments offered
for sale and manufactured in the
United States.
The opposition which comes to
this measure II from the manufactur
ing states OF the Union. In such
States most OF the clothes. garments,
wooden goods. and yarn are manu-
featured. and since the early days Of
the Republic they have shipped their
products to NIL markets. wherc Il has
been sold in nearly all cases a. pure
wool. Unless n might fortunately
be an expert In the knowledge Of
fsSrics. he was greatly deceived
when he purchased what no sup
posed to he an ail-wool garment.
Under this Act. those who can read
the English language will be A. well
protected In what they purchase AZ
an expert In tho Judgment OF fabrics.
II should In No way operate against
the manufacturer OF the cloth or
yarn. Il should not be his desire to
deceive thu people who buy his
soods. but rather should Il b his
purpose 70 explain or educate tho
consumer 10 the value and wear OF
goods which do not necessarily con-
tain all pure new wool. II 10 known
eimoet gensrally that cloth contain
Or rare ON the markets IN the past.
ct least among the modcrate-priced
fabrics. Garments made Of part
"ahoddy" will always be sold under
the medium class OF goods and will
be considered above the average, de-