Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-03-29
Regulatory Work Most
Important in Ayr. Dept.
BOTH PROFIT THRU PROTECTION
NATIONWIDE COMMON LANGU-
AGE STANDARDS NOW


ment of Agriculture, the term has a
much broader meaning. 1t seeks not
only to punish the offender, but to
bring about better practices. 1t stands
as the friend Of better business meth
eds Unlike most kinds of regulation,
that of the Agricultural Department
equires the highest scientific know
ledge The regulatory work grew out
of research work.
In this manner Secretary Wallace
briefly outlined the policy behind the
regulatory work of the department
From a small beginning the number
of laws administered by this branch of
the Government has steadily grown
from year to yer until it now consti-
tutes one of the important lines Of
work
A close study of the different regula-
tory activities shows that it gets the
various groups together on terms of
equality. In some instances, it gives
to the different groups what might be
called a common language" This is
SO in the establishment of standards
such as under the Grain Standards Act
When the Department took hold of
the work each section of the country
had its own grain standards which
meant nothing to the average man in
another section. (There were as many
grain grades as there are dialects in
China.) After exhaustive investiga-
tions, a tentative schedule of grades
was drawn up, giving each name
that would be common throughout the
country. It prescribed the require
ments that grain would have to meet
in order to be put into commerce as
grain of that particular grade. For in
stance, the requirements for No. 1
wheat were to be the same the country
over, and man in Nebraska would
be speaking a common language with
a man in New York when he spoke
of No. 1 grade and the buyer would
know just what he was buying.
Through the administration of the
Food and Drugs Act by the Bureau
Of Chemistry, the food industry is on
a higher plane than ever before. Most
manufacturers of food endeavor to put
out a good product. It is good bust
ness to do so they find. A permanent
prosperous business cannot be built
upon sophistigation and falsehood
says Secretary Wallace.
A survey of any butcher shop re-
veals evidences of the regulatory
work of the Department. One of these
is the little purple stamp of the meat
inspector which reads U. S. Inspected
and Passed, It is the evidence that the
meat is from healthy animal and
was prepared in a sanitary slaughter
house and that it is wholesome for
human consumption.
The most recent regulatory of the
Department is the Packers and Stock
yards Act This Act brings under the
supervision of the Department the
packing business the important stock
yards and the commission men trad
ers,, order buyers, and others engaged
in the livestock business. It was thru
the administration of this law that
Secretary Wallace recently issued
complaint against the proposed mer-
ger of the Armour and Morris meat
packing companies
The major agricultural crops of the
country are guarded against diseases
and insects. This work is performed
by the Federal Horticultural Board.
The Secretary has wide authority in
laying down regulations to protect
your agricultural crops against pests
and diseases in this country and
against the entry of others from for
eign countries.
Through the Insecticide and Fun
gicide Board the Department sees
that no fake remedies enter into in
terstate commerce. Samples of fnsec-
ticides and fungicides are gathered by
the Board and carefully analysed and
tested by skillfuI chemists.
Among the activities of the Depart
ment, which have a humane feature
as their primary object is the 28-hour
law. This is designed to prevent
cruelty to cattle, sheep, swine and
other animals while in interstate com
merce. The Department is also
charged with the task of preventing
the spread of animal diseases. In this
it regulates the movements of domes-
tic enimals in interstate and foreign
commerce.
Under treaty with Great Britain,
the United States is obligated, togeth-
er with Canada, to protect birds mi
grating between the two countries.
Among the other important laws
administered by the Department may
be mentioned the Virus Serum Toxin
Act, the Warehouse Act, and other
acts governing the importation Of
hides and skins, the Importation Of
cattle, sheep, and other animals, seed
Importation, and process or renoyat-
ed butter.