Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-12-07
WALLACE ENDORSES
PURE FOOD BILL
Sees Copeland Measure as
Means to Plug Up
LoophoIes.
BY the Associated Press.

food and drugs act and said the Depart
ment of Agriculture officially favored it.
As the first witness at the opening
Of hearings on the controverted meas
ure, wallace said need for broader and
stricter legislation has been brought
about by increased traffic in foods and
drugs, development Of cosmetics, new
narcotic and habit-forming drugs and
totally new food constituents and i'm
portant nutrition elements like the
vitamins."
Then, too" he added, during the
past q years Of enforcement, officials
have had driven home to them many
weaknesses and loopholes In the pres
ent law. Fo rexample, the necessity Of
the Governments proving that a drug
product Is both falsely and fraudulently
represented has proved great him
drance to effective enforcement.
Evidence Tragic.
IT doubt that any one will wish to
of the many abuses which cannot be
remedied under existing legislation;
there is too much grim evidence of the
tragic effects that almost daily result
from the Governments inability to pre-
vent the shipment and sale Of dangerous
and worthless products
In addition to preserving the worthy
features Of the present law, the bill
proposes a number Of changes in en-
forcement powers and policies, includ-
ing these:
Cosmetics are brought within the
scope of the statute.
Mechanical devices offered for cura-
tive purposes and devices and prepara-
tons claimed to bring about changes in
the structure of the body are included
within the purview Of the bill.
False advertising Of foods, drugs
and cosmetics is prohibited.
Definitely informative labelling Is
required.
gerous to health under the conditions
Of use prescribed in its labelling Is
classed as adulterated.
Courts Have Part.
"The PRONUNCIATION of definitions and
standards for foods, which will have the
force and effect Of law, subject, of
course, to court review, is prescribed
THE prohibition Of added poisons in
foods or the establishment of safe toll
erances therefor is provided for.
1.-THE operation of factories under
Federal permit is prescribed where pro-
lection of the public health can not
otherwise be effected.
More effective methods for the con-
troll of false labelling and advertising of
drug products are provided.
More severe penalties, as well as In
functions in the case Of repeated Of
lenses, are prescribed.
Il think it is generally understood
that this bill is intended primarily to
protect consumers. At the same time
it should operate in the interest Of all
honest manufacturers.
Agriculture has special reasons for
favoring 1t. Farmers are interested as
producers and users of food, as extern
Sive users of package medicines. and as
almost exclusive users Of veterinary
medicines and stock feeds. Agriculture
is interested in any measure that helps
adulterated and honestly represented"
Campbell Testifies.
Wallace said there had been "chisel-
ers" in the advertising field and be-
lieved the advertising people themselves
would like to have some standards set
up to prevent fraudulent advertising.
His experience as publisher, he said
had shown that the broader minded
take the view that so much purchasing
power centers around a given publica-
ton that if that Is soaked up for things
that are harmful it means that much
less money to be spent for things worth
while"
Walter G. Campbell, chief Of the Food
and Drug Administration Of the Agri-
culture Department, who would ad-
minister the bill If it became law, said
it was intended to correct lockers" and
deficiencies" in the 27-year-old exist
ing law.
I'VE have sought to preserve all
worthy features of the present law
he said, land correct the abuses and
provide for needs we have found in the
81 years experience with that law"
The opposition was to state its case
later. Only two days Of hearings were
planned.
Controversy Stirred Up.
The measure, drawn by Prof Rexford
Tugwell, Assistant Secretary Of Agri-
culture, after II years of fruitless effort
to put more teeth in the old Harvey
Wiley regime act, has stirred more con-
troversy than most legislative proposals
outside the emergency program.
Health experts and truth IN -advertis-
ing advocates back the measure. Patent
medicine manufacturers, Gamers and
cosmetic makers are among opponents
The opposition has based most OF
its case on the powers vested in the
Secretary. It also claims the bill is
too stringent and Is damaging to legiti-
mate industry in an effort to get at
an INSCRIPTIONS few.
The measure lists 16 narcotic, OF
hypnotic substances, which, If placed
in drug, would require the manufac-
turer to label the drug: Warning
may be habit forming"
To discourage public advertisement
OF drugs for diseases wherein self
medication may be especially danger
GUS, any advertisement of drug repre-
senting it either directly or by infer
ence to have any effect in the treat
ment Of 81 listed diseases would be
deemed false.
Pro and Con Statements.
Here are some statements proponents
and opponents of the bill already have
made:
Prof. Tugwell-It is a primary func-
ton Of Government to provide effec-
tive consumer protection. The scope
of such protective action must be
progressively enlarged as population
and the completely of our social and
economic order increase. Thus the pro-
lection afforded by the food and drugs
act when passed in 1906 is radically
sufficient today.
Frank A. Blair, president Of the Pro-
prietary Association-It has taken ~
years for manufacturers to learn how
to operate under these laws. It has
taken that long also to bring about a
conformity of State laws to the Federal
laws. This has been done now in 46
States. The Federal pure food and
drugs act as a protective measure
stands as a monument. I do not be-
lieve it should be torn down now and
superseded by set Of regulations that
will hamper legitimate industry.
Leo H. Bristol, chairman OF the Board
of the Association of National Adver-
tisers-While no one can find fault
with the aims and intents Of Prof. Tug
I'm l. -Ax A-~~A