Evening star., 1933-12-09

Fireworks in Congress are promised
when that body takes up the Tugwell
bill. which would supersede the present
food and drug laws. Prepared by the
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. it
has been introduced in both houses.
with some Endorsement from the med
icai profession. Among the arguments
against the measure is the charge that
its provisions would compel the makers
Of proprietary articles to disclose their
formulas, with results favorable to
their competitors.
Noting that the bill was introduced
in both branches by members who are
physicians, the Bloomington Panta-
graph declares that lit goes beyond the
limit of sane control of the business
of distributing package goods and ex-
tends powers to the Secretary which
make him q virtual dictator over q
vast business of making and marketing
certain lines Of food, medicine and cos
metics. The Paragraph argues: "One
of the chief objections to the Tugwell
bill is its vagueness. Its title sets up
certain laudable purposes Of the act
and adds for other purposes which
ton of what constitutes false or mis-
leading labelling or advertising is so
broad and vague that its Interpretation
would rest solely on the word Of the
Secretary of Agriculture, who Is not
generally presumed to be a man of
expert knowledge on this subject. The
dictatorial powers put into the hands
of the Secretary by this act allow him
to prescribe any regulations as he may
deem necessary This is an unwar-
ranted grant of legislative powers to
an individual. The act further states
that the finding of fact by the Secre-
tary shall be conclusive There is no
appeal or court review. The Secre-
tary's word is law" That paper feels
that modification of the existing law
acter" and would avoid the sweeping
changes proposed in the Tugwell bill"
Fireworks are predicted by the New
ark Evening News, in view Of "the in
tensity OF the opposition already
stirred and that paper states that
there Is justifiable ground In both,
the interest of the reputable producer
and the public for strong objection to
certain phases of the proposed legisla-
ton" The Evening News continues:
'It. Is fair to say that the main body
OF protest has to do with method ana
procedure covering adulteration, mis-
branding, labelling and advertising. The
last mentioned Is for the first time
brought under the departments super
vision. There are collateral provisions,
such as disclosing formula, making the
act of an employe the act of an en-
ployer, and providing for inspection Of
plants that are opposed as unfair or
unduly burdensome A cursory read.
ing of the bill makes evident that the
powers accorded the Secretary of .Agri-
culture are drastic, even to the ex-
treme Of being autocratic in the wide
discretionary rights lodged with his
department. Particularly Is there OBJ
lection to the section which stipulates
that hearings may be conducted by
such officer or employe as the Secre-
tary may designate and the findings
Of fact by the Secretary shall be con-
elusive If IN accordance with the law"
The Newark paper concludes that ''in
reposing wide autocratic powers In q
Government bureau we are In danger
Of finding the cure worse than the
disease" and that "the bill should be
modified"
The measure 70 defines adulteration,"