Evening star., 1935-03-22
Roosevelt Text
Message Urges Pure Food
Law Changes to Pro-
tect Public.
The text OF the message follows

Inc text OF tTe message lOlIOWS.
Every enterprise in the United
States should be able to adhere
to the simple principle of honesty
without fear Of penalty on that
account. Honesty ought to be the
best policy not only for one in
dividual. or one enterprise. but
for every individual and every
enterprise in the Nation. In one
field of endeavor there is an OBJ
vious means to this end which
has been too long neglected, the
the setting up and careful enforce
ment of standards of identity and
quality Of the foods We eat and
the drugs We use. together with
the strict exclusion from our mar
kets of harmful or adulterated
products.
The honor of the producers in a
country ought to be the invariable
ingredient of the products pro-
duced in it. The various qualities
of goods require kind OF discrimi-
nation which is not at the COM
mand Of consumers. They are
likely to confuse outward appear
ance with inward integrity. In
such a situation as has grown up
through Cur rising level of living
and our multiplication Of goods.
consumers are prevented from
choosing intelligently and pro-
ducers are handicapped in any
attempt to maintain higher stand
ards. Only the scientific and dis
interested activity Of Government
can protect this honor of our pro-
ducers and provide the possibility
of discriminating choice to our
consumers.
L0opholes in 1906 Law.
These principles have long been
those on which we have founded
public policy. But we have fallen
behind on their practical applica-
ton. No comprehensive attempt
at reform IN the regulation of COM
merce m food and drugs has been
made since 1906 I need not point
out to YOU how much has hap
pened since that time In the in
vention of new things and their
general adoption, as well as i'll the
increase of advertising appeals.
Because of these changes, loop
holes have appeared in the old law
which have made abuses easy.
1t is time to make practical i'm
provements. A measure is needed
which will extend the controls for
merly applicable only to labels to
advertising also; which will extend
protection to trade in cosmetics;
which will provide for co-opera-
tive method of setting standards
and for n system Of inspection and
enforcement to reassure consum-
ers grown hesitant and doubtful,
and which. will provide for neces-
sary fiexibility in administration
as products and conditions change.
understand this subject has
been studied and discussed for the
last two years and that full irfor-
nation Is in the possession Of the
Congress.
Would Hit ChiSelers.
No honest enterpriser need fear
that because Of the passage Of such
a measure he will be unfairly
treated. He would be asked to do
no more than he now holds himself
out to do. 1t would mercy make
certain that those who are less
scrupulous than I know most Of
our producers to be, cannot force
their more honest competitors into
dishonorable ways.
The great majority of those en-
gagged In the trade In food and
drugs do not need regulation. They
observe the spirit as well as the
letter of existing law. Present legis-
lation ought to be directed pri-
marily toward a small minority Of
evaders and chiselers. At the same
time even handed regulation will
not only outlaw the bad practices
OF the few but will also protect the
many from unscrupulous competi-
ton. 1t will, besides, provide a
bulwark of consumer confidence
throughout the business world.
It my hope that such legisla-
tion may be enacted at this session
Of the Congress.