Evening star., 1941-07-20
District 10 Seek
Power for Food
Condemnation
Congress May Be
Asked to Amend
Inspection Law

II necessary, an appeal will be
made to Congress for amendment OF
the 1888 Federal Food, Drug anc
Cosmetics Act to permit city food in
spectors again to condemn "on
sight food products considered un-
fit for human consumption, now
barred by the Federal law, spokes-
men for the Commissioners said
yesterday.
Revelation was made Friday by
Health Officer George c. Rutland
that he had been compelled to warn
his food inspectors they no longer
could condemn unfit food products
in summary action, in view of pro-
visions of the 1888 legislation, but
must place their complaints with
the United States, whose agents
may seek court libel actions.
Envisioning delays in this new
legal process, DR.. Ruhland told the
Commissioners he feared the safety
of public health might be leopard
lied. He asked that immediate
steps be taken to clarity and cor
rect the situation.
Declares Power Is Necessary.
Specifically, Engineer Commits
sioner Charles w. Kutz announced
yesterday tee Commissioners had
called upon Corporation Counsel
Richmond B. Keech to confer with
Federal authorities to determine Of
ficially how they regarded the situa-
ton to see what might be done to
return full power again to District
inspectors.
Gen. Kutz said if no way out
could be found under the 1888 law,
Mr.. Keech was directed to prepare
proposed legislation to renew au-
thority of District health inspectors
TO take "summery" action to con-
denim and permanently eliminate
from possible human use food prod
ucts found unfit for such consump-
ton.
This power formerly exercised by
District food inspectors" said Gen.
kutz, is very necessary and should
be restored promptly"
During recent conferences an
agent of the Federal Security Ad-
ministration told District officials
he did not believe" it had been the
intention Of Congress to deprive
local health authorities of their
former powers to take immediate
action for seizure or condemna-
ton of unfit food products. How
ever, no official word as yet has
come from the Federal Government,
and DR.. Rutland acted to call a halt
on former District practices when
Corporation Counsel Keech agreed
that provisions of the new law su-
perseded all contrary provisions of
old District law or regulations.
Only One Inspector Here.
Possibilities of delays and other
dlfhcultles in enforcement cases un-
der the setup prescribed by the new
Federal law were visualized by Dis
trict officials in the light of informa-
ton that the Federal Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Administration now
has but one Washington inspector,
and but eight for the local region
which includes Maryland, the Dis
trict, Virginia and West Virginia.
whereas the District Health De-
partment has had no less than %
of its own inspectors specifically as
signed to food control work within
the boundaries of the Capital.
One District official suggested
yesterday that unless a solution of
the problem is found, a move might
have to be made to relieve DR.. Ruh-
land of many of his % food in
spectors, since the most important
OF their powers have been taken
away by the Federal law. This law.
enacted in June, 1888, became effec-
tive in June, 1899. Just why this
Issue over jurisdiction had not been
Faised earlier was not made clear by
District officials.