MANUFACTURE, SALE, ETC., OF ADULTERATED OR MISLABELED WHITE LEAD, ETC. COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Tuesday, May 31, 1910. The committee met at 10.15 o'clock a. m., Hon. James R. Mann (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The special hearing this morning is on H. R. 21901, introduced by Mr. Bartholdt, to prevent the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or mislabeled white lead and mixed paint, and to prevent lead poisoning. You may proceed, Mr. Bartholdt. STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD BARTHOLDT, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI. Mr. BARTHOLDT. This bill, Mr. Chairman, has been introduced by me in the interest of the public health. I do not wish to present an argument myself, because I have with me two gentlemen who are more familiar with the subject; in fact, thoroughly posted. I should like to call attention, however, to several facts. One is that the painters of the United States who were at first opposed to legislation of this kind have practically all come around now to the view that something should be done for the protection of the health not only of those employed in the manufacture of paints, but also of the general public. While recently at St. Louis the leading painters met me and assured me that of all the bills that had ever been presented to Congress the one introduced by me, and which we are now conidering, was the one with which they could be entirely satisfied. I wish to read to you a letter. Mr. ADAMSON. You said in the interest of the public health. It is also designed to secure fair dealing and honest goods for the people. who buy and use them? Mr. BARTHOLDT. Yes, sir; and to let people know what they are buying; in other words, if anything that you buy is poisoned, you, as a consumer, ought to know it. Mr. ADAMSON. There are great frauds in paint, and it shows quicker on a house than anything else. Mr. BARTHOLDT. I might also call attention to the fact-all of these facts will be brought out by my friends here that we are away behind in this country as far as legislation of this kind is concerned. France, for instance, has entirely prohibited the use of white lead because of its injurious character; Germany is permitting its use only under very stringent limitations; and so all countries of Europe have legislation on their statute books the same as we are now asking you to favorably consider here. 3 |