Journal of Proceedings OF THE National Pure Food and Drug Congress HELD IN Columbian University Hall, Washington, D. C. March 2, 3, 4, and 5, 1898. 1898. WASHINGTON, D. C. OF THE NATIONAL PURE FOOD AND DRUG CONGRESS. Held In Columbian University Hall. Washington, D. C., March 2d to 5th, 1898. FIRST DAY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2nd. (The Congress was called to order by Hon. Frank Hume, Chairman of the Local Call Committee, and President B. L. Whitman, of the Columbian University opened the Congress with prayer. Chairman Hume then addressed the Congress as follows: ADDRESS OF HON. FRANK HUME. Gentlemen:-As Chairman of the General Committee, on calling this Congress to order, it may not be out of place for me to state that the work which you are here to perform is of the greatest national importance. It ex tends beyond the nation, for it affects every people to whom we export our food and drugs. It may interest you to add that the bill which you will consider, H. R. No. 5441, known as the Brosius Bill, is in fact an evolution, that is, it is an improvement upon its predecessors, and that from the days of the 48th Congress, when Hon. Wharton J. Greene, of North Carolina, introduced & Pure Food Bill, each succeeding Congress has had before it for consideration, a bill of this character. During the hotly contested fight for pure lard in which the manufacturers of that article waged a bitter warfare against the compounders of stearine, cotton seed oil, and kettle rendered hogs lard, calling the product pure refined lard, a bill was prepared and introduced in the House of Representatives by Hon. W. H. F. Lee of Virginia, which for the first time provided for the control of food and drug products by the Department of Agriculture. This bill was sent to the House Committee on Agriculture and referred to a sub-committee of which the late Hon. Jas. Laird of Nebraska was Chairman. Mr. Laird made a careful study of the question and his report on the subject is a monument to his memory. He presented a substitute for the Lee Bill which was endorsed by the Committee and reported favorably to the House. A similar bill was introduced into the Senate by Senator Chas. J. Faulkner, of West Virginia, whose able championship had previously secured the passage of a Pure Food Bill for the District of Columbia. His bill went to the Committee on Agriculture of the Senate but was not acted upon by that body. In the 51st Congress, Mr. Allen introduced the Laird Bill with some amendments in the House and it was favorably reported to that body. Senator Faulkner introduced his bill in the Senate, and again it went to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, of which the late Senator Paddock was then Chairman. It now fell into the hands of one of its warmest friends and one who proved himself its earnest champion. In the 51st Congress, however, the Sherman-Edmonds Export Meat Inspection Bill and the Vest-Hatch Interstate Meat Inspection Bill passed, and it became necessary to eliminate from the pure food bill all that related to the inspection of animals and meat, and Senator Paddock reported the bill thus amended and it became the Paddock bill but was never voted on. In the 52d Congress, Senator Paddock introduced an improved Bill and it went into the Senate and before the country as the Paddock Bill, Senate No. 1. It passed at an early date during the first session and went to the Agriculture Committee of the House, of which Col. Hatch was Chairman, from which it was promptly reported favorably and went upon the calendar: but it did not come to a vote. The friends of this measure became somewhat discouraged and practically nothing has been done during the past four years to secure the desired legislation. The developments during that time have created a more pronounced interest in the quality of the food offered in our mar kets, and there is now a decided demand that an honest man shall have 1020707 an untainted field in which to do an honest business, and that this great country take its proper place among civilized nations and protect its The Paddock Bill has run the gauntlet of criticism of some of the greatest lawyers that ever sat in Congress. Among them are Edmonds, George, and Paddock in the Senate, Hatch, Brosius and others in the House, and there need be no fear of the action of the courts upon the constitutionality of the measure you are here to consider and discuss. The bill before you is up to date and while it may not be all we might desire, yet it is a step in the right direction and will accomplish great good to all classes of our people. The passage of this bill if properly brought to the attention of Congress is an assured fact, if you gentlemen unite in its endorsement; and upon your wisdom and discretion depends largely this important measure in the interest of health, morals and business, citizens, as well as its hogs and cattle against disease. On behalf of the Call Committee, I thank each and every one of you for responding so heartily to the invitation to aid in promoting one of the most important hills now before the Congress. Its enactment into law will not only be a benefit to food consumers in our own country but also inspire confidence in our food exports to foreign countries. I now take pleasure in introducing Hon. Matthew Trimble, Assessor of the District of Columbia, who will read the call for this meeting: (Mr. Trimble then read the call for the Congress as follows:) THE CALL. The question of the character of the Food, Drink and Drugs consumed by a people is unquestionably one of the most important that can be discussed by them. Adulteration, misbranding, sophistication, substitution and imitation undoubtedly exist to an alarming extent, to the detriment of health, legitimate business, and sound morals, and it becomes needful to secure legislation that will check this growing evil and permit an honest man to do an honest business. EXTENT OF ADULTERATION. The extent of adulteration can only be estimated by the number of industries engaged in producing food, drugs, and liquors, for no sooner does a legitimate business succeed than illegitimate imitators follow in its wake. These unfair practices have become so general that remedial legislation is demanded to protect the health, morals, and business interests of the people. Our foreign trade is threatened, and unless the evil practice is checked every honest man will be compelled to quit business. Many of the States have good laws which cannot be enforced, owing to the "Original Package" decision of the Supreme Court, which prevents the several States from effectually controlling this matter-hence it becomes necessary to enact a Federal Statute to prevent the Inter-State Traffic in such commodities. House Bill No. 5441, introduced by Hon. Mariott Brosius, of Pennsylvania, is now soon to be considered by the Committee of the House. As there are divergent views as to some minor points of this measure which should be reconciled by a consultation of the interested parties and believing that it is the desire of the great mass of manufacturers, producers and consumers to reconcile all such differences and to unite in urging the adoption of a PURE FOOD LAW by Congress, so as to sustair the good name of the Nation, and preserve the health and integrity of our people: THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby Call A PURE FOOD AND DRUG CONGRESS to assemble in the city of Washington, D. C., at the National Hotel, a twelve (12) o'clock M., on Wednesday, the Second (2nd) day of March 1898, and hereby fix the apportionment of Representation as follows: The following apportionment of delegates is made so as to embrac as far as possible every interest involved in the production, manufacture and sale of food, drugs and liquor products-in proportion to the number engaged therein. It embraces the Scientists and Health Department as well as those who have charge of local laws in the various States an Territories. APPORTIONMENT OF DELEGATES. The Governors of each State and Territory are requested to appoint ten (10) delegates, distributed as follows: Agriculturists, 4; Pharmacists, 2; Wholesale Grocers, 1; Retail Grocers, 1; Food Manufacturers, 1; Proprietary Manufacturers, 1; 10. Agricultural Department-the Secretary of Agriculture, and five (5) delegates to be appointed by him. The Internal Revenue Department-The Commissioner and five (5) delegates to be appointed by him. The Surgeon General of the Army and five (5) delegates to be appointe: by him. The Surgeon General of the Navy, and five (5) delegates to be appointed by him. The Surgeon-General of the Marine Hospital Service and five (5) delegates to be appointed by him. The Fish Commissioner and five (5) delegates to be appointed by him. BOARDS OF HEALTH. State Boards of Health, 3; Boards of Health of Cities from 20,000 to 100,000, 1; Boards of Health of Cities from 100,000 to 500,000, 2; Boards of Health of Cities of 500,000 and upwards, 3. BOARDS OF TRADE AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. Cities of from 20,000 to 100,000, 1; Cities of from 200,000 to 500,000, 2; Cities of 500,000 and upwards, 3. AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS. The National Grange, P. of H., 5; Each State Grange, 2; The National Farmers' Alliance, 5; Each State Alliance, 2; The National Farmers' Congress, 5; National Horticultural Society, 3; State Horticultural Societies, 1; National Dairy Association, 5; State Dairy Association, 1; National Bee Keepers' Association, 3; State Bee Keepers' Association, 1. OFFICIAL ORGANIZATIONS, ETC. Each State Agricultural Department, 2; Each State Food and Dairy Commission, 2; Each Experiment Station, 2; Each Official Agricultural Chemist, 1; Each Agricultural College, 1; National Pure Food Associa:ion, 5; Each State Pure Food Association, 2; Each State Board of Pharmacy, 1. SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL. American Chemical Society, 5; State Chemical Societies, 1; National Medical Society, 5; State Medical Societies, 2; Local Medical Societies in Cities of 10 to 100,000, 1; 100,000 to 500,000, 2; 500,000 and upwards, 3; Amercan Pharmaceutical Association, 5; State Pharmaceutical Associations, ; Separate Organizations in Cities, 1. TRADE ORGANIZATIONS. Bakers' National Association, 3; Bakers' State Associations, 1; Bee Keepers' Union, 3; Cider and Vinegar National Association, 3; Cider and Vinegar State Associations, 1; Confectioners' Association, (National), 3; Confectioners' Association (State), 1; Dairy National Union Association, 5; Dairy Union, State Associations, 1; Druggists Wholesale National Assoiation, 3; Druggists Wholesale State Associations, 1; Grocers' National Wholesale Associations, 1;State Grocers' Wholesale,2; Cheese Mfg.National ssociation, 3; Cheese Mfg. State Association, 1; Grocers' National Reailers, 3; Grocers' State Retailers, 1. Brewers' National Association, 3; Brewers' State Association, 1; Liquor Dealers' National Association, 3; Liquor Dealers' State Association, 1; 'intners' National Association, 3; Vintners' State Association, 1; Millers' Tational Association, 5; Millers' State Association, 1; Proprietary Associaon, National, 5. By order of the Committee, Frank Hume, Chairman. J. D. Hird. Matthew Trimble, 1st. Vice-Pres't. Washington, D. C., Jan. 18, 1898. |