42 



or by making an appropriation for rendering; existing laws effective, (8) by en- 

 acting laws witliont appropriations and making tbe work in so far as it is done 

 a gratuity, and (4) l)y amendments which tend to strengthen existing hiws or to 

 secure greater uniformity. 



The results which have attended the inspection by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture of imported foods vuuler existing laws of Congress illustrate 

 the good effects which would follow the enactment of a law regulating interstate 

 commerce in adulterated and misbranded foods, beverages, and drugs. It was 

 thought in some quarters that this inspection would hinder or diminish foreign 

 commerce in food ])roducts. The experience of two years of inspection, however, 

 has shown that this fear is groundless. On the contrary, trade in inspected 

 liroducts has greatly increased. Purchasers, feeling that imported goods, such 

 ■MS olive oil. etc.. have been inspected and are i)ure, are Imying in larger quanti- 

 ties than ever before. This confidence of the public in the character of im- 

 ported goods will be extended to those of domestic origin subject to interstate 

 connnerce. when a national law regulating interstate conunerce is passed and 

 enforced. 



Such a law will be of immense advantage also in urging to luiiformity the 

 laws and regulations of the various States, thus relieving manufacturers of a 

 great deal of annoyance, without in any way diminishing the protection afforded 

 to the consumer. 



Your conunittee. therefore, respectfully urges the association to take such 

 actit)n as will look to the indorsement of a pure-food measure, its introduction 

 to Congress, and its enactment in law. 



]\Iessrs. Wheeler, Patterson, and Withers ask to be relieved of further service 

 upon this committee, as their work is not connected with the food control. 



W. A. Withers. 

 H. J. Patterson, 

 H. J. Wheeler. 



Committee. 



Instructions to the jiIxecutive Committee Regarding Congressional 



Legislation. 



The following reconnnendation of the executive conunittee was laid before 

 the convention for consideration by the chairman of the committee, II. C. 

 White : 



Your committee submits to the association, in view of the efforts which will 

 be required in connection with the proposition which will be made to increase 

 the appropriation to the exi)eriment stations, whether it would not be wise to 

 withhold for the present specific instructions to your executive committee in 

 connection with tbe mining school bill, leaving the committee free to concen- 

 trate its efforts to secure the passage of the Adams bill, giving, of course, to the 

 mining school bill, if introduced, such support as may be practicable or condi- 

 tions justify. 



H. C. White, of Georgia. In connection with that recommendation, the resolu- 

 tion offered by President Atherton (p. 28) covers the case largely, and the execu- 

 tive conunittee rei>orts back this resolution for consideration at this time with an 

 amendment. The recommendation of President Atherton, with the amendment 

 by the executive committee, reads as follows : 



Resolved, That the executive conunittee be, and hereby is. instructed to use 

 its best efforts to promote the passage of the Adams bill : and 



ResolreiJ, That this association hereby reindorses the Mondell bill and ad- 

 vises the executive committee to give such assistance to its passage as. in its 

 judgment, may be advisable and as circumstances may justify. 



The adoption of this resolution would be substantially the adoption of the rec- 

 ommendation of the executive committee. If the association should continue to 

 give instructions to its executive committee t;) urge the passage of specific bills, 

 as, for example, a bill known as the "Adams bill." a bill known as the " Mondell 

 bill," a bill known as the " Hepliurn bill. — which yr.u have just indorsed — a bill 

 in connection with for(>stry. and so forth, that would scatter the efforts of the exec- 



