143 



Dr. M. E. Pennington, Chief of Food Research Laboratory, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, testified before the U. S. Senate Committee 

 in reference to poultry as follows: "There would probably be a greater 

 change in twenty-four hours if the temperature was from 65° to 75° 

 Fahrenheit, than if the temperature was 10° Fahrenheit for twelve months." 

 Dr. Pennington also makes this statement in one of the government 

 bulletins : " It is a comparatively simple matter to keep birds in good con- 

 dition from one season of production to the next, in a well-constructed 

 cold storage warehouse, provided those birds are received at the ware- 

 house properly dressed, chilled and packed, and with such promptness 

 that decomposition has not obtained even a slight foothold." 



In conclusion, it may be pertinent to the topic to briefly consider 

 cold storage legislated, adopted and proposed. Eleven states have 

 passed laws regulating the cold storage business, and while many of the 

 provisions of these laws are unnecessary and non-effective, for the most 

 part they are reasonable and workable. As the time limit is apt to be 

 the most oppressive and restrictive form of regulation, it is of interest to 

 note the provisions in this respect in the different acts. Twelve months 

 limit, with privilege of extension, is provided in the laws of California, 

 Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska and North Dakota. Ten 

 months, with power of extension, is the rule in Jersey. Ten and twelve 

 months, without extension, is the law in New York. Nine months 

 storage is permitted in Indiana. Delaware requires a limit of six months, 

 which may be extended to eight months, and Pennsylvania has a law 

 which is the most drastic as to time limits yet adopted. It provides that 

 no foods can be offered for sale which have been stored beyond the time 

 mentioned, which runs from four months on beef to ten months on 

 undrawn dressed fowl and there is no provision for extension. It is past 

 finding out how such periods were selected, when twelve months is the 

 only logical and natural limit if one is to be imposed, so that products 

 can be carried from season to season, and then providing for extension of 

 time, if proper and necessary. The next step should look to uniformity 

 in this type of legislation, and it is a good sign that the Association of 

 State and National Food and Dairy Departments has prepared a model, 

 uniform bill, which, while not all that could be desired, is a step in the 

 right direction and a number of states have adopted this bill. It is 

 reported that the Commissioners of Uniform State Laws are also working 

 on a measure which promises to be reasonable and fair. 



After this discussion, it is needless to say that the bill proposed in 

 Congress by Representative McKellar, providing for a time limit of 

 ninety days, is perfectly absurd and impossible. It would destroy the 

 entire cold storage industry and take from the people this modern and 

 efficient agency of food conservation and distribution, 



Mrs. Smith: We would like to have some discussion on this subject 

 of cold storage. 



