252 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
the people of the United States from paying too much for those 
articles. Do you think that is a proper fuhction of government— 
to exercise guardianship over the people and prevent them from paying 
too much for a particular article? 
Mr. Wier. I do not know that I could bring in bir economy 
or my opinion in regard to that. While it will result in that, my idea 
is that it will promote honesty and straightforwardness in regard to 
trade; that it will put trade upon a high plane, so that people will 
know that they are getting what they are paying for. It seems to me 
that is one of the things that the law ought to do. 
Mr. Grarr. In other words, the people have no way to protect 
themselves. 
Mr. Wier. No; the people can not protect themselves; there is no 
way except as the whole body of the commonwealth that this protec- 
tion can be secured. 
Mr. Haucen. Then it is the Government function to protect them 
against deception ? . 
Mr. Witey. Yes. 
Mr. Scorr. As I understand it, if Congress passed the law requiring 
honest labeling of all food products that are imported into this 
country 
Mr. Wiuey. Yes; that is the object of the law. 
Mr. Scorr (continuing). The enforcement of that law would be 
put into the hands of the Secretary of Agriculture? 
Mr. Witzy. Yes. 
The Cuatrman. That has not been put in yet? 
Mr. Wixry. Yes; it is in the law now. 
The Cuarrman. You add to this bill this year, ‘‘labeling.” 
Mr. Scorr. And Doctor Wiley, in the matter he has presented here, 
is simply seeking to insure the correct labeling of wines, just as he is 
using other means to insure the correct labeling of olive oil. 
Mr. Wirizy. Exactly. 
Mr. Scorr. He stated he required a certain oil importer here to 
have the olive-oil label removed and another label put on stating the 
exact contents of the package. 
Mr. Wizezy. Yes. 
Mr. Scorr. So it is not really a question of saving money for the 
people or of protecting them from foreign productions in that way, in 
a financial way ? 
Mr. Witey. I think Mr. Scott has stated that in a very succinct 
way that where it is possible to determine by inspection and analysis 
whether these importations are what they purport to be we do not ask 
help. It is only where it is impossible from the chemical composition 
to judge that weask help. And I would not like to see the law put too 
much on a mercenary plan. To me it is not a matter of dollars and 
cents, although it can be made so; but I look at it from a different 
point of view. I would like to see a feeling of confidence established 
among our people in the character of things which they purchase, that 
they may be relieved of that apprehension which everybody now feels 
that he is being imposed upon, that he is buying certain articles of 
food and is not getting what he is paying for, and we can not control 
some of those articles now coming from foreign countries. 
Mr. Burixson. That constitutes a small per cent, however, of what 
the people of the United States consume, does it not? 
