ADeceXrfhi9riJ.'  )  Regulations  for  Prohibition  Enforcement.  775 
obtained  such  preparations  and  used  them  improperly  as  beverages. 
Various  suggestions  as  to  the  size  of  containers  to  be  used  in 
the  sale  of  flavoring  extracts  were  considered,  but  no  agreement  was 
arrived  at  by  the  representatives  of  this  industry  that  a  limit  should 
be  placed  upon  the  size  of  the  container  by  the  regulations. 
It  was  apparent  to  those  attending  these  conferences  that  the  offi- 
cials realize  the  enormity  of  the  task  imposed  upon  them  to  frame 
satisfactory  regulations  under  the  existing  laws.  It  was  equally 
apparent  that  the  trade  interests  represented  are  uniformly  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  Department  and  desirous  of  rendering  constructive 
aid  in  solving  the  numerous  problems  involved. 
The  unusual  authority  and  power  granted  to  the  Commissioner, 
if  arbitrarily  assumed,  would  enable  him  not  only  to  interfere  with 
legitimate  industries,  but  to  seriously  cripple  them  and  prevent  their 
development  or  even  destroy  them. 
Take  the  perfume  industry  as  an  example :  the  American  manu- 
facturers have  shown  a  remarkable  development  in  this  art,  not 
only  in  quality  but  likewise  in  the  growth  of  the  industry  and  the 
amount  of  products  exported.  By  discrimination  or  unwise  regu- 
lations, this  branch  of  American  manufacture  may  be  seriously 
handicapped.  The  Department  should  be  exceedingly  slow  in 
framing  regulations  that  are  not  absolutely  called  for  that  would 
interfere  with  this  industry.  This  applies  with  even  greater  force 
to  the  manufacture  of  pharmaceutical  and  medicinal  preparations. 
It  is  sincerely  hoped  that  in  questions  of  vital  importance  to  the 
public  at  large  and  to  the  industries  concerned,  the  officials  will 
accept  the  advice  of  representative  men  whose  many  years  of 
acquaintance  with  trade  and  professional  practices  should  be  a 
guide  to  the  Department  in  this  work.  To  unnecessarily  interfere 
with  the  necessary  supplies  of  commonly  used  medicines  would  be 
an  unjustifiable  exhibition  of  authority. 
G.  M.  B. 
