Speech #590077596

The proposition. as I understand it. is to pass this resolution. which gives certain bills named in the resolution the same privileges that bills coming from committees having the right to report and call up tI bills they report at any time. Amongst these bills the first one proposed is what is known as the "purefood bill." or rather the bill which by title and purport and intent is solely to provide against the misbranding of food products. drugs. etc.-the adulteration of foods. etc. The other bill. as I understand it. isthe one which restricts immigration. and the I.hird part of the order provides for the House having sessions �in the evening to consider what is known as the bill for revision of the criminal laws of the United States for the purpose of codifying them. Taking up these laws in the inverse order in which they are stated in the rule. I apprehend that no lawyer upon the floor of this House. no man who has had occasion to practice in the United States court$. will doubt that the third- proposition is of the utm~st importancea work that has been done. and I understand well done. by the Commission appointed by the President to revise and codify the criminal statutes. I have read the report which comes from the Committee on the Revision of the Laws. made by its able chairman. and I desire to say that it is a most painstaking. able. and elaborate report. and I believe that consideration ought to be given to that bill. that the country might know what the criminal statutes of the United States are that are in existence. arA that the profession and the people may have ready access to a statute where they may be readily found. As for the immigration bill. I am in favor of many of the provisions of the bill reported. and believe that the Congress of the United States ought to enact law which would further restrict immigration to this country. As for the other bill. known as the " purefood bill." I do not deem it to be worthy of the consideration of the House as these other bills are. The bill proposes from its very title to the very last line written in it that the Congress of the United States shall enact purely police laws to govern the trade in certain foods and drugs.