The Secretary of Agriculture was authorized by Acts of Congress of March 3rd, 19o 3, to inspect before entry into this country all foods, drugs, beverages and condiments of foreign production or manufacture. This law was embraced in the regular appropriation Act for the Department of Agriculture for the year 19o 3 and with slight amendments has formed a part of all subsequent appropriation acts for that Department. Congress at its last session also included the inspection of imported foods and drugs under the General Food and Drugs Act, and w!len this law goes into effect January Ist, 19o7, the inspection of the imported foods will be carried on under the authority of the general law rather them the appropriation act.
. By the terms of the Act under which the inspection is now conducted, Which is the Appropriation Act for Department of Agriculture of June 3 ยฐ , 19o6, "The Secretary of Agriculture, whenever he has reason to believe foods, drugs, beverages, condiments or ingredients of these articles, are being imported from foreign countries which are dangerous to the health of the people of the United States, or which shall be falsely labeled or branded, either as to their contents or a.s to their place of manufacture or production, shall make a request upon the Secretary of the Treasury for samples from original packages of such articles for inspection and analysis and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to open such original packages and deliver specimens to the Secretary of Agriculture for the purpose mentioned, giving notice to the owner or con-