President Signs District of Columbia Kosher Bill

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The President of the United States affixed his signature on April 15 to Bill H. R. 7255, known as the “Dickstein Kosher Law for the District of Columbia,” which regulates the sale of meat in the following manner:

(a) “To sell or offer for sale within the District of Columbia as kosher, any meat which is not kosher.

(b) “To label or brand as kosher any meat, or the package containing any meat, sold or offered for sale or prepared within the District of Columbia which is not kosher, or

(c) “To sell or offer for sale within the District of Columbia in the same place of business both kosher and non-kosher meat, (1) without displaying conspicuously in place of business a sign in block letters at least four inches in height containing the words ‘kosher and non-kosher meat sold here,’ and (2) without displaying over such kosher meat the words ‘kosher meat’ and over such non-kosher meat the words ‘non-kosher meat’, in block letters at least four inches in height.

“Violation of any of the provisions of this law by any individual, association or corporation will be punishable by one thousand dollars or by imprisonment of one year or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

Commenting on the action. Congressman Dickstein declared:

“I am gratified by the action of the President. In my opinion, this is the first piece of legislation ever passed in a Federal Government which would take care of people who believe in the purchase and consumption of kosher meat in accordance with the Mosaic Law.

“This is the first time the President of the United States ever affixed his signature to a law which would protect not only the people of Jewish faith who believe therein but all other classes of people who believe that the slaughter and sanitary inspection of the Jewish law is more safe and makes it better for human consumption.

“When I introduced this bill originally, the Committee did not favorably recommend this bill. However, after many efforts and presentation of facts the hearing was reopened and the bill favorably reported. When the bill appeared on the Floor of the House of Congress on March 22. 1926, every effort was made by several members to prevent its passage. After a short debate, it proved that the merits of this legislation were too strong to be overcome by opposition and the bill was passed.

“I then brought the bill over personally to Senator Copeland who handled it in the Senate and on the 10th day of April, 1926, the Senate of the United States unanimously passed this bill and now it is a law by the signature of the President of the United States who affixed his signature without any discussion but purely upon its merits recognizing the necessity and caution of such a measure to our American people who believe in the kosher meats and its consumption.”