United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Lewis, 235 U.S. 282 (1914)

United States v. Lewis

No. 380

Argued October 22, 1914

Decided November 30, 1914

235 U.S. 282

Syllabus

The plain object of the prohibition in the Meat Inspection Law of 1906 against alteration or destruction of tags and labels is to safeguard food products against alteration and substitution so as to render the process of inspection effective, and the statute will not be so construed as to defeat the purpose for which it was passed.

The prohibition in the Meat Inspection Law against altering, defacing or destroying marks, tags, labels, etc. does not relate alone to those engaged in the business of preparing meats for transportation and carrying or assisting in the carrying of such meats in interstate commerce, but is as broad as its language, and applies to any and every person, firm, or corporation, or officer, agent, or employ thereof.

The facts, which involve the construction of certain provisions of the federal Meat Inspection Law, are stated in the opinion.