United States v. Lewis

Background

The people charged were indicted for destroying a government seal placed on a railroad freight car that contained meat and meat products under federal inspection and offered for transportation in interstate commerce. The indictment relied on parts of the 1906 Meat Inspection Act that forbid forging, using without authority, or knowingly altering, defacing, or destroying marks, stamps, tags, labels, or other identification devices placed under the Act or by regulations from the Secretary of Agriculture. The Secretary had issued rules, including one allowing sealed car shipments between inspected establishments under certain conditions.

Reasoning

The central question was whether the statute’s ban on altering or destroying inspection marks applied only to those engaged in preparing or transporting meat, or to any person at all. The Court rejected the district court’s narrow reading that limited the rule to people in the meat business. It explained that the plain object of the statute is to protect inspected food from alteration or substitution and to make inspection effective. Because the language covers “any person, firm, or corporation, or officer, agent, or employe,” the Court held the prohibition has broad application. The Supreme Court reversed the quashing of the indictment and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with that view.

Real world impact

The decision allows prosecutions to go forward against anyone who tampers with government inspection marks on meat shipped in interstate commerce. It reinforces the power of federal inspection rules and supports measures that keep inspected food identifiable and safe. Mr. Justice McReynolds did not participate in the decision.