St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-25
THE BOGUS BUTTER BILL.
Report That the Manufacturers Are
Raising Large sums 10 FightIt.


Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-The report of
the agricultural committee with reference
to the bill taxing imitation butter has been
prepared and is now in the hands of the
chairman, Mr.. Hatch. He will probably
put some finishing touches to it and present it
to the house early next week. 1t goes largely
into the details as 10 the quantity of imita-
ton butter manufactured and the quality
of the material used, and the effect upon
the prices of the product of the dairy.
There was an intention in the minds of
some of the committee to add a
clause which would prohibit the use of
neutral oil in the manufacture of cheese,
but this will probably not be done.
The report shows the number of COWS in
the United States to be $4,000, 600. Their
value two or three years ago was an average
of $40 each or 5000, 900, 600. Now under
the depression of the dairy business which
this manufacture of bogus butter has
brought about their value has fallen to
about $50 each or a loss in value upon the
stock of $50, 900, 600. Congressman White
of Minnesota, talking with your correspon-
dent this evening said he believed the bill
would pass in spite of the opposition of the
Oleomargarine makers, and of those who
claim that the passage of such a bill will be
an injustice to the poorer classes of people.
1.-The fact is, he said, 1.-THE idea that the
poorer classes of people want this cheap, I'M
wholesome stuff is all a mistake. The ex-
pertinent has been tried in New York city.
There is an association of several hundred
dealers in butter, and they refused to handle
imitation butter. Finally it was suggested
/ that they give oleomargarine a chance and
see what it would do and what the people
would do with it. So they did so, placing
packages of this manufacture upon their
stand and labeled plainly oleomargarine, Of
fering it
AT Low PRICES.
The result was nobody would buy it. They
would sell a few pounds in a week perhaps,
but that was all. 1t shows this idea that the
masses were willing to use imitation butter
I because it is cheap, is a mistaken one.
"How do you account, then, for the fact
that such large quantities are sold and dis
posed off,
''Ah, that's the very point it is manufac-
tured and disposed of in great quantities, but
only by pretending that it is genuine butter.
People don't want and won't buy it if they
know what it isl
''Then you think the bill will pass?'
"Yes think so.''
Congressman Glass, who is also MEM
Der of the committee, is not SO sure about
the passage of the bill.
II imagine he sad there is going to be
good deal of opposition to it, because of the
high rate of tax proposed. / think myself,
that lO cents per pound is an unnecessarily
high tax. The main object is to identify it
SO that the people need not be imposed upon
by having it palmed off upon them for genu-
inc butter. Of course smaller rate of tax
would do that just as well. L voted in the
committee against so high rate, and think
there Will be pretty strong opposition
against it in the house. 1t wouldn't surprise
me to see the rate reduced materially, though
think the bill will pass in some form"
1t is reported that the manufacturers of
oleomargarine and imitation butter have
agreed to raise $500. 900 if necessary to de-
feat this measure. The profits which these
manufacturers make are very great of
course. especially as long as their product
can be sold for genuine butter and at genu-
inc butter prices, 1t is believed by friends
of the measure that busy lobby will soon
be here working against the bill