Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-03-02
OLBOMARGARINB.
Prospect OF Renewed Strug-
gle Over the National Law.
Manufacturers Want to Repeal or
Modify the Existing Statute.

The bitter fight over the passage OF the
OIeomargarine bill at Washington two years
ago is TO be revived and an effort made TO
amend the law during the present session OF
Congress says the New York Mail and E-r-
press. The oleonargarine people have IS
sued an elaborte abstract" setting forth
their views on the subject, and asking for a
repeal or modification Of the present ma
tiOnal law. This has been put in the hands
of every Senator and Congressman, and the
strong pressure exerted by the Western cat
tie interest has been brought to bear on the
subject.
A reply to the abstract" has Just been is
sued by the New y FORK Mercantile Exchange,
and is being widely circulated among legis-
lators and persons interested in the dairy IN
dustry. In the document sent out by the
oleo manufacturers it is charged that the
passage OF the law obtIined by fraudu-
lent means; that bogus samples, concocted by
the opponents Of oleo, were submitted, and
that the law destroys one industry TO beneht
another. They claim that the law deals
severe blow to the cattle industry of the West
the tax levied to protect the COW has killed
the steer; that Sc, 900 dealers have been
driven out of the business of selling oIeomaI-
garine; and that the Government, being IN
no need of revenue, has no right to tax
oleo in any sum beyond the amount nee
eSSary to enforce the law. They ask that
oleomargarine be included in a general act
concerning adulterated fOOd that the tax be
license fee for dealers should not exceed that
charged for selling liquors and tobacco.
In answer to this the Mercantile Exchange,
speaking in behalf of the dairy interests,
states that the samples submitted for analysis
were procured in the open market, where
they were being sold for butter, and that in
the manufacture of Oleomargarine the sub
stances used cannot be heated to tempera-
ture sufficiently high to kill the germs of
disease without spelling the product. Dis
gushing animal substances may be deodOriZed
and used without danger of being detected in
the result. 1t may be made SO as to be I'M
wholesome, but no one can tell, even from
chemical analysis, what fats and oils have
been employed.
The law is said to be very poorly enforced.
At least Ii, 100000 pounds of oleomargarine
escaped taxation and over 500 retail dealers
sold the counterfeit article without paying
licenses. The effect of the law has been to
advance the average wholesale price of but
ter in this city from 21 cents in 1888 to y =
cents in 1886 and 81 cents in 1887 The OBJ
ject of the law was more to prevent dishonest
dealers from buying counterfeits at a low
price and selling them genuine butter
than to advance the price of the real article.
The value of the dairy product of the
United States excee Is 5000 00J, 900 a year
A slight advance in the price of butter,
cheese and milk is of great benefit to the
100000 farmers who are engaged in dairy
pursuits and their interests are of greater
Importance than those opposed to the en-
forcement of the OleOmargarine law. The
adulteratiOn and counterfeiting of butter
diminshes the price OF dairy products both
here and abroad, damages their reputation
and decreases the amount exported and con-
sumed. The result of the legislation on the
subject has been to restore the reputation of
but ter, enlarge the markets and advance the
price. The law is claimed to be satisfactory,
and Congress is asked to listen to no sugges
tons for amendments in the interest of
manufacturers of the counterfeit goods
A bill has already been introduced in Con
TJ3
passage will repeal the present law and do
away with taxes and license fees. 1t pro-
videS for the sale of imitation butter in origi-
nal packages of not less than five pounds and
on the outside of the package the ingredients
of the mixture must be stamped in plain
letters. The section is worried so as to raise
grave constitutional questions, and as its en-
forcement is left entirely to United States
District Attorneys and the general public, it
would be impracticable. Another section
refers to pure food, and is evidently inserted
for the purpose of obtaining the support of
those interested in passing pure food bill.