Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-16
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

Under the Connecticut statutes relating to the adulteration of butter the sale of oleomargarine or imitation butter is safeguarded sufficiently for all practical purposes. It would seem. therefore, that there is no demand for the passage of the bill introduced at this session by Representative Burlingame of Canter- bury providing for the suppression of the manufacture and sale of oleomar- garine. There is rothing, either in the interest of the dairymen or farmers, that demands any such legislation at this time. It might, indeed, work injury to an already well established industry. The measure proposed by MT Burlingame should be very carefully examined there fore. when it comes up for disposition,
 There is no reason why any man who wishes to buy oleomargarine should be denied that right, and there is no reason either why any man who wishes to buy butter need be imposed upon by any fear that oleomargarine will be substituted for the genuine article. Section 2,615 of the statutes of Connecticut regulates the sale of the article and provides abundant safeguards against fraud on the buyer. Oleomargarine is thoroughly healthy and nutritive product, and when sold as such is a proper article of com merce. It is composed of oleo oil, neu- tral, butter, cream and milk, salt, and at certain seasons of small quantity of salad oil. Cleo oil is the oil expressed from the choicest f at of beeves. Neutral is the leaf lard of hogs rendered in much the same way. No other compo- nents than those named are used in the manufacture of this product. Sworn statements are filed every month with the government by each manufacturer, giving the amount and name of each ar ticle used by him in the production of oleomargarine for that month, and fSom the reports of the commissioners of in- ternal revenue it may be seen that noth- ing enters into the composition of this product but clean, wholesome and pala- table agricultural products and nothing which is not daily found upon every table in some other form. Oleomargar- inc is thus as much an agricultural prod uct as butter itself and deserves fair treatment at the hands of our legislators. Then, too, 1t is fast becoming an impor- tant article of export. The United States treasury report shows that no less than 75,S59,5 ,5S0 pounds of oleomargarine of the value of $S, 800, ,OOO has been ex- ported from this country to Europe within ten years. During these two years no less than 30,O00,0OO pounds of oleo oil must have been used in this country i'll the production of oleomar- garine for home consumption which, if handled as common tallow, would have been almost valueless to the farmer.
 Oleomargarine is certainly useful product and fills a sphere that is all its own and from which it cannot be dispos- sessed. It is clean, wholesome, palatable and preferable to some butter that is sold at very much higher cost to the con- sumner. It is recommended by leading chemists as thoroughly nutritive and | desirable article of food, and when sold as such without any attempt to deceive the buyers as to its nature the purchaser Is sure to get his moneys worth every time. It is not so much the manufac- ture and sale of oleomargarine that needs to be supposed as it is its fraudu- lent sale as real butter. For this we have commissioner whose special duty 1t IS to see that the laws regarding the adulteration of butter are strictly enforc- ed and who is armed with ample authori. ty to compel their observance.
 Mir Burlingame's bill docs not seem to be wise nor the legislation proposed in ii t. be necessary or expedient. The oleo- margarine business is entitled to proper protection, and when the interests of the consumer are looked after thoroughly eyerything will have been done that should be done to regulate the manufac. ture and sale of the product.