Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-14
0LE0 AGAIN TO BE SOLD.
BOGUS BUTTER DEALERS SEE ANOTHER
SHOW FOR THEM.

Ono Firm Rendy to Resume business and
ms Liquids TO be Had In Original
Packages.
The general public has been so busy d.
gesting the effect of the original package
decision as regards the selling of liquor that
the sweeping changes it will make in re-
gard to other original packages have not
been fully realized or taken note of. The
conception of an original package so far has
been generally something in liquid form,
but the decision affects solids as well as
liquids. Few people have thought about
oleomargarIne in original packages, but If
present indications augur of the future, they
will have chance to not only think about
the matter. but buy the butter substitute in
open market, thanks to the United States
Supreme Court-lt thanks be due.
"Oleo" has had hard time OF it. Since
the State law went into effect the commits
sion merchants have been little shy about
selling it, but number of them now say
they will boom the trade again in original
packages, and one firm has already entered
the field. The latter is the Western Butter
Company. The firm is composed of Messrs.
McCann and Scott. Until short time ago
they had stands in the Market House, Uut
have recently opened up large commission
house at 100 and 101 Water street.
The State Inv n Dead Letter.
Mr.. Scott said yesterday that the firm had
consulted the best lawyers in regard to SELL
ing oleo, and were told that if they had
United States licenses to go ahead under
the original package decision, which
according to their view, makes the State
law dead letter. The firm has the agency
for six ''oleo" factories in Ohio and Illinois
and Mr.. Scott said that they now control the
trade. They still have their stands in the
Market House, where "oleo" in original
packages will be feature of the future.
Mr.. Scott said that a number of firms in
Pittsburg had obtained Government IL
censes. which cost $3.50. When asked how
many there were or their names he merely
replied that ten would not be an overesti-
mate. He said that they did not wish any
newspaper talk on the matter, as it did no
good and only caused trouble and talk.
They prefer to go in the "sweet old way, -
what they think is law and their rights.
John b. Rea, the commissiau man, said
that the late decision knocked the State
law out, and the trade in "oleo" would COM
mence again in full sway. Continuing, he
said: "When the warm weather comes we
shall sell oleomargarine in original pack
ages to the retail trade, or to anyone who
wants to buy it, so lar as that goes. When
we sold before we got our goods In Chicago.
Fo doubt all of the old sellers will start up
again."
Mny be a Test Case.
George S. Martin said that the original
package meant "oleo" as we'll as liquor, and
the trade would brighten up again. A test
case may be brought, but there is doubt of
such an action, as the decision of the Su-
preme Court does not quote liquor, but any
article OF merchandise between States, in
original packages
L. H. Voight, one of the largest commits
sion merchants on Liberty street, did not
think the decision would affect the trade in
''oleo" much, as people would rather have
real butter, and that article was sold at such
a figure that there would be no profit in
handling the bogus article. However, he
was OF the opinion that it could be sold If
dealers so desired.
It was no secret on Liberty street that
oleo was now sold. and has been sold, regard
less of the law, since it went into effect.
However, its greatest sale has been in the
country towns, within a radius OF 100 miles.
The stuff is sold by travelling agents, who
carry the ''oleo" in jelly glasses. In the
small mining towns up the Monongahela
river it has been sold to people who could
not afford to pay for butter. The Pittsburg
houses, it Is said, got rid of about five or six
carloads each week, and made good profit
out of it.