Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-27

d
which was approved and accepted.
Mr.. Ashburn. secretary, made the custom
airy annual report of disbursements during
the year for printing, travelling expenses
and sundry items, which was approved and
accepted.
Upon motion of Mr.. Potter of Connecti-
cut an amendment to the bylaws was
adopted providing, that dairymen from all
parts of the country may be eligible to
fec of So
Mr.. Ashburn, from the committee on
resolutions, stated in brief the report of
the committee on the assistance to be asked
Of the Department of Agriculture. He said
the nrst request was that all possible in
formation be collected from abroad as to
methods, appliances, breeds of cattle, mar
ket, ETC., and all informa ton possible from
datryfng interests at home, as to local con-
oltlons, stock, methods, remedies, results
terests.
Export Dairy Inspection.
Mr.. Walker Of Virginia, in most earnest
and convincing speech. brought up the SUBJ
ject of inspection, remarking that we had
a low status in foreign markets because
of the sale of skim milk cheese. He
thought we needed strict legislation in this
direction by the states and by the general
government.
Mr.. Wing of Georgia said this was the
best idea that had resulted from the ses-
butter and cheese inspected and stamped
according to their purity and quality.
MI. Ashburn thought 1t was practicable
only In part. Butter might deteriorate in
transportation to a foreign market and
stamp as to quality might not be borne
out: The producer of skim milk cheese
had right to export and sell 1t.
Mr.. Goss Of Virginia suggested that there
should be grades of quality, to be deter
mined by inspection, and that the whole
matter could be made matter of scien-
tiic classification, properly reduced to
system and put in practical and successful
working order.
Mr.. Patterson said he thought poor
goods should be barred from export, any
way. If the best went abroad prices would
be the better sustained.
Mr.. Potter thought such legislation was
not feasible, but ne believed good goods
would establish the reputation of q brand
and 1t would always have welcome.
MT. Manchester was in favor of an eN-
preston condemning oleomargarine. He
wanted to give it black eye.
Mr.. j. r. Dodge formerly statistician of
the Department of Agriculture, said there
were over 9O,0OO.OOO pounds of oleomargar-
inc exported from the United States
nually, while the butter export was but
9,0o0,OO pounds.
had right to make and ship it as long
as they called it oleo.
How a Fraud Is Committed.
Mr.. Whitaker said it was matter of
common Information that large quantities
Of oleo were exported to South American
countries in tin cans. These goods were
honestly entered for clearance in order to
get the drawback of revenue for goods ex-
ported to countries sustaining reciprocal
relations with the United States. But con-
sular agents state that no oleo Is sold in
those countries: The customs marks are
removed from the packages and the stuff
SOLD as fancy butter. There is also great
deal Of oleo Oil exported to Holland and
Denmark to be there used in adulterattng
butter to be sold in competition with hon.
est goods. Mr.. Whitaker called atten-
ton to the use of the word "butterine' for
In England this word "butterine'' was pro-
hibited by law. A Chicago firm uses the
picture Of "a pretty Jersey heifer on its
oleo packages and the words pure, clean,
sweet" with the last syllable of the word
"butterine" disguised and nearly obliter-
ated ,by flourish, so as to make CUSTOM
ers think the stuff is butter.
Mr.. Ashburn offered resolution asking
that the Department of Agriculture inves-
tigate the expectation and sale in foreign
markets of pure and imitation dairy prod
ucts, and report the same, with such rec
concentrations as may be necessary to pro-
tect producers of pure goods from fraud
and give American products standing
abroad.
Legislation Against Coloring.
Mr. Goss of Virginia suggested that legis-
lation against coloring oleo would go far
toward preventing the sale Of fraudulent
butter No one would think of eating the
white, clear tallow if it were not disguised
by the yellow coloring matter which is
mixed with it, and which is itself fraud
to begin with. Mr.. Gabrilson said this was
the law today in Iowa. Oleo could not be
cclored there. 1t must be sold clean and
white and as a result it was hardly sold
at all. Mr.. Ashburn declared this was
likely the case in Nebraska. A bill has just
passed the legislature there making it i'm
possible to put any shade of coloring mat
ter in oleo, or even to have the coloring
matter on hand.
Mr.. Walker Of Virginia said this oleo
fraud was the worst blow ever struck at
the average farmer. 1t was possible for
them few years ago to provide their gro
ceries from the sale of pure butter.
w. B. Hawkins of Kentucky urged that
butter producers themselves were in some
degree at fault for the present state of
things. Butterine was a sanitary product.
1t would not make you sick. But there was
a good deal of bad butter bought at coun-
try stores that was unfit to look at. And
1t was just that bad butter that made it
possible for oleo to get and keep a foothold
in the market 1t was all of the same
grade, and, while it was fraudulent, 1t was
not unhealthy.
matter of renovated butter, which was a
product almost as bad as oleo. This product
was sold under labels. was generally bad,
and the oleo people. taking up this line of
goods, and by expatiating on it's bad quail
ity, making capital for their own.
The congress adjourned at 1890 to go to
the Capitol and urge upon Speaker Crisp
the importance Of giving the. oleo bill con-
Sideration this session. f-'
--