Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-18
Effect Of the Sentence Of Joseph Viii
hns and Howard Butler.
WARNING TO OIE0MARGARINE MEN
The Policy Of the internal Revenue
Bureau Described.
cos Thy Ess N

The announcement Of the sentencing of
Joseph wilkins and Howard Butler of this
city by Judge Butler in the United States
circuit court at Philadelphia yesterday to
terms of six and four months imprison-
ment. respectively in Moyanensing prison,
and fines of 81, 500 and $500 each, was re-
ceived with great satisfaction in Washing
ton. particularly among the merchants en-
gagged in the butter business. 1t was de-
clared with much emphasis by many of
these that If Wilkins & Company. the local
firm. composed of Joseph wilkins and
Walter F. Wilkins, had been allowed to
continue the course which they were pur-
suing unrestrained two years ago it would
Fave been virtually impossible for dealers
In real butter to have continued in bus
mess In this city. The statement was made
on unquestioned authority that before the
sale OF oleomarg lriEe in Washington was
undertaken, and supported by The Star,
the firm Of Wilkins and Company was re-
ceivfng weekly shipments of oleomargarine
OF between 10000 and 10000 pounds, while
the shipments received by 1t now are not
more than 10000 pounds. 1t has also been
established en- close investigation and COM
parfson that there has been no reduction in
persons buying 1T Tor what it is and paying
the price charged for the product
Fhe opinion was also generally expressed
today that the. sentencing of Wilkins and
Butier would prove a serious warning to
the manufacturers of oleomargarine out
west, who are admitted to be the power be-
mind such firms as Wilkins & Co. It would
teach them. it was thought that they could
no longer rely on their ability to secure
immunity from prosecution for their agents
VINO might be apprehended IN violating the
oleomargarine laws and regulations by
paying sums of money into the internal
revenue bureau.
The Policy of Compromise.
This policy Of the bureau has been followed
ever since oleomargarine became an article
Of commercial Importance, and it may be
easily outlined When the bureau had rea-
son to believe that an individual was vio-
lating the oleomargarine laws and regula-
tions special agent was set to work to in
vestigate the affair. II the parties sus-
pected were caught in the act of violating
the laws the special agents, whose duties
are supposed to be those of law officers,
reported such offenses to the bureau In
the great majority of instances Of this sort
the internal revenue authorities, instead of
presenting the evidence of such violations
OF law to the proper legal authorities, &C.
cepted Tor the government sums of money
from the offenders and took no further
steps.
Lukewarm In Making Cases.
there is no trouble about securing a con.
viction Of the violators of the oleomar-
sarine laws, If the internal revenue au-
tforities will present the evidence in their
possession against such violators It 10 q
notorious fact that the internal revenue, hui
reau in the pursuit of oleonargarine vio-
lators makes no attempt whatever to get
any other than thu most vague sort of evil
dence in 80 out of 100 Of the cases The
men engaged in thu illegal sale of olsoliur-
garlne are all known to the internal rev
enus bureau, and it Is also known that II
they are caught in the act of violating the
laws and regulations they are willing to
pay handsomely into the Treasury Depart
ment for immunity from prosecution.
Within the past five or six weeks cases
precisely similar to that brought against
Wilkins and Butler in Philadelphia have
been made by agents Of the internal rev.
enue bureau. At Cumberland, Nd, and at
other points men have been caught in ths
act Of stripping internal revenue stamps
and distinctive labels from packages of
oleomargarine. What legal steps have been
taken against them is not known. .-,'i Ht'i
1t was understood that the National Dairy
Union. powerful organization, that had
nearly despaired Of securing the rigid up
holding Of oleomargarine laws and the
treasury regulations governing the sale and
possession and exposure for sals OF that
product by the internal revenue bureau.
will make strong effort to bring about
change In the policy above described.
Costly Results In Philadelphia.
The trial In Philadelphia and its result
has been very costly to Joseph Wilkins
ard Howard Butler. or those who were
popularity believed to be behind Them
namely, the western manufacturers Of ole
omargaril.e. The 5000 pounds of oleomar-
garine contained in the packages which
they were apprehended in stripping were
confisCated to the government. Judge
Jeremiah NJ Wilson Of this city was one
of the several attorneys employed in the
case, and 1t may be Inferred that his fee
was not inconsequential, to say nothing of
the fees Of the other lawyers engaged.
Lawyers were also engaged before the
trial in the persistent endeavor to have
the cases compromised and the cost of
the prosecution will have to be met by the
convicted men.
At the city hall here it is now expected
that the parties under indictment for vio-
lating the oleomargarine laws of the Dis
trict will be called to trial in the course of
the next ten days.
REPORT ON EXTENSIONS.