Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-01
OPPOSED To PARDON
The Secretary of Agriculture on the
Wilkins Buaer Case.
OLEOhhRGARlNE LAWS IGNORED
Mr., Wilson Amazed That They Are
Not Enforced.
S o M E PE ERTINENT FACTS

Il am unequivocally opposed to the par
doning of joseph Wilkins and Howard But
ler, said the Secretary of Agriculture to
a representative of The Evening Star.
They were convicted of most fragrant
violation of the oleomargarne laws, and
there. are no proper reasons why they
should not serve their sentences. l shall
always do my best to protect and foster the
interests of the farmers and the dairymen
of this country and amnesty to men whose
practices are so injurious to them would
only serve as an incentive to other Offend
ers of the same sort, and would be, in my
opinion, still more injurious to those in
terests."
Mr. Wilson spoke with unmistakable
earnestness.
Have you received any expressions from
the farmers and dairymen on the subject?"
Yes, a great number, both by telegraph
and letter. and l have sent them all to the
Attorney General.
Il am amazed continued Mr.. Wilson,
that the oleomargarine laws and the reg
ulatons governing the stuff, issued by the
Treasury Department and affirmed by the
United States Supreme Court, are not en-
forced. There is no excuse for it,
The Internal Revenue Bureau.
Secretary Wilson is not the only person
who is amazed and indignant as we'll over
the nCn-enforcement Of the laws and regu-
lations in question. The United States in
ternal revenue bureau has ample means,
both in money and men, and without ques-
ton even more ample information with
which and upon which the Illegal traffic in
oleomargarine could be prevented abso-
lutely If its officials were so inclined. The
commissioner of internal revenue, who, like
the Secretary of Agriculture, is also named
Wilson, has been connected with the bureau
which he nrpSjieS for q or of a
century or more He has seen the Original
ton of the manufacture of oleomargarine.
has seen the fraudulent dealing in it rise
to such proportions that laws became nee
essary, and his own bureau was compelled
to issue regulations governing its making
and sale, and is believed to be as familiar
with the history of the fraud, past and
present, as he is with his own finger
tips. He is also believed to be equally
familiar with all the refarious subter-
fuges such stripping off the reve-
nue. stamps and other distinguishing marks
fl lom the tubs boxes or other packages con-
tanning oleomaT Tgarine, by which it can be
imposed on the public as genuine butter at
prices commanded by genuine butter. and
he is unquestionably familiar, too, with
the people who persist in such illegal
measures.
Queer Proceedings.
1t is a well-known fact that the internal
revenue bureau officials are always willing
to receive Information about oleomargarine
frauds and will act upon such information
up to the point of having its special agents
discover and arrest the trangressors. 1t is
equally well known that instead of bring
ing these men to justice when caught vio-
lating the law, the policy of the bureau is
to accept sums of money from them in the
shape of Compromises relieving the Of
tenders from all publicity such as would
ensue If they were arraigned in a court of
law, and would get properly punished for
their offenses.
Time and time again Joseph Wilkins and
his brother, Walter p. Wilkins, were caught
either in person or by sheir representatives
in stripping the stamps and marks off oleo-
margarine packages, and in every instance
except the Philadelphia case they were per-
mitted to escape by paying sums of money
compromises" Each time they prom
ised never to offend similarly again, and