Evening star., 1900-05-09
CIRCUIT TOLEOMARGARlNEBlL
SUBCOMMITTEE DIRECTED TO RE
PORT UPON THE MEASURE.
PostpOnement VIII Bring Measure's
Consideration to Near the Close
of the Session.

The House committee on agriculture to-
day took action on the Grout oeomargarne
bill looking to a favorable report on tina,
measure. By a vote of to the commit
tee directed the subcommittee to report the
bill to the full committee May %. Upon
that date an effort will be made to report
the bill to the House.
The Grout bill Oh R. 371O is as follows
That all articles known as oleomargar-
Inc, butterine, imitation butter or imitation
cheese, or any substance in the semblance
of butter or cheese not the usual product
of the dairy and not made exclusively of
pure and unadulterated milk or cream,
transported into any state or territory, and
remaining therein for use, consumption
sale or storage therein, shall, upon the ar
rival within the limits of such state or ter
ritory, be subject to the operation and ef-
feet of the laws of such state or territory
enacted into the exercise Of its police pow
erS to the same extent and in the same
manner as though such articles or sub
stances had been produced in such state or
territory, and shall not be exempt there
from by reason of being introduced therein
in original packages or otherwise: Provided.
That nothing in this act shall be construed
to permit any state to forbid the manufac-
ture or sale of oleomargarine in a separate
and distinct form and in such manner as
will advise the consumer of its real charac-
ter free from coloraton or ingredient that
causes it to look like butter
That after the passage OF this act the
tax upon oleomargarine as prescribed in
section of the act approved August I'd,
1856, and entitled An act defining butter,
also imposing tax upon and regulating the
manufacture, sale. importation and eX-
portation of oleomargarine,' shall be one
fourth of l cent per pound when the same
is not colored in imitation of butter; but
when colored in imitation of butter the tax
to be paid by the manufacturer shall be
10 cents per pound, to be levied and collect
ed in accordance with the provisions of
said act
Effect of POstpOnement.
The postponement Of action on the oleo-
margarine bill was accomplished by the
opponents of the Grout bill. The first prop
osition to take up the bill at the next
meeting. but this was opposed and as a
substitute Wednesday, May 90, was fixed.
The fear was expressed today by the
friends of the Grout bill that this delay of
two weeks will be fatal, or at least very
embarrassing 1t will bring the considera-
ton of the bill SO close to the time of ad-
journment that it is doubtful If action can
be secured at this session
Mr.. II. c. Adams, dairy and food COM
missioner of the state of Wisconsin, is in
great interest the efforts in Congress to
pass bill regulating the oleomargarine
traffic Mr.. Adams said to a Star reporter
today that he hoped there would be no
delay on the part of the Secretary of the
Treasury in furnishing the Information
called for by the resolution adopted yes
terday as to the ingredients of oeomar-
garine.
Mr.. Adams said that the support of the
southern representatives in large measure
to the cause OF the olcomargarine manufac-
turers has been obtained through the rep
resentation that cottonseed Oil Is the prin-
cipal constituent of oleomargarine. He
said that in the manufacture of the ST.
100000 pounds of oleomargarine produced
last year not more than S,OOO,O00 pounds
of cottonseed oil. valued at about $500 900,
was used. The interest of the farmer in
the south in the use of cottonseed in the
manufacture of oleomargarine Is inconse-
quential. He said that 1t cannot compare
with the extent of the dairy interests OF
the south. Beginning in Virginia. Tennes-
see and Kentucky and extending all
through the south, the production of dairy
foods has increased remarkably In recent
years, ana he cannot understand how the
southern representatives can be deluded into
opposing the legislation in behalf Of the
dairy interests.
He said that all the benefits derived from
the use Of cotton seed in the making Of
oleomargarine go to few cotton-seed Oil
factories and not to the farmer
Mr.. Adams said that his experience in
Wisconsin had shown him the fallacy of
the arguments put forth by the 'oeomar-
garine people. They claim that oleomar-
gar1ne was a cheap food product and in
the interests of the masses. He said he
mad FOUND that wherever oleomargarine
was colored to resemble butter it-waS sold
at butter prices, and that it was only in its
uncolored state that it was sold at low
figure.