Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-04-19

rine law unconstitutional. about H.
100000 pounds of the stuff was sold In
Pennsylvania. There was little restraint
Since the new and more stringent leg
lslation was passed the sale has vastly
decreased. He could only estimate how
much 1t had fallen of, but agreed that
the amount Of renovated butter sold
in this state is now many times the
amount of oleomargarine. There are
460 dealers licensed to sell ole0marga-
rine, and 1t is estimated that they sell
on an average of $50 pounds week,
which would amount to $500 pounds
a year. 1t is believed that there Is
20 times as much renovated butter sold
as there is oleomargarine. Probably
5 per cent of all the articles consumed
for butter in the state is really Oelo-
margarine. The people of this state
produce about 100000 900 pounds of
pure butter and consume about 2zO,-
100000 of the yellow article. whether
It be butter, oleo or what.
Commissioner Wells said that ran
cid butter is gathered up in great guam
titles in the west, shipped here and
turned into the renovated article by
boiling out the fat and putting 1t
through milk. 1t is far more inju-
rious article than oleomargarine. With
out the vigorous enforcement of the
law the market would be flooded with
this product displayed for creamery
butter, and would do infinite injury to
the farmers of this state.
"Our great aim has been the fair.
thorough and general enforcement OF
the law" said Major Wells, land after
having pursued that purpose with all
diligence with the six chemists and the
IL agents at our command we feel we
have made a conscientious effort to
perform our full duty and that our re-
suits speak for themselves"
PROFESSOR HAMILTON'S REPORT.
In a report to Governor Stone out
lining the work of this branch OF the
department of agriculture. since the
passage of the pure food bill" Secre-
tary of Agriculture John Hamilton last
week said:
"That Immediately upon the law go
ing into effect there were printed anu
distributed to dealers throughout the
state 10000 copies of the oleomargarlhe
law, and 10000 copies Of the renovated
butter law. Suitable record books were
prepared and form of license and
placards were printed and agents were
instructed, to take samples of suspected
good for analysis The report of the
commissioner shows that during the
year ending Dec. 81, 1899 4O2 suspected
samples of oleomargarine were taken
and analyzed. rs of these We're found
to be pure butter, 81 renovated butter
and 800 were oleomargarine.
During the year 256 prosecutions for
selling oleomargarine were brought. of
these 100 cases were brought to ter
mination, either by magistrates or ig-
nored by grand iuries: so cases were
pending Dec 81. 1899, Since Jan.
/, 1900 All licenses to sell oleomarga-
rine have been issued. and one license
has been taken out for the manufac-
ture of oleomargarine. The chemists
reports are not all in, but the number
of samples analyzed of oleomargarine
reported as having been made since
jan !, 1900, is 107. A number OF SAM
pies are in the hands OF the chemists
awaiting analysis. Our attorneys re-
port that they have brought suits in
oleomargarine cases to the number of
about 120. and of these over 20 are in
the city of Philadelphia.
"The department has been embar-
rassed in its dealing with the oleomar-
garine question owing to contest in
the courts over the color clause OF the
late law This provision has been con-
tested both in Pittsburg and Philadel-
phia. and cases were brought in eac
city to test it's constitutionality. De-
cisions by the lower courts sustaining
the law were rendered. in December
1899. and in January. 1900. These cases
were appealed to the superior court.
and one Philadelphia case was argued
in March, and IL decision is expected
in the course of week or two, when
the court convenes. Every effort has
been made to push these cases and the
courts, at the request of our attorneys.
have advanced them on the list.
"If a favorable decision is handed
down the way will then be clear for a
more vigorous enforcement of the law
and pending this decision the depart
ment is collecting evidence and is all
ready to bring additional prosecutions
as soon as the law is declared to be
constitutional. The courts of Philadel-
phia and Pittsburg are greatly burden
ed with the multitude of cases that they
are called upon to hear, and our attor-
neys in Philadelphia, in order to secure
prompt hearing. have communicated
with the district attorney. requesting
that the cases be heard at as early a
date as possible. A reply has been re-
ceived from the district attorney stat
ing that he had instructed the assistant
district attorney to confer with our
attorneys and collect the cases together
and proceed with them with all dill
gence.
'The oleomargarine cases, however,
are only portion of the large number
that the pure food department is called
upon to bring to trial. The total num-
ber of samples taken by the agents last
year including oleomargarine. was
1,169, and of these ! .026 were analyZed.
and large number of suits were
brought, taxing both the time OF our
attorneys and that of the court"
Pennsylvania Republicans at their
last state convention went on record
T. l. a l....