The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-09
.OLEO FIGHT is ON.
Secretary Of the Treasury Is Called on
to Furnish Information.
IA CLEAR VIOLATION OF LAW.
Government Officers Not Allowed to
Divulee Trade Secrets.
CONGRESSMAN BALL IN OPPOSITION.
He Branded the Legislation as nquisitOrial
and Sumpluary.
ORGANIZED LABOR MAKES A PROTEST
jNorIxiugmcn Prefer wholesome
oIeomnrRarinc TO Rancid nuttcr.
A BLOW vat the Cattle Industry.
CONGRESSMAN BALL IN OPPOSITION.
He Branded the Legislation as lnquisitorial
and SumpIuary.
LABOR MAKES A PROTEST
Prefer wholesome
oicomnrgarinc 10 Rancid nuttcr.
A BLOW at the Cattle Industry.
lsnncinl To The Post.N

fired today IN the house OF representatives
in the war upon oleomargaAne, begun by
certain dairy interests, House resolution
No. 22e, requesting the secretary of the
treasury to furnish Information as to the
amount and character OF the materials in
the manufacture OF oleomargarine. as
shown by reports made to him Icy the
manufacturers OF oleomargarne for the
past twelve months. was up for consldcra-
ton in the house. Only thirty minutes
debate fifteen to the side. was allowed.
The majority report. as made by all Of
the members Of the ways and means com
mittee except two, was against the resn-
luton.
During the debate Hon. Tom Ball was
yielded few minutes time to combat the
adoption of the resolution aud answering
Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota, said in part
1T will be po impeachment OF The SIN
certify OF the gentleman from Minnesota
(Mr. Tawney) when l say TO this house
that the inquisitorial investigation pro-
posed by this resolution is not inspired
or prompted by desire to protect the pub
lie health but Is in answer 10 the per-
s. steut attempt OF the sellers Of cheap,
unwholesome butter, that the people ma
unit for use TO secure congressional ala
to enable them to sell their Inferior but
ter at a greater price than they now re-
ceive, This resolution is Intended to be
the opening wedge for a campaign TO FUR
Their tax oleomargarine, which Is rapldiy
growing in popular favor as beins cheaper
and better and purer than ordinary butter.
The resolution proposes TO require the
secretary of the treasury, as shown by the
able report OF the majority OF he com
mittee on ways and mean6 to reveal Tue
secrets OF trade and the formula used NY
the manufacturers Of cieomarBlrtae IN
violation OF law and against sound pubic
policy. II we are going into this char
acter Of investigation why not compel
every line OF business and every owner
OF a proprietary article 10 make pubhc
that which would impair and perhaps de-
stroy their business? Why refuse 10 APP
ply this to all other articles sold which
are made by secret formula and not seek
alone to strike at the great cotton ana
cattle interests Of this country, which are
largely interested in the manufacture OF
oleomarEarne, in order TO help build up
a butter trust? Is IT, because the latter
interest is the more powerful IN the sec
ton represented by gentlemen pushing
this measure?
The high priest OF protection never
went further than TO claim that II was
proper 10 discriminate in favor of Amer
lean Industry, products and labor against
foreign competition Now the whole o2-
ject of the resolution now pending, anu
the bills being urged in this house on me
subject. IS to use the powerful agency
Of the National government TO dlscrm-
mate in favor OF one American industry
against another. charge that 1t is moi
regard for the public health that prompts
this character OF legislation.
''The manufacturers of oleomargar ne
are now required by law TO render to the
commissioner OF Internal revenue an ac-
count of the quantity and Kind OF ma
terials used In producing oleomargarne
and the quantity each month. The com
missioner Is authorized 10 decide whethel
any substance used in the manufacture
contain ingredients deleterious TO the pup
lie health and his decision is suble. Y
review by a board composed OF the eocfe
I tary OF agriculture. the surgeon genera
of the army and the surgeon general o
the navy. II the gentlemen are not satls
I fed with this, why not pass resolution
requiring the commissioners TO appoint *
I pert chemlsts to inquire whether there
any ingredlen. In oleomargarine hurtiui Y
. the public health? This would be the sen
sible thing to do II that were the rea
object aimed at and would not relulf
' Manufacturers OF oieomargarlne TO CIV
To the public thsir formula protected D
! existing law The best authorities eA
posed the claim that oleomargarlne 10 no
hurtful. Prof Atwattr, director o! "a
United States agricultural exp riment h, ~,
ton in this city, prouounees II pe,Ieeu
q Wholesome and healthy aad OF hlsn hu
tritions value Prof. Wiley chief chem
: ist az the department OF agriculture, &c
elares 1t TO be clean. wholesome ana q
: gestsbie. and when Il is 10 be Kept ION
; time. preferable 10 butter, because u IA
: but little tendency TO become Iancla
= "other great chemists concur In tni
opinion. and ] challenge the gentleman
splte Of the little wedge Of slearihe hsi
up 10 the house for their observation
|. being one Of the Objectionable lngFsuien
: in oleomargarine to cite single ensnii
OF any responsibility anywhere VINO o.
ciarss maj butterine or oleomargarif
. menaces the public health or that II IS ~
a better than the cheaper class OF nutp
: with which II completes.
> .Srhe makers Of the best grades OF Du
ter In this country are not pehina u
= movement and do not insist upon its pa
sage The great labor organizations OF "a
country. always in favor OF falr play, vi
one voice as one man are opposed 10 %
pernicious. lni6uitious legislation. Hu
dreds OF petitions from all over this UNI
signed by labor organizations and by J
:, dlyiduai laboring men OF influence a.
prominence tell us that the object alm
~ az ls 10 raise the price Of that which
r wholesome. cheap and pure and which IN
d desire to use, in order 10 promote the 81
70 OF class OF butter which is put on I
" market that is far inferior 10 that subs
tuts which IS sought to be iegislat