Evening star., 1900-05-31
THE CIRCUIT OLEO BILL
REPORT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON AGRICULTURE.
Reasons Why the Measure Should Be
come n Law Given mt
Length.


have ample cause for alarm at the tre1nen-
dous illegal growth of the oleomargarine
traffic in this country during the past few
years. which now appears to have reached
proportions beyond the power of the state;
to successfully regulate or control, and the
present federal laws are apparently alto
gether inadequate for the emergency.
Rest Solution of the Difficulty.
After carefully weighing the evidence
and suggestions offered for remedies for
the regulation of this traffic. we are con-
strained to hold that the provisions of II:
r. 3717 offer the best practical solution OF
the difficulty.
I'VE believe that the states should be pro-
tected in their rights to regulate their in
ternal affairs to the fullest extent in rela-
ton to articles of food which have been
adjudged adulterated or of a deceitful CHAR
acter, and We do not think that the inter-
state commerce law of the government
should protect a deceitful imitation from
the Jurisdiction of the states laws, even If
the article in question is in the original
package and is shipped from an outsider
into the state in such package.
I'VE find that the very foundation and
cause of the enormous amount of fraud
and Illegal selling of oleomargarine is in
the great profits which are derived from
the sale Of the imitation because of Its alb
solute counterfeit of butter, which enables
unscrupulous dealers to impose upon unsus-
pecting customers. These profits are suf-
ficiently large to cause the retailers to run
the chances of detection and prosecution,
and they are further emboldened and en-
couraged through the guarantees of the
manufacturers of protection against prose-
cutions under the state laws.
"Thirty-two states. having four-fifthS Of
the entire population of the United States,
absolutely forbid the manufacture and sale
of oleomargarine colored to resemble but
ter. These laws have been upheld in the
higher courts without single execution.
and the question has twice. been passed
upon favorably by the Supreme Court of
the United States. Therefore, the policy of
very large majority of our people is
plainly against the existence of the article
in such counterfeit form.
The Proposed Tax.
"The tax of 10 cents per pound upon oleo-
margarine colored to resemble butter will
not deprive the manufacturers and dealers
or consumers of any great amount Of legal
right they now possess Feur-fifths of the
colored article made is solid Illegally nova
indicated by the reports of the Treasury De-
partnlent, and the only effect of this tax,
even were 1t prohibited upon this class of
oleomargarine, would be to prevent the
manufacture of an article the sale of which
is contrary to the laws of thirty-two states
of the Union.
This tax will bring the cost of the col
ored article up to figure that will take
from it the possibility for the large profits
which have been the incentive to violate the
laws of the state and government and de-
fraud innocent purchasers, while the re-
ducton of the tax on oleomargarine in it's
natural color from cents to one-fourth
cent per pound will make it possible for the
man who really desires to conRme oleomar-
garine to procure ii at much lower cost
than heretofore, the only difference being
that it will not contain coloring matter,
which not even the opponents of this meas
ure claim contributes anything to its pal
atableness or nutritive value.
Remove Inducement to Deception.
I'VE believe the manufacture and sale of
o.eomargarine will continue under this
measure and that those who desire a cheap
substitute for butter will purchase the un-
colored article. The only difference is that
the counterfeit article, colored in imitation
of butter. will no longer be accessible to
hotel keepers restaurant keepers and
boarding house proprietors at such prices as
will be an inducement for them to deceive
their guests. as is now, we believe, abso-
lutely universal where it is served, and thus
another class of consumers who have been
subjected to imposition for more than twen-
ty years will be able to know whether they
are eating butter fat or hog fat when they
spread their bread. If colored oleomargar-
inc is Served it Will be because it is better
and not because it is cheaper than butter.
Serious conditions require drastic meas
uTeS, ana II certainty appears from tie
testimony Of those representing the pro-
ducers of butter, as we'll as from the ad-
missions of the witnesses for the other side,
that those who are engaged in this oleo-
margarine traffic have absolutely no regard
for state laws, and regard the public as
their legitimate victim, in whose behalf
they resent the interference of the general
government. The continued existence OF
such a condition we cannot but believe
furnishes demoralizing example to our
people in trade, who are being tutored by
this oleomargarine interest in the art OF
evasion and defiance of the legally consd-
tuted authorities.
The Minority Report.
The minority report says in part: 1--WE
first wish to call attention to PROOF posi-
tive that oleomargarine Is wholesome
and nutritious article of food, and is, there
fore, entitled to a legitimate place In the
commerce Of the country"
In substantiation of this statement the
testimony of Prof. Chandler of Columbia
College and Prof Barker of the University
of PENNSYLVANIA and others Is cited. The
only Just complaint, the minority states. is
as to the facility with which retail dealers
can violate the present law by SUBSTITUTE
ing unmarked packages for those taken
from the original or wholesale packages.
But the Grout bill, it is contended, does
not decrease the temptations or increase
the difficulties of such violations. On the
contrary, the increased taxatlOn Wouiu
either be fraudulently evaded or else would
force the honest manufacturer out of busi-
ness.
In fact, the report states, the radical ad-
| vccates of the bill admit that their sole
intention Is to absolutely crush out the
| n :nufacturer of oleomargarine and elimi-
nate 1t as a food product.
"In conclusion" the report adds. the
members of the committee on agriculture
who have Joined in the minority report beg
| to assure the House and the country in the
most solemn manner possible that 1t has
been their earnest intention and Is now
| their determination to do everything posi-
| tle to be done to enforce the sale OF oleo-
margarine as oleomargarine. and to prevent
| its sale as butter. TO prevent fraud and
not to stamp out an industry has been and
| is our purpose. We believe that 1t ought
| to be the sole purpose Of all legislation and
| the sole motive of all just men,.
The minority also submits substitute
bill, providing additional safeguards agains,
| oleomargarine.
| THE MONTANA SENATORSHIP.
An Agreement Reached to Allow the
| c..o q, n..t Nhare II IA