The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-03
The Oleo War.

Since the decision Of the superior court, April
30 1900. suits have been brought by the dairy
and food commissioner against oleomargarina
dealers in the various counties Of the state
Eighty.seven OF these cases have been tcrmn.
ated and eight hundred and fourteen still
pending and undsposed Of
The agents and attorneys representing the dairy
and food commissioner have made every effort to
Obtain trial of these cases. They must await
the disposition of Jail cases and the prior dis.
posll Of other cases deemed mora important by
the district attorneys who control the order Of
trial of cases in the criminal courts.
There are five hundred and ninety mine cases
awaiting trial In the court OF quarter sessions OF
Allegheny county, three in Beaver, eight in
Blair, twelve in Cambria, three in Clearfeld, one
in Dauphin, Two in Delaware, four in Erie fl.
teen in Luzerne, six in Lawrence, one in Mercer.
one in Montgomery, two in Northumberland, one
hundred and six in Philadelphia, three in Schuy.
kill. one in Yenango, and forty-seven in West
moreland.
Another difficulty in bringing these cases TO
trial is the pendcncy Of the McCanr case, which
has been appealed from the superior court TO the
supreme court Of the state TO test the constitu.
tiOnalty of the color clause. In Allegheny,
Cambria and Wcstmoreand counties. the courts
refuse TO try any further oleomargarine cases
until the Mccain case Is decided. IN Wcstmorc.
the defendants have pleaded guilty, but the
courts refuse to sentence until decision on the
color clause is handed down in the Mct'ann case.
4 number OF criminal operations are pending
against the same individual in many instances |
am satisfied that the penalty is insufficient to
properly enforce the law. Instead of fine Of 800
for the first otfcnsc it should be not less than
$500, and there should also he imprisonment OF
at least sixty days. For the second oiiensc the
fine opl ip,p nj ln .nl nd
recommend that the law be amended in this par
tcular.
Ny attention has also been called by the
rctary OF agriculture to the New York law, which
authorizes the granting of inunctions by the
courts restraining and onjoining persons from
selling oleomargarine colored like butter. This
authority would be great aid to the department
and our law ought to be amended giving like
authority in this respect
II may as well be understood that the oleo-
margarine traffic in Pennsylvania is deep seated
and the dealers determined and daring men, some
Of whom openly defy the law, and when arrested
promptly give bail for appearance at court and
| continue selling, and although in several in
stances many prosecutions are pending against
the individual it does not prevent him
from continuing to violate the law Ii this traffic
is to be suppressed, drastic measures must be
added 10 the law and penalties imposed which
will be adequate to the occasion. II cannot be
suppressed by resolutions and unfounded acousa.
tions against state officers,
The secretary of agriculture, the dairy and food
commissioner and the agents and attorneys en-.
ployed are doing everything they to suppress
the traffic and succeeding well as could be
expected under all the circumstances.
| am much gratihed as prospects of the early
passage in congress OF the Grout bill. II this bill
becomes a law, it will greatly aid in the sup
| preston of the Oleomargarine traffic
Forestry Reservations.
The act approved March 49, 1895, establishing
a department OF agriculture directs the secretary