Evening journal., 1901-03-06
CALLED 0hEO
POOR MANS BUTTER
Hearing By Committee Of
Pennsylvania Legislature
Alter Hearing the Argument Members
Decide 70 Report The Measure
UniayOrablV

Harrisburg. March 6.--The senate
committee on public health and santa
tion and the house committee on agri-
culture held a joint meeting last night
for the purpose Of hearing arguments
for and against the Snyder bill, which
regulates the sale Of oleomargarine.
Senator Quail, of Schuylkin. acted as
chairman Of the joint meeting
The first speaker heard was prcsl-
dent Schaefer. of the Amalgamatcd AS
ISOLATION OF Iron. Steel and Tin Work
ers OF America. He said the enactment
OF the pending bin would work meal
culable hardship on the thousands Of
rolling mill men who have families
Oleomargarine and buttorine. he said
are godsend 20 the poor men. because
of its low price The workmon of tho
state, he added were almost unanim 1us
that there be no change in the present
law.
Editor Troucher. of The Now Era, a
labor journal. and L. r. Groucher, a
Philadelphia. labor representative, also
argued along the same lines as Mr.
Schaefer
F. b. Booth, of Pittsburg. a whole
sale dealer In butterine, said his b ISL
ness would be ruined II the Snyder bill
becomes a law He admitted that he
sold 100000 pounds of oleomarG-, inc
each year, and claimed he paid more
than double the tax Tor the privilege
than do the pure butter men.
Uriah Dillingham;. vice presiden, Of
the United Mine Workers association
of Pittsburg, spoke for the miners OF
that section Of the state. He like the
other labor representatives., said the
oleomargarine was the poor mans but
ter. and he hoped the present bill VIII
not be put upon the statute books.
H. c.. pirrung. of Columbus O.. n
manufacturer Of buttorino. read numer~
Gus decisions of the courts Of other
states, and told what oleomargarino is
made Of In conclusion he said "put
all the labels you want on oleomargar-
inc. but for humanity's sake DO not
prohibit the colOring OF that product" "
James J. Madden and Otis Paul. oleo-
margarine dealers OF Philadelphia. fol-
lowed along the same lines. They
wanted 10 sell oleomargarine MS oleo-
margarine. and wanted no laws which
would further restrict the sale of that
product.
Secretary of Agriculture Hamilton
spoke for the bill with certain altera-
tions. He said that 80 states. having a
population OF more than 100000
have passed laws prohibiting the coll
oring of oleomargarine He vcntured
the opinion that so per cent of the oleo-
margarine purchased today Is bought
under the impression that Il Is butter.
II this state of affairs should continue
the creamery industry, affecting l.OOO,-
600 persons. would be ruined.
W. f. Drennen and l. A. Cleaver. Of
Philadelphia, also spoke in favor OF
the pending bill. They opposed oleo-
margarine because it dishonesty enc
tered into competition with butter. MIR.
Cleaver. who represents 65 grocery
stores in Philadelphia. said there Is no
call for oloomarEarine. which showed
that the wOrkmen do not want that
product.
Grand Master Hill, Of the State
Grange association Of Crawford coun-
~. W. ID. Edison and J. O. Sharpless OF
Philadelphia. Louis p. Piolet of Tiogn
county and Joseph Sbarpless Of Chos-
ter county spoke in favor of the pend
ing measure.
Ex-senator McCarrell. attorney for
the agricultural department. spoke in
favor OF the bill originally introduced
He said the present bill, which is a
substitute for the original. does not suf.
ficiently cover the ground.
At l2:f5 a. m. the hearing ended az.
ter which the senate committee held
an executive session and decided {,
favorably report the substitute to the
senate today.