Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-02-07
Congressman Haskns's Speech on
the Oleomarqarine Bill.

The Congressional Record of Tues
day contains the speech of Congress
man Haskins in support of the House
bill to make oleomargarine and other
imitation dairy products subject to the
laws of the state or territory into
which they are transported and to in
crease the tax on oleomargarine. This
is more popularity known as the Grout
bill. The speech of our Vermont con-
gresham contains a lawyers argu-
ment as to the constitutionality and le-
gal aspects of the proposed law, and is
an important contribution to this sub
ject, which deeply concerns the farm
ing and dairy interests of the states as
well as of other states. In the course
OF Mr.. Haskinss speech he clearly
states the issue when he says
Mr.. Chairman, ! do not wish to be
misunderstood when / say that the
friends and supporters of the bill re-
ported by the majority of the commit
tee are not here opposing the manu-
facture and sale of oleomargarine as
such. From the evidence given be-
fore the committee | concede it's manu-
facture to be a legitimate industry.
as the Congress. by its past legislation
has held the manufacture of whiskey
and lager beer to be legitimate indus
try subject TO its regulation and tax
ing power. | am ready to concede that
it is heathful and nutritious. as is
the oil of the fish of the olive the fat
of beef. and all other oils and fats,
when properly prepared and made free
of all impurities and adulterations.
The friends of this measure have no
purpose or desire to crush out the
oleomargarne industry when prose
cuted along legitimate lines
The friends of the dairying interests
Of the country and those engaged in
the manufacture and sale of butter
made from pure and unadulterated
milk or cream have nothing to fear
from the production of oleomargarine
when put upon the market in its nat
ural state II is the artificial colora-
tion that is given to it that causes it to
look like butter. and by means of
which coloration the manufacturers
and dealers are enabled to put it upon
the market as butter. and do put it
upon the market as butter. advertise
and sell il for pure creamery butter,
pure dairy butter" pure grass but
ter" and pure Elgin creamery but
ter. as is shown by the Photographic
reproduction of a representative Chica-
90 retail oleomargarine store which |
hold in my hand. And what is true
OF this store is also true of hundreds
of others in this country especially
in our larger cities. This is sold to the
unsuspecting purchaser at prices rang
ing from Is cents to % cents per
pound as appeared in evidence before
your committee, the purchaser believ-
ing he was buying and receiving genu-
inc butter made of pure milk or cream.
but instead thereof was paying, at a
fabulous profit for nothing else but
colored oleomargarine made to resem-
BILE butter.
Are not such operations fraudulent
and an offense against society, to say
nothing of the injury it works to the
producer of honest butter? And will
the representatives of states which
have through their legislatures. pro
nounced against oleomargarine colored
in imitation of butter refuse to stamp
out this fraud, this deceit and a lie,
by omitting to enact such federal legis-
laton as is absolutely necessary to
enable the states TO safeguard their
citizens?