Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11
USE OF oLEoMARGARINE.
Statistics Of Manufacture and Con
sumption of the Product.

sumption of the Product.
From the New York Tribune.
That oleomargarine law passed by the
Fifty-eighth Congress has proved a failure
from the dairymen's point of view is the
inevitable conclusion to be deduced from a
careful examination of the figures Just
issued by the commissioner Of internal
revenue. 1t was the expectation Of some
persons that it would practically drive oleo-
margarine out of the market, at least as
a competitor of butter That 1t has utterly
failed in this object Is proved by the COM
missioner's figures, which show that q
total of $4,000, COO pounds of oleomargarine
has been sold in the eight months ended
February 3d. a decrease of only thirty per
cent from the corresponding period Of the
previous year, and decrease by no means
surprising, in view of the fact that In the
first few months of this period the pro-
duction was materially curtailed, because
the manufacturers were engaged in ad-
justing their methods to the provisions Of
the new law. Since what might be termed
lily increased, and 1t is doubtful II the next
eight months will show the slightest dimin-
ution. In the judgment Of some authori-
ties they will show an increase.
Out Of the total of so, 900 600 pounds sold
only 10000 pounds was artificially colored
and thus subjected to the tax OF 10 cents q
pound. The remainder was technically I'M
colored, and paid the tax of one-Quarter
cent a pound, in lieu OF q 2-cent-a-pound
tax provided by the old laws; but this does
not mean that 1t was white, the manufac-
turers having so adjusted the proportion
of lawful ingredients as to give their pro.
duct a reasonably rich color without tho
use of artificial coloring matter" this
being accomplished by an increase in the
amount of cottonseed oil and Of genuine
colored butter entering into the compost
nf ole nrcyav fnA k,o
government has suffered considerable loss
of revenue as a result of the new law. For
the eight months ended February Is, 1901.
the revenue collected in the form of taxes
on oleomargarine and licenses to sell the
same amounted to 81. 663, 461.13. Receipts
from the same sources for like period
ended February %. 1893 amounted to only
$500, 1O3. 81, a decrease of 81, 1897, 1851. SO.
Notwithstanding the decrease in revenue.
the number Of licensed retailers of uHcol-
Ored oleomargarfne has greatly increased,
the license fees having been reduced from
$3.50 for wholesalers and $4S for retailers to
the uncOlored product It was the freely
admitted expectation of the promoters Of
the law that white Oleo" would find little
SALE and had IT been necessary to make the
product white this assumption would doubt
less have proved correct; but the skill of
the producers in giving to their product
yellow tinge has defeated all such ex-
pectations. So.
The ELECTROMAGNETIC law also provided
for the proper labelling Of renovated or
process butter. for the systematic inspec-
ton of the factories, and imposed a tax on
the product OF one-quarter cent q pound
While there are no figures with which to
make comparisons, 1t Is the opinion Of those
familiar with the trade that the sale of
process butter has undergone no material
diminution. The receipts for the eight
months ended With EshrYary from this
source amounted to $95. 468.40 showing
sales of 80, 1877, $50 pounds. With no little
shrewdness the manufacturers, although
compelled to label their product renovated
butter" have seized on the government in
spection as furnishing a guarantee OF puri-
supervision of the United States govern
ment." Taking a general view Of the re-
suits of the law. 1t is doubtful if It has in
any way benefited the producers Of gen