Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-10
Senator Proctor's Service for Our
Dairy interests.

Senator Proctor's Service for Our
Dairy interests.
Dairymen who have received a hand
some Price for their products throughout
the season may not realize the nature
of the influence which is contributing to
their continued prosperity. They certain
ly know what the effect has been. II the
cause Is pointed out they will readily
trace the relation between the two and
place the credit where it is due. If there
has been a pronounced falling off in the
quantity of spurious butter produced and
sold, 1t is reasonable to assume that such
result would have a marked tendency
to increase the demand and consequently
the price of the genuine dairy product
Secretary Charles Y. Knight of the Ma
tional Dairy Union. has issued a revised
statement in relation to the operation of
the ELECTROMAGNETIC legislation enacted
by Congress, credit for the idea of which
is due in no small degree to the late Con-
gresham w. w. Grout. and credit for
the adoption of which is due to the able
management and skill of Senator Redneld
Proctor in the upper branch of Congress,
and of Congressman Kittredge Haskins
in the House. Senator William p. Dilling-
ham also did excellent service in the
cause, but it is generally admitted that
but for the resourcefulness and untiring
zeal of Senator Proctor. who as chairman
of the Senate committee on agriculture.
had charge of the bill, the industrial
enemies of our dairy interests would have
succeeded in killing the bill in the United
states Senate, powerful was the lobby
of the oleo manufacturers, aided in no
small degree by the beef barons of the
West.
1t may be profitable to briefly sum-
marize the steps Immediately follow
| ing the passage of the anti oleomar-
garine law as stated in the pamphlet
issued by Secretary knight. AS soon
as President Roosevelt had affixed his
signature to the act in question the
manufacturers of spurious butter an
nounced that the measure was worth
less inasmuch as they would thrive
better under the new law, which taxed
oleomargarine colored so as to initiate
butter ten cents a pound, as compared
with the former tax of two cents n
pound on oleomargarine.
1t was confidently asserted that n
! formula had been discovered for the
manufacture of oleo without artificial
coloration," and they expected to be
able to put on the market a product
which would receive only the one fourth
of a cent per pound levied on uncol-
ored oleomargarne. William J. Mox-
ley of Chicago introduced the use of
palm Ola brick red vegetable pro-
duction imported from Africa-in con-
nection with the manufacture of spur
ious butter; and in spite of the fact
| that this prominent constituent of axle
grease and various kinds of soap, has
| n strong odor and a disagreeable taste
it was hoped that this ingredient
might enable the oleo manufacturers
to put up an article of diet that would
have no chemical trace of celebration.
The commissioner OF internal rev.
enue at Washington decided that the
use of this palm oil rendered the pro-
duct subject to the ten cent tax and
with cotton oil so as to comply with
the laws recognition of vegetable oil
in connection with the legitimate man.
ufacture of oleomargarine, the COM
pound being sold as a special pro-
cessed cottonseed oil which would color
oleomargarine yellow. The govern
ment chemists were able to detect the
colorative agent, however, and the ten
cent tax was accordingly imposed on
the large product prepared for market
the effect being to cause a rapid de-
cline in this industry
Now for the direct effects of the opera.
ton of this law for the protection of oul
of oleomargarine made during the veal
ended June 80, 1903, was only 7l,211 ,244
as compared with 126,3l5,4 27 during the
previous fiscal year, that the decrease
during the first year of the operation
of the new law was 55,1o4,lS3 pounds.
The secretary of the National DairS
Union asserts that the law during thi.
single year put into the pockets of tn,
creamery patrons alone over 5000 900 il
increased price for their butter, besid;
making a market for butter to the enor
nous value of Sill, 02O S36, which durin,
the year previous was supplied by cleo
margarine. He also figures that evorN
average creamery in the United State!
received $500 more for milk during tn,
year ended June 80 last than would hav,
been received had not the new anti cleo
margarine law been passed,
These figures are published not in Yer
mont, but by the secretary of a natona
organization of dairymen having its sec
rotary located in Chicago. The dairy
men of Vermont thus have the value fo
themselves of the service OF those whc
secured the passage of this law reduced
to dollars and cents, not to mention tn,
numerous other services performed TO
Vermont constituents.