Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-14
VERMONT AND TIE OLEOMiRGAW-
me LAW.

Vermont through various members
of its delegation in Congress at differ
ent times during the long crusade
against spurious dairy products prob
State. to say the least, with the pass
age of the national act imposing a big
tax upon oleomarearine colorcd u
look like butter The contamination
of this movement was hailed at the
time throughout the country as a great
achievement in the interest of legi-
innate dairy interests, and such it un
questionably was
1t Is now stated, however, that ow-
ing to the discovery and use of new
oils for coloring oleomargarine. which
do not come within the purview of ex-
listing law, the national oleomargar-
Inc law intended to protect the con-
sumer against artificial substitutes for
butter has become practically a null
lily. While the law contemplates that
oleomargarine which has been colorcl
more nearly to resemble butter shall
pay tax OF 10 cents a pound and un-
colored oleomargarine shall pay a tax
Of only one-quarter Of cent n pound,
the fact now is that practically all tax
able oleomargarine pays only the
lower rate. For administrative pur-
poses, the tax is not sufficient to pay
the expenses Of rigid administration
of the law, although the law is en-
forced. nevertheless
For several years back secretaries
OF the treasury and commissioners OF
the internal revenue have pointed out
defects in the oleomargarine statutes
ms construed by the United States
courts. These constructions have left
the law so that it is neither a revenue
producing law nor measure for the
protection Of the public in its pur-
chases. officials of the treasury de-
partment have repeatedly appeared
quest amendments 70 the law. so rs to
make It amount to something.
Previous TO the introduction Of new
oils. which make It practically i'm =
possible FOR the consumer. so far as
colo: Is concerned, to tell the differ
onco hetwcon olcomargarinc ard bui-
ter Il ~as :hc theory of tho revepue
COLLECTOR. that crime and fraud woGlA
Re prac:iGcd i'll proportion 20 .hc in
centre. TIL. fact that the thy on col
orod oleomargnrine was forty times a,
great as on uncolored oleorarRarinc
whne ,ht profits on "uear- butter
were propnrtionhtoly greater thai, tina
pp near lard" iei to great frauds II
the manufacture OF oleomarFarine.
with tho discovery Of the new oils
the necessity fer fraud has been mate
RALLY reduced, Tho result Ia that tn
mail dealers who were formerly mos
prone to participate In actual frau
can now get their colored olsomargar
inc with good dea, lsSs persona
danger from the federal authorize
than formerly. OF course they ar
still liable under state pure food laws
or misbranding laws. provided they <
81 Ear as to advertise olcomargnrin
ss real butter
Ire average consumer, however, n slI
'or "butter." but there Is no doubt tina
many Of them. particularly In the lar
ger cities. are paying FOR modern
troduct o. the oleomargarinc factory
Further tho reduction in tn
piiue Of butter In the past year ais
had Its erect on the oleomorgarine In
4ustry and proportionats,y reduce
iEe Incentive to fraud.
It Ia announced that efforts 70 re
lamp tho present law will be renew >
TT the next hession Of Congress, an
It Is safe to say in advance tina. tn