198 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



pound, provided, however, that oleomargarine not containing 

 artificial coloration should be taxed one-fourth of one cent per 

 pound. 



Here the intention was to encourage the production of a 

 product not artificially colored, by making a difference of nine 

 and three-fourth cents per pound in the taxation. The advo- 

 cates of this measure were obliged to accept the wording, as 

 above set forth, as a compromise, rather than the wording they 

 had chosen, to wit: That oleomargarine not manufactured in 

 imitation of butter of any shade of yellow should be taxed 

 one-fourth of one cent per pound. It will be noted by the 

 figures hereafter given, in relation to the amount of oleo- 

 margarine manufactured, that in the year 1902, prior to the 

 new law taking effect, there were 126 million pounds of oleo- 

 margarine manufactured, and in the subsequent year only 73 

 million pounds of oleomargarine were manufactured ; in the 

 year subsequent, 50 million pounds, and then 51 milHon, and 

 then 55 million, and then 71 million, and then 81 million and 

 then 92 million pounds, showing that the law placing the ten- 

 cent tax upon oleomargarine had its effect for the time. 



Amount of Oleomargarine, in pounds, produced in the 

 United States for the fiscal year ending June 30: 



