II OLEOMARGARINE AND OTHER IMITATION DAIRY PRODUCTS. 



tee can conceive of no interest which would be affected that was not 

 represented at the hearings and does not see how an} T thing new could 

 have been presented had the hearings been -continued indefinitely. 



It apears from the testimony that through the legislatures of 32 

 States, with four-fifths of the population of the United States, the peo- 

 ple have expressed their disapproval of oleomargarine colored in sem- 

 blance of butter; that those who have been charged with the duty of 

 enforcing the State laws regarding this product are positive in the 

 opinion that so long as it is colored in imitation of butter fraud upon 

 the consumer, if not upon the dealer, can not be prevented. Your 

 committee is of the opinion that such fraud is actually sanctioned and 

 defended by some of the largest manufacturers, who guarantee their 

 retailers protection in case of prosecution for the sale of oleomargarine 

 in contravention of State laws. 



It also appeared, and it was not denied by the manufacturers them- 

 selves, that they do not feel in any way bound to respect the laws of 

 the States against selling oleomargarine colored in imitation of butter, 

 claiming that the} T are unconstitutional; and the testimony- revealed 

 methods by which such laws are evaded or their enforcement defeated, 

 despite the fact that such laws have been sustained by the courts of 

 last resort in the States and also by the Supreme Court of the United 

 States. 



So far as the committee has been able to ascertain, this measure has 

 the approval of all State officials and food commissioners whose duties 

 are the enforcement of the laws regulating the manufacture and sale of 

 oleomargarine. 



It appears to be unanimously desired by the farmers of the country 

 who are engaged in dairying, and has the earnest approval of the Sec- 

 retary of Agriculture, who appeared before the committee at its 

 request and who has made an exhaustive study of the question from 

 a broad, economic point of view. 



Your committee has listened with interest to the representations of 

 the live-stock interests and the cotton-seed oil manufacturers, and is 

 unable to see in this measure anything that can greatly injure either. 

 The Secretary of Agriculture expressed the opinion before the com- 

 mittee that the dairy cow was a necessity to the restoration of the 

 exhausted cotton lands of the South. 



We have heard some objections to this measure from organized 

 labor; and while it is true that some laboring men may, as represented, 

 prefer, as a matter of pride, to consume oleomargarine that is yellow 

 instead of white, yet your committee believes that while the pride of 

 some may suffer under this measure, which will raise the tax on the 

 colored and reduce it on the uncolored, a far greater number are now 

 being deceived througn the sale of oleomargarine as butter and at butter 

 prices. 



Your committee is of the opinion that if oleomargarine is the whole- 

 some and nutritious product that those interested in its manufacture 

 and sale claim it to be, it will meet with a ready demand in its natural 

 color, and especially as the tax on the uncolored product is by this bill 

 reduced from 2 cents to one-quarter of a cent per pound. 



We submit herewith the report on this measure by the committee 

 of the House and the views of a minority of that body. 



