26 OLEOMARGARINE. 



Mr. GARDNER. And 1 think that to-day there is no question made 

 by any person whose judgment is worth anything, there is no question 

 by anj^one else than those who hurl epithets, who call it grease prod- 

 uct and that sort of thing, that the product is in any degree unwhole- 

 some. 



In this connection I desire to ask the careful attention of the com- 

 mittee to the report with reference to oleomargarine which is con- 

 tained in the findings of the committee of the Senate which was 

 appointed to consider the question of the adulteration of food prod- 

 ucts. Such a consideration will show to the members of this com- 

 mittee that that committee has certified, as every competent authority 

 has certified, that oleomargarine is probably the one purest compound 

 which is manufactured for human consumption. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. Let me ask a question. Do I understand 

 you to say that the Government keeps an inspector, or agent, or 

 expert, in each of the oleomargarine factories in the country ? 



Mr. GARDNER. I think so. If not constantly in each of the oleomar- 

 garine factories, certainly in each district where there is an oleomar- 

 garine factory, whose duty it is to visit the factory. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. Can you tell us how many oleomargarine 

 factories there are ? 



Mr. GARDNER. I am informed that the manufacturers make every 

 month a sworn return of every item of material which goes into the 

 manufacture of oleomargarine, and that there are in each district inspec- 

 tors of the internal revenue department who investigate the facts from 

 time to time to ascertain whether these returns are correct. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. Can you inform the committee how many 

 oleomargarine factories there are in the United States, approximately ? 



Senator BATE. And where located ? 



Mr. GARDNER. I shall perhaps refer that question to some gentle- 

 man engaged in the business. 



Mr. JELKE. The Internal Revenue Department in the last report 

 state that there were twent} r -seven oleomargarine factories in the 

 United States on the 1st of last July. Since then there have been 

 some new establishments opened. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. So there are several of them in an internal- 

 revenue district? 



Mr. JELKE. In several of the internal-revenue districts there are a 

 number. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. Do I understand that the inspector in each 

 district depends upon the man at the factory for the report to his 

 Department, and that he has no personal supervision ? 



Mr. JELKE. Our factory is visited almost daily by some internal- 

 revenue deputy, and I have personally taken the new deputies who 

 have come to visit us over the factories and let them see every nook 

 and corner. 



The CHAIRMAN. What is your factory?" 



Mr. JELKE. I represent Braun & Fitts, of Chicago. 



Senator BATE. Can you tell us where the factories are located, or 

 will you submit it in writing, so that we may know in what States 

 they are located? 



Mr. JELKE. I can do so. 



Senator BATE. I do not ask you to stop to do it now. 



Mr. JELKE. The Internal-Revenue Commissioner's report gives 

 each one in detail. I will furnish that if it is desired. 



