184 OLEOM AEG AEINE. 



of the many, believing that you will act in this matter for the best 

 interests of the people as a whole. 



This kind of class legislation, if enacted, would establish a very bad 

 precedent, one of the worst kind, as it is against a healthful article of 

 food. 



A remark was made by a gentleman before you this morning that 

 this article could be produced for 7 cents a pound. That shows to me 

 most conclusively that it comes within reach of the laborer, just the 

 man we should protect. 



Now, in regard to taxes. Suppose there was a tax of 10 cents put 

 upon this butterine, and it should still remain upon the market, who 

 pays the tax? The laboring man, of course. The man of wealth buys 

 butter. The burden of the whole thing rests upon the consumer, who 

 is the laboring man. If it is legislated out of existence, then the bur- 

 den or the loss goes back to the producer. 



Mr. FLANDERS. May I ask one question ? 



The CHAIRMAN. Yes. 



Mr. FLANDERS. Have you any knowledge what the consumer pays 

 for these goods? 



Mr. THOMPSON. I can answer for a consumer. I pay 15 cents a 

 pound for it. 



Mr. FLANDERS. In our State it never has been sold, taking it gen- 

 erally there may be isolated cases cheaper than butter. For the 

 last fifteen years, as far as I know, and I have been looking after it, I 

 myself bought it for butter in the city of Troy and paid 22 cents a 

 pound, and the butter right opposite it was 22 cents a pound. It is 

 sold to consumers for butter and at butter prices. There is no excep- 

 tion to it in the State of New York. 



Mr. THOMPSON. If you will allow me to answer for one consumer, I 

 will say that I pay 15 cents a pound for it for use on my table. I do 

 it for this reason, that to get the best butter, which at times seems 

 almost impossible, I would have to pay 30 cents a pound, to go to our 

 grocer and get the butter, as they term it. It does not seem to me as 

 though it was near as good as the butterine, and I would have to pay 

 from 20 to 25 and 26 cents for it. 



Mr. FLANDERS. In our State that is just what has been done right 

 along. It is sold for butter at butter prices. 



Mr. THOMPSON. I am speaking of Chicago. 



Mr. KNIGHT. Do you buy the best grade of butterine at 15 cents ? 



Mr. THOMPSON. I do not know, sir, what they call the best grade. 

 I buy as good a grade as I can get and pay 15 cents for it. 



Senator FOSTER. Do }^ou call for butterine when you go to the store? 



Mr. THOMPSON. I do not buy it at the store. I buy it at the manu- 

 facturer's. 



Senator FOSTER. Do you call for butterine ? 



Mr. THOMPSON. I call for butterine. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Have you finished, Mr. Thompson ? 



Mr. THOMPSON. Yes; unless there are some other questions. I have 

 a memorial here which is rather lengthy, and I would like to attach it 

 to my remarks. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. You can file it, and it will be printed with 

 your remarks. 



The memorial referred to is as follows: 



