186 OLEOMARGARINE. 



as well respected as those of others, and as they are the benficiaries in 

 the manufacture of this wholesome article of food, they should not 

 be burdened with unnecessary special taxes or needless restrictions in 

 the manufacture of this product, other than is absolutely necessary for 

 the support of the Government and the proper governmental regula- 

 tions surrounding the handling of same. 



This product of the "beef steer" should receive at the hands of 

 Congress no greater exactions than those imposed upon competing 

 food products. It is already surrounded by numerous safeguards, 

 which Congress in its wisdom has seen fit to provide, stipulating severe 

 punishment for selling same under misrepresentation as to its com- 

 position. It has by experience proven to be just what a large majority 

 of the people of this country want, and in behalf of the producers 

 and consumers of this great country we do solemnly protest against 

 the enactment of legislation calculated to ruin a great industry, and 

 to deprive not only the working classes, but many others, of a cheap, 

 wholesome, nutritious, and acceptable article of food. 



THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE 



NATIONAL LIVE STOCK EXCHANGE, 

 By W. H. THOMPSON, President. 



Attest: 



C. W. BAKER, Secretary. 



STATEMENT OF HENRY C. PIRRUNG, GENERAL MANAGER OF 

 THE CAPITAL CITY DAIRY COMPANY, COLUMBUS, OHIO. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Where are you from? 



Mr. PIRRUNG. From Columbus, Ohio. I am the general manager of 

 the Capital City Dairy Company and the general manager of the Colum- 

 bus Cream and Milk Company, producers of creamery butter and deal- 

 ers in milk and cream. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. You may proceed. 



Mr. PIRRUNG. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am 

 present to-day to defend the butterine interests in the capacity of a 

 manufacturer, being general manager of the Capital City Dairy Com- 

 pany, of Columbus, Ohio, makers of high-grade butterine. 



It has been suggested to me to be as brief as possible in my state- 

 ment, and I will endeavor, therefore, to present the matter in as con- 

 cise a form as possible, and yet as terse as I hope will meet the con- 

 venience of you gentlemen. 



First of all, I desire to take up the subject of so-called " natural" 

 butter. In my humble opinion, the term " natural" is an idiosyncrasy, 

 fostered and fathered by the creamery and dairy butter churners and 

 by the proprietors and editors of dairy papers, for the purpose of 

 alluring, perhaps, more particularly the illiterate into the belief that 

 butter is absolutely a product given to us in its entirety and finished 

 shape by nature. I, however, have never been able to find a cow, no 

 matter of what breed, color, or size, that gives to us this much-talked- 

 of product, ' ' natural " butter. Nor have I been able to find any tree, 

 shrub, or plant upon which grows this much-talked-of "natural" but- 

 ter. We, however, do know that butter is churned from natural prod- 

 ucts, chiefly the milk of the cow, which milk undergoes a process of 

 manufacture conducted through a system of mechanical hand or steam- 



