OLEOMARGARINE. 221 



About two years ago we were asked to join the Pure Butter Pro- 

 tective Association, whose object was to enforce the laws against the 

 illegal sale of oleomargarine. We at once united with them, and have 

 been paying our money and using all possible efforts to have these 

 laws executed so as to stop the illegal sale of oleomargarine for butter. 

 We have not been successful. 



We are in no way interested in the manufacture of butter; only in 

 the sale of it. If we could sell oleomargarine legally and there were 

 a demand for it, we would just as lief sell it as we would butter. 



With reference to whether or not there is a demand for it, I have 

 only this to say : We have a printed slip, with questions on the slip 

 which must be answered every week by every manager in each of our 

 stores. One of those questions is this: "Has there been any thing- 

 asked for during the week that we do not keep ? If so, what ? " We 

 have yet, from all those 63 stores, to have an inquiry for oleomarga- 

 rine or butterine. Consequently, we are convinced that the masses of 

 the people in Philadelphia do not want oleomargarine or they would 

 ask for it. 



Mr. SPRINGER. Is the sale of oleomargarine prohibited by law in 

 Philadelphia? 



Mr. CLEAVER. No, sir; it is not. 



Mr. JELKE. What is the law in Pennsylvania relating to the sale of 

 oleomargarine ? 



Mr. CLEAVER. I do not know exactly what the law is. All that I 

 know is that we have been assisting, in every way in our power, with 

 our money and with our efforts, to have that law enforced, and without 

 success. We still find that our competitors beat us, right alongside 

 of us, because they offer for a penny less something that they sell for 

 butter. 



This is all, I believe, that I have to say, unless questions are asked me. 



Mr. KNIGHT. About how much butter do you sell a day? 



Mr. CLEAVER. We sell from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds of butter per 

 day. 



Mr. JELKE. Have you ever handled process butter? 



Mr. CLEAVER. We do, as process butter. We handle it in con- 

 formity with the law every package stamped. In everything con- 

 nected with pure food we adhere to the law strictly, both literally and 

 in spirit. 



Mr. SCHELL. Do you have calls for process butter? 



Mr. CLEAVER. Yes, sir. 



Mr. SCHELL. Is it distinguished as such ? When the customer asks 

 for it does he say, "Let me have some process butter"? 



Mr. CLEAVER. Every package is marked, "Renovated butter." 



Mr. SCHELL. I know; but when the customer, the consumer, comes 

 in does he ask for "process butter" or "renovated butter"? 



Mr. CLEAVER. Renovated butter. 



Mr. SCHELL. Does he specify that he wants that kind ? 



Mr. CLEAVER. That I can not answer. You understand, I am the 

 buyer and the manager of the butter, egg, and cheese department. I 

 am not in the stores, you know. I am the general manager, with my 

 office at the headquarters, at our warehouse, and I do not know about 

 all those little details. But I am familiar with these questions, be- 

 cause the same sheet contains any complaints that are made. So I say 

 that any complaints that are made about butter or eggs come to me on 

 those sheets, in the way I have stated. 



