248 OLEOMAKGAKINE. 



multitude of schemes by which these oleomargarine dealers try to com- 

 ply with the law, technically, and yet deceive the people. It is fraud 

 from the beginning to the end. 



Now, then, we urge, Mr. Chairman, that this Grout bill shall be 

 passed, for two reasons: 



First, that it will prevent fraud that is all. If the oleomargarine 

 dealers are honest in their desire to push a legitimate product, we say 

 that they can sell oleomargarine on its merits, pure and simple, and 

 advertise it and create a demand for it. If they want the advantage 

 of having oleomargarine colored in imitation of yellow butter, if they 

 think that will make the sale better, then they ought, because their 

 product costs so much less than ours, just as foreign goods are put on 

 a par with ours, to pay to the Government of the United States such a 

 tax as to make it an equal and fair competition. 



Mr. SPRINGER. Pardon me. If you can sell oleomargarine on its 

 merits without color just as well, why not sell butter on its merits 

 without color ? 



Mr. KAUFFMAN. Well, there are a great many men who do. 



Mr. SPRINGER. It does not come out with a much better color than 

 oleomargarine, as I understand. 



Mr. KAUFFMAN. No; and there are some men who sell purely white 

 butter. I think some gentleman on the committee this morning called 

 attention to the fact that some of the first-class hotels are serving 

 white, unsalted butter. That is simply a question of taste. But the 

 whole question that is at stake in this matter is not a question of taste; 

 it is a question of legitimate trade and fraud. 



Secondly, there is the question of allowing to the States that juris- 

 diction, as a police measure, over the sale of oleomargarine which of 

 right belongs to them. As it is now, understand, the present act of 

 August 2, 1886, having recognized oleomargarine as a legitimate 

 article of commerce, the States are prevented, by the interstate-com- 

 merce law, from passing any legislation which would interfere with 

 the original packages coming in. 



All we ask is that this act shall be passed so as to prevent fraud, 

 and to put the oleomargarine dealers on a parity, in competition, 

 with the dairymen of this country. If they will come in on equal 

 terms, if they will pay to the Government this revenue tax of 10 

 cents a pound, then the dairymen of the country have got a fair chance 

 with them. 



Now, gentlemen, I am ready to answer questions. I will stop talk- 

 ing now. 



Mr. HABECKER. I would like to ask you whether there is any moral 

 law in this matter, aside from any legal law. 



Mr. KAUFFMAN. Moral law? Yes; there is a moral law that 

 " Thou shalt not rob thy neighbor." If a man sells oleomargarine for 

 butter, he is robbing his neighbor. That is immoral. 



Mr. SCHELL. Right on that line, then, let me ask you the question 

 which I raised originally, and which some of your people did not an- 

 swer. (Mr. Sharpless, however, wants to place himself on record on 

 that subject presently.) Is your attitude one of extermination 



Mr. KAUFFMAN. No, sir. 



Mr. SCHELL (continuing). Of colored oleomargarine, or is it 

 merely to prevent its being sold as butter ? 



Mr. KAUFFMAN. I thought I had made myself clear about that. 



Mr. SCHELL. No* you did not touch on that point. 



