OLEOMARGARINE. 269 



tiou with Mr. Sharpless; oleomargarine does not enter into the matter 

 at all, 



As to packing stock, as to the final end of the batter about which we 

 have talked, and into the details of which we have gone pretty closely, 

 it is regulated by the supply and demand. It is not used in its raw 

 state on the table of anybody who purchases something to spread on 

 his bread, unless in some rare instances. The price of packing stock 

 now is, I think, about 11J cents in Chicago. I only estimate that, but 

 I am in a position to know it, because the first thing I will do when I 

 get away from Washington will be to go to Chicago to straighten out a 

 tangle in regard to a carload of this stuff which has been tied up there 

 in litigation. 



As to the price of the renovated butter, I can only say that it depends 

 upon whether it is fresh when it gets to the consumer or whether it is 

 a few days old. By the most improved methods they have only suc- 

 ceeded in getting it to keep, I think, six or eight days. 



The oleomargarine factory and the creamery are only competitors in 

 any sense in the attitude of purchasers; not of sellers. They compete 

 for the milk of the farmers; and in that way their competition is a 

 benefit to the iariner and the dairyman, rather than otherwise. 



I was advised by Mr. Babbitt, one of our men who was in Detroit 

 recently, that there was a conference of butter men there during the 

 holidays. 



Mr. Lestrade did not say the other day whether that was one of the 

 meetings to which he was invited or not. But I was advised by Mr. 

 Babbitt (who usually knows what he is talking about) that the object 

 and attempt of that meeting was the forming of a butter trust; that 

 they met prematurely, expecting this bill to pass before the holiday 

 recess, arid that they adjourned to meet again, after the bill passed, so 

 that they could perfect their organization. 



Senator MONEY. That has been denied, though, has it not? 



Mr. SCHELL. The Detroit meeting has not been mentioned as yet, 

 but the fact that they are contemplating a butter trust has been denied. 



Now, on the subject of prices, 1 want to refer to an advertisement in 

 the Cincinnati Times Star, the 5th edition of December 28; this also 

 shows that oleomargarine is being sold in Cincinnati for what it is arid 

 that it is a very willing victim who is victimized in that city by buying 

 it for butter. 



The advertisement to which I call attention is that of B. H. Kroger, 

 who advertises " forty tea and grocery stores." 



Now, I do not know Mr. Kroger. He is not a client of mine. I have 

 represented at different times a great many of the dealers there, but 

 never Mr. Kroger. He advertises butter at 25 cents per pound, cream- 

 ery butter. He does not advertise country butter at all. He adver- 

 tises two grades of oleomargarine one at 12 cents per pound, the other 

 at 15 cents per pound. 



Senator FOSTER. What is it that makes that difference? 



Mr. SCHELL. The difference in the materials used. For example, 

 the more of a higher priced material is used, the higher must be the 

 price of the oleomargarine; and the higher priced materials used in this 

 case, I take it, consist of butter fat. 



Senator FOSTER. Is it the butter that they use? 



Mr. SCHELL. The butter fats, milk and cream, that enter into its 

 composition. 



Senator MONEY. What do you mean by "butter fats? " 



Mr. SCHELL. The butter fat is the fat 



