328 OLEOMARGARINE. 



Mr. BOND. I think that indicates tliat there is very little prejudice 

 against it. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Has anyone here a list of the Southern 

 States which have prohibited the sale of colored oleomargarine? 



Senator HEITFELD. Oh, yes; it is right here in the House report. 



Mr. PERSON. You can find that in Bulletin No. 2(3. I will give you 

 a synopsis of the laws of all the States. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Before the present speaker retires, I would 

 like to ask some questions about this matter. 



I notice, Mr. Bond, that a number of the Southern States seem to 

 have forbidden, by law, the sale of oleomargarine colored in semblance 

 of butter. The State of Alabama, the State of Georgia, the State of 

 Kentucky, the State of South Carolina, the State of Tennessee, and 

 possibly other of the cotton producing States seem to have made it a 

 violation of their statutes to sell colored oleomargarine. 



Senator HEITFELD. Those statutes, you know, differ. You can find 

 the statutes in this report, 1 believe. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Yes; but they appear to agree in the 

 respect that yellow oleomargarine is prohibited. How does it happen, 

 then, that these great cotton-raising communities have taken that kind 

 of action against this healthful food product? 



Mr. BOND. I think there must be some mistake about the State of 

 Tennessee, because it is largely sold there. This grocer has it on his 

 counter. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. That is what it says here. 



Mr. BOND. And he told me he sold 500 pounds of it a week. 



Senator HEITFELD. I have the Tennessee law here. It provides that 

 any article which is in imitation of yellow butter, and not made exclu- 

 sively from pure milk or cream, is prohibited; but oleomargarine, free 

 from color or other ingredient to cause it to look like butter, and made 

 in such form and sold in such manner as will advise the consumer of 

 its true character, and other imitations, if uncolored and labeled with 

 their correct name, are permitted. Wholesale packages are requested 

 to be plainly labeled, and a label must accompany retail sales. 



That permits the sale of oleomargarine free from color. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. How does it occur that in great cotton- 

 producing States like South Carolina, and Tennessee, and Mississippi, 

 it is a crime under the State laws to sell an article which is so essential 

 to the cotton industry? 



Mr. BOND. I think that must mean under the name of butter. 



Tbe ACTING CHAIRMAN. Well, under the appearance of butter? 



Senator HEITFELD. The language here is, ; ' Oleomargarine free from 

 color or other ingredients to cause it to look like butter." 



Mr. BOND. What is the date of that law? 



Senator HEITFELD. That is the law of 1895. 



Mr. BOND. Well, sir, that is ex post facto. That is not the present 

 law. 



Mr. KNIGHT. Here is the latest publication from the Agricultural 

 Department, dated 1000. The Tennessee law is given there in full. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Now, I suppose that law is observed by the 

 oleomargarine people, is it not? 



Mr. BOND. I do not know how they do. The grocers sell it there on 

 their counters. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Do they sell oleomargarine? 



Mr. BOND. It has the appearance of cow butter. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Do they sell it for oleomargarine? 



