554 OLEOMARGARINE. 



Senator ALLEN. I understand, Senator Proctor, that the hearings are 

 substantially closed, unless the Secretary of the Treasury desires to be 

 heard. 



The CHAIRMAN. Yes. 



Mr. JELKE. If Mr. Knight is through, 1 would like to submit a couple 

 of telegrams which I have received in regard to what was called the 

 Produce Exchange, of Cincinnati, alleged communications from which 

 were presented here by Mr. Knight. 



Mr. KNIGHT. No; I beg your pardon; they came to the chairman of 

 the committee. 



Mr. JELKE. Oh, was that Jt? 



Mr. KNIGHT. Yes. 



Mr. JELKE At any rate, in regard to this "Produce Exchange" of 

 Cincinnati, I would like to submit these two telegrams, which it will 

 only take a moment to read. The first is from my father. He is a man 

 71 years of age, and is getting too far along in life to use any deception, 

 if it were ever necessary for anybody to do so [reading] : 



There is no bona fide produce exchange in Cincinnati. Some years ago it was 

 abandoned and merged in Chamber Commerce. Recently two attempts were made 

 to have Chamber of Commerce indorse Grout bill. Both voted down. Then a few 

 butter dealers, acting under foreign instructions, organized this fake exchange, for 

 the sole purpose of making a false showing of support to Grout bill. 



This is a telegram from the superintendent of the Cincinnati Cham- 

 ber of Commerce, Charles B. Murray : 



Replying to inquiry, there is no produce exchange in this city. The Chamber of 

 Commerce board of directors adopted expressions opposing Grout bill tax of 10 cents 

 on colored oleomargarine. 



Now, Mr. Knight, what idea have you as to how much oleomargarine 

 we or anyone else could sell if the police power of the States is invested 

 absolutely in them by Congress to regulate this traffic, whereas they, 

 in 32 States, have prohibited the sale of colored oleomargarine 1 ? 



Mr. KNIGHT. 1 think you would sell just as much as you have any 

 legal right to sell. That is the only way I can answer that question, 

 Mr. Jelke, not knowing the figures. 



Mr. JELKE. But you seem to intimate that if we paid the 10 cents 

 a pound tax you would allow us to sell it. 



Mr. KNIGHT. If we had some way to keep you people from doing 

 what is not the proper thing and the right thing to do forming a con- 

 spiracy to violate these laws, or, rather, to defend those who violate 

 them we would have very little trouble. The ordinary retailer, when 

 he is prosecuted, would very soon obey the law if you people did not 

 come back of him with all of your capital and all of your attorneys and 

 all your guarantees. 



Mr. JELKE. That is your opinion. 



Mr. KNIGHT. That is my opinion of it. Now, as I have the floor, I 

 just want to say a few words in connection with another statement that 

 was contradicted here. This is a letter from the Chicago Butter and 

 Egg Board. I will read it. 



CHICAGO BUTTER AND EGG BOARD, 



Chicago, January 12, 1901. 



At the regular meeting of the Chicago Butter and Egg Board, held January 12, 

 1901, the following statement was presented by George W. Linn, president of the 

 Illinois Dairy Union, and generally discussed by the members of the board, and by 

 a unanimous vote it was declared to be the sentiment of the individual members, 

 as nearly every member has been familiar with the unfair and unlawful methods 

 pursued by the dealers in oleomargarine for years. 



JOHX W. Low, President. 

 CHARLES E. McNEiix, Secretary. 



