OLEOMARGARINE. 6 1 5 



The carload of oleomargarine seized at Detroit is valued at $5,000, and would 

 indicate that the fraudulent dealings were even more extensive than appears from 

 the evidence attained thus far. It is said that the local department is preparing to 

 make other arrests in a few days, although the warrants have not heeu sworn out. 

 W. J. Moxley, who sold Rooney small amounts of oleomargarine; John Dadie, and 

 former Mayor John P. Hopkins went on Kooney's hond. Officers who have investi- 

 gated the Rooneys' history he fore the time they came to Chicago claim that they 

 were supplied with large capital helbre engaging in the sale of "prime butter." 

 When an attempt was made to gain possession of the hooks of the Aurora Produce 

 Company, it was learned that Roouey and another man had burned them in the 

 kitchen stove. 



There were a number of very peculiar things about these cases, one 

 of which was the ability of these adventurers, with no known financial 

 responsibility, to obtain credit for such large amount. Another was the 

 fact that the salesman who went into New York and sold tbe "butter" 

 proved to be a traveling salesman for one of these Chicago oleomarga- 

 rine manufacturers, and still another peculiar thing was that the rep- 

 resentatives of the firms of Braun & Fitts and W. J. Moxley, the 

 Chicago manufacturers who sold this oleomargarine to these swindlers, 

 appeared before Commissioner Mason and either went bail for these 

 men or secured acceptable bondsmen with their guarantee. 



When the Senate Committee on Manufactures was in Chicago investi- 

 gating the adulteration of foods, the condition existing in the traffic in 

 oleomargarine was brought to the attention of Senators Mason and 

 Harris. 



At the conclusion of the investigation of the subject of oleomargarine, 

 Senator Mason is quoted by the Times-Herald of Thursday, May 11, as 

 follows: 



At the close of the session Senator Mason said: "We have at least developed this 

 point to-day, that although oleomargarine pays the tax it is being sold generally as 

 pure butter." 



The Chicago Tribune, of the same day, said : 



The committee devoted the forenoon session to the subject of oleomargarine, and 

 brought out the fact that oleomargarine is sold in the city every day for pure butter 

 in violation of the national internal-revenue and the State laws. Four dealers in 

 this article gave evidence. Packages of oleomargarine purchased the day before and 

 submitted to the committee by C. Y. Knight, who had bought them for creamery 

 butter, was examined. They did not bear the required stamp "Oleomargarine" on 

 the outside, but the word appeared on wrappers ingeniously folded, so that it was 

 entirely hidden from view until the packages were opened. 



The Chicago Democrat said of this hearing, on May 10: 



Practical violation of the oleomargarine law is admitted by Chicago dealers. Such 

 fraud, they say, is necessitated by the aristocratic purchasers. 



This evidence was brought out by the secretary of the National Dairy 

 Union, who, in the few blocks between his office and the hotel where the 

 investigation was being conducted, purchased four packages of what 

 was given him in response to his call for creamery butter. These pack- 

 ages were purchased at random at stores similar to which there are 

 hundreds in Chicago. One dealer, J. F. Somes, of the Ohio Butter 

 Company, which never sells a pound of butter, testified as follows: 



[From the Official Record.] 



James P. Somes, being first duly sworn, testified as follows: 



Examination by the CHAIRMAN: 

 Q. What is your namef 

 A. James F. Somes. 

 Q. What is your business? 

 A. I am selling butter, eggs, and cheese. 



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