OLEOMAKG ARINE. 631 



STATEMENT OF MR. B. F. KIMBALL, OF PHILADELPHIA. 



Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, the merchants of 

 Philadelphia believe that the passage of the Grout bill would solve the 

 oleomargarine question, inasmuch as it strikes at the foundation of the 

 manufacture of oleomargarine by permitting it to be sold for what it is 

 and not in imitation of butter, which it is when it is colored, so that it 

 will come in legitimate competition with butter in that shape. 



Mr. LAMB. What would be the effect of the operation of this law in 

 Philadelphia on the retail merchant? 



Mr. KIMBALL. At present in Philadelphia about nine-tenths of the 

 oleomargarine sold is sold as butter. It may be stamped or it may not 

 be. We seldom see it stamped. We simply ask that they be com- 

 pelled to comply with the law. The wholesalers now do comply with 

 the law. 



Mr. ALLEN. Do you know that from personal knowledge? 



Mr. KIMBALL. I know it from contact with customers and seeing the 

 product in the stores. We have it in our store for examination. We 

 know that the butter trade has fallen off because of the sale of oleo- 

 margarine. 



Mr. WHITE. What is the percentage of the decreased sale of butter 

 in consequence of the sale of oleomargarine as butter? 



Mr. KIMBALL. It is fully 50 per cent. 



Mr. DAVIS. In the State of Pennsylvania there are 11,000,000 pounds 

 of oleomargarine sold, and about nine-tenths of it is sold as butter. 

 The only State which sells more is Illinois. 



Mr. KIMBALL. The butter merchants of Philadelphia are largely 

 interested in creamery products, and have no objection to the sale of 

 oleomargarine itself as such. They recognize it as an article of com- 

 merce. We object to the sale of oleomargarine at butter prices as 

 butter. 



The CHAIRMAN. Is it sold in that way? 



Mr. KIMBALL. There is no inducement to sell oleomargarine by the 

 retailer unless he can get butter prices. 



The CHAIRMAN. I suppose it is sold at a slightly less price? 



Mr. KIMBALL. It is sold at the price of butter. Last week we had 

 three persons convicted for violating the United States law. Since that 

 time you can buy oleomargarine cheaper. The price to-day is 20 cents. 

 Before that the same man was selling it for 28 cents. 



Mr. ALLEN. You say they are selling it fraudulently. Is that under 

 the State or Federal law ? 



Mr. KIMBALL. It is under the Federal law. 



Mr. ALLEN. Have you a State law ? 



Mr. KIMBALL. We have. They can not sell it except when it is un- 

 colored. 



Mr. ALLEN. You say they can not enforce that law? 



Mr. KIMBALL. They are arrested and brought before magistrates. 

 Last year the butter men spent $4,000 for the purpose of preventing 

 the sale of it by the prosecution of offenders. Two cases were brought 

 up last week and both were convicted, but to-day they are making 

 arguments for new trials. 



Mr. Co NEY. Have you spent money to obtain convictions under the 

 State law 1 



Mr. KIMBALL. Yes, sir. We had it down fine at first, when the State 

 repealed the prohibitory law and made it a license law. Since that 

 time we find we are able to prosecute better in the United States courts. 



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