686 OLEOMARGARINE. 



Representative ALLEN. Wrapped in paper? 



Mr. McCoY. Yes, sir. 



Representative ALLEN. Did you notice any stamp upon that papei 

 characterizing it as oleomargarine? 



Mr. McCoY. Yes, sir. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. What position did that stamp bear upon the 

 paper? Was it where it could be seen, or was it concealed? 



Mr. McOoY. Yes, sir; it was generally wrapped up in the shape of 

 a brick and folded at the end, with the brand upon it. Some packages 

 bear one brand and some another. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. Was that plain to be seen by the purchasers? 



Mr. McOoY. It was whenever I have bought it. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. As far as you have bought it, and as far as 

 you have observed the sale, is that the custom that prevails in your 

 country, in the sale of oleomargarine, in the way of exhibiting the 

 stamp ? 



Mr. McOoY. Well, I am unable to say whether it is sold out of the 

 tub or not. I never bought any out of the tub. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. I mean in the different places where you 

 have bought it the different stores is that the way it is sold? 



Mr. McCoY. Yes, sir; but, as I say, whether those same stores use 

 the tub, the bucket, or not, I do not know. I have only bought it in 

 bricks. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. What do you think of it yourself as a food 

 article? 



Mr. McCoY. I think it is a very good article of food. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. What is the retail price of it in your city? 



Mr. McCoY. It varies at different times, according to quality, from 

 15 to 22 cents. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. From 15 to 22 cents a pound? 



Mr. McCoY. Yes, sir. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. What is the price of creamery butter there? 



Mr. McCoY. We very frequently buy it for almost the same price 

 a little bit more. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. Have you had any occasion in your own 

 family to compare the relative merits of the two products? If so, what 

 has been the result? 



Mr. McOoY. Well, no, sir; not as an experiment. 



Eepresentative ALLEN. Did I understand you to say that you were 

 a cattle dealer shipper a seller of cattle and a seller of cattle in the 

 market? 



Mr. McCoY. Yes, sir; my principal business is that of a live-stock 

 commission merchant. My brother and I together run a farm where 

 we feed cattle, raise cattle, feed hogs, and raise hogs. 



Eepresentative LAMB. Mr. Chairman, can I ask a question? 



The CHAIRMAN, Yes. 



Eepresentative LAMB. You stated a while ago that the probable 

 effect of the passage of this bill would be to close the oleomargarine 

 factories. Now, what is the present tax upon that article? Is it not 

 2 cents? 



Mr. McCoY. I think so, sir. 



Eepresentative LAMB. Does not this bill reduce it to one-quarter of 

 a cent? 



Eepresentative ALLEN. That is the uncolored oleomargarine, I would 

 suggest. 



Eepresentative LAMB. That is what I am getting at. If the inanu 



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