688 OLEOMARGARINE. 



Mr. McCoy. That is my understanding, that the larger percentage 

 of the manufactured oleo product is exported. 



Representative STOKES. Without attempting to anticipate the gentle- 

 man's answer at all, I would like to supplement the question by this 

 inquiry : Is it not a fact which is generally recognized with regard to 

 all export commodities that the price of the exported part is really the 

 principal factor in determining the local price? 



Mr. McOoY. As a general rule that is the case, yes, sir; because it 

 is the only way of getting rid of our surplus. 



Representative DAHLE. About how much is exported in proportion 

 to what is used here, if you can tell? 



Mr. McCoY. I can not tell, except from a statement I have seen. I 

 may be wrong in my recollection of it, but I think I saw it stated that 

 132,000,000 pounds were exported in 1898. 



Representative DAHLE. And about what amount would be used here? 



Mr. McCoY. And 83,000,000 pounds of oleomargarine were manufac- 

 tured. Now, that is my recollection of it, and I may be mistaken. 



Representative DAHLE. If 83,000,000 pounds of oleomargarine were 

 manufactured in that year, then only a small fraction of the total amount 

 of oleo oil made was used here at home? 



Mr. McCoY. Exactly. 



The CHAIRMAN. Your contention, then, is that if you put the stamp 

 of disapproval on the article in this country it will drive it out of the 

 export trade, and have the effect of reducing the value of that steer fat 

 to the value of tallow? 



Mr. McGoY. That is the point which I made in the last part of my 

 argument. 



Representative DAHLE. Mr. McCoy, along those lines let me ask this 

 question : In your opinion does the feeling against this bill come from 

 people who are afraid of oleomargarine, claiming that it is not health- 

 ful, or does the feeling come from the manufacturers of butter? Do 

 the remonstrances against this bill, in your opinion, come from the pro- 

 ducers of butter or from health officers? 



Representative STOKES. And the people? 



Representative DAHLE. And the people, along these lines; yes. 



Mr. McCoY. You say there are remonstrances against this bill ? 



Representative DAHLE. Yes; or, rather, we get prayers asking for its 

 passage. 



Mr. McCoY. And some against its passage. 



Representative DAHLE. Now then, do those come from the farmers, 

 do you suppose, who produce butter, or who produce the milk that is 

 made into butter; or do they come from other sources? 



Mr. MoCoY. You say you get petitions favoring its passage? I sup- 

 pose they would naturally come from people in dairy districts, who 

 have milch cows, and sell their milk to creameries, and make their own 

 butter. The protests from our country, however, come from the cattle 

 raisers, the farmers, the feeders, the stockmen, and the manufacturers 

 of oleomagarine. 



Representative BAILEY. And the men who sell it? 



Mr. McCoY. I do not know that there have been any official pro- 

 tests, so far as that is concerned. 



Representative BAILEY. Well, there have. I have received them. 



The CHAIRMAN. Now, you are a consumer. Will you protest, as an 

 individual consumer, on the ground that you ought to have the privilege 

 of buying colored oleomargarine 1 ? 



Mr. McCoY. Yes, sir. 1 think if it is a pure and healthful article of 



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