OLEOMARGARINE. 691 



butter, since the introduction of oleomargarine. I believe you quoted 

 that up to 1890, and stopped there. Now, what has been the tendency 

 of the price of milk during the last ten years, especially during the 

 winter mouths, since oleomargarine got to be more and more commonly 

 used? 



Mr. McCoY. I am unable to say, Mr. Dahle, because I have never 

 looked the question up. But, if you will remember, 1 dealt with it in a 

 general way. I stated that while the dairy people had been able to 

 hold their own and increase their dairy herds, the cattlemen had suf- 

 fered a depreciation of over $9,000,000 by reason of hard times, and 

 there was not money in the business, and it drove them out of it, while 

 the indications were that the dairy men had been prosperous, because 

 they had increased their herds in the State of Nebraska 



Eepresentative DAHLE. During what years? 



Mr. McOoY. From 1890 to 1900. 



Eepresentative DAHLE. But now I know that the price is different 

 that the value of milk has gone down. 



The CHAIRMAN. How much? 



Eepresentative DAHLE. It is hard to say how much. 



The CHAIRMAN. How much was it prior to 1890? 



Eepresentative DAHLE. Well, it ranged differently, but anyone who 

 has handled butter knows this, that butter has been lower during the 

 winters of the past two years than it was. There has been a decline. 

 This winter it is higher, but there has been a decline, nevertheless. 

 Instead of the market going up, as you suggested there, the market, 

 since 1890, has been going down. 



The CHAIRMAN. The market for milk? 



Eepresentative DAHLE. The market for milk in the winter months. 



The CHAIRMAN. It costs just 1 cent a quart more to buy milk in 

 Chicago now than it did two years ago. 



Eepresentative DAHLE. That is very likely 5 I know nothing about 

 that; but it is milk made into butter in the country that I am speaking 

 of. I happen to have dealt in inilk for these many years, so that I 

 know whereof I speak. 



The CHAIRMAN. I have been feeding a family of about 15 for a good 

 many years and I know whereof I speak, too. 



Eepresentative DAHLE. I have handled 1,000 pounds, then, for every 

 1 your family has purchased. 



The CHAIRMAN. But you have not paid for it as I have. 



After informal discussion among members of the committee, an 

 adjournment was taken until Wednesday, April 4, 1900, at 10 o'clock 

 a. m. 



WEDNESDAY, April 11, 1900 10.30 a. m. 



The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. W. Lorimer in the 

 chair. 



The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Aldredge, the committee will be glad to hear 

 your views on the Grout bill. 



STATEMENT OF GEORGE N. ALDREDGE. 



MR. CHAIRMAN and GENTLEMEN of the COMMITTEE : I have made 

 some notes with reference to the discussion, and I am afraid that I will 

 occupy too much of the committee's time. There are representatives 



(*109) 



