OLEOMARGARINE. 759 



not they would enact this original legislation. It is the foundation on 

 which the whole thing is built. 



Representative ALLEN. There is one other question I would like to 

 ask, if you will permit ine. I will ask you to state to the committee if 

 you have any information as to the extent of the consumption of this 

 article by the public and by what classes of people it is generally con- 

 sumed, if you know from your personal knowledge or from matters in 

 connection with your department. 



Commissioner WILSON. It is pretty hard for me to give any opinion 

 which would be worth anything on that subject. I think everybody 

 buys it. I think it is clean and reputable. 



Representative ALLEN. Do you regard its manufacture as a fixed 

 industry in the country, which ought not to be abolished? 



Commissioner WILSON. Yes, sir, I certainly do; and, if I may ven- 

 ture this statement (you will pardon me if I go beyond what 1 should 

 say), I will say to you, gentlemen, that any legislation which you may 

 enact here with respect to stamping or identifying as an entity the 

 quantity of oleomargarine that goes into the hands of A, B, or C to be 

 used on their tables will give it a badge of credibility that it would not 

 get anywhere else. 



The tobacco manufacturers would pay for all the marks, brands, and 

 stamps that are on their tobacco simply for the purpose of having it 

 under Government inspection. 



Representative BAILEY. Do you believe that this amendment you 

 recommend would protect the public against the fraudulent sale of 

 oleomargarine? 



Commissioner WILSON. Yes, sir. 



Representative BAILEY. You think it would? 



Commissioner WILSON. Now, I do not say it would completely pro- 

 tect it. Of course, we have very strict laws with respect to the tax on 

 distilled spirits ; the tax is very high and the law is drastic and harsh, 

 and yet 



Representative WADSWORTH. And there is a law against murder, is 

 there not? But murder is committed. 



Commissioner Wilson. Yes; and yet there are murders. But I say 

 to you that the percentage of fraud would be extremely small if that 

 were done. 



Representative BAILEY. Mr. Wilson, a statement was made here by 

 the friends of the dairy interests that 90 per cent of the oleomargarine 

 marketed in this country was sold as butter. Do you believe that is 

 true? 



Commissioner WILSON. I say it is nearer 10 per cent. 



Representative WILLIAMS. What was that question? 



Representative BAILEY. The question was that it had been stated 

 to this committee that 90 per cent of the oleomargarine sold in this 

 country was sold as butter. 



Commissioner WILSON. Of course I can not tell, but I do not think 

 that is accurate. I simply do not think so. That is my honest convic- 

 tion about it. 



Representative BAILEY. Do you think that this law is enforced as 

 well as any other internal-revenue law? 



Commissioner WILSON. With respect to collecting the tax, better; 

 with respect to the incidental matters, so far as the pure- food law is 

 concerned, no. 



Representative WILLIAMS. Mr. Commissioner, I would like to' ask 

 you a question a little off of this line; I do not know whether you know 



(*1T7) 



