762 OLEOMARGARINE. 



a pound to a quarter of a cent per pound, would of course reduce the 

 cost of uncolored oleomargarine to the consumer by just that amount, 

 would it not? 



Commissioner WILSON. Oh, yes ; yes sir. 



Representative HENRY. And would it materially interfere with the 

 consumption of oleomargarine as used for cooking purposes in hotels, 

 saloons, etc.? Would it not be a positive benefit to the laboring man 

 who uses oleomargarine to have the price reduced practically 2 cents a 

 pound? 



Commissioner WILSON. Well, indeed, I hardly think so. I think the 

 laboring man has a right to have his eye tickled about the color of 

 his butter just as well as we have. 



Representative HENRY. It is not a question of tickling his eye, but 

 a question of whether he is to be deceived or not. Is the colored 

 oleomargarine any the less palatable? 



Commissioner WILSON. Oh, no; I presume it would be just as pala- 

 table, sir, uncolored as colored. It is simply a question of its appear- 

 ance. I think the same result would follow prohibiting the coloring of 

 butter that would follow prohibiting the coloring of oleomargarine; it 

 would hurt its sale in the same way. It would make it objectionable. 

 The two products stand exactly on the same basis as far as that is 

 concerned. 



Representative ALLEN. Following that line, I understand you to say, 

 Mr. Wilson, that you believe this tax on colored oleomargarine would 

 entirely prohibit its manufacture. That being the case, the demand 

 being so decreased, there would not be enough demand to justify the 

 manufacture of uncolored oleomargarine, would there? 



Commissioner WILSON. Those are abstract questions about which I 

 do not like to venture an opinion. You gentlemen who are farmers 

 know more about it than I do. 



Representative HENRY. You do not for a moment suppose that the 

 practical abolishment of the tax on uncolored oleomargarine, or its 

 reduction from 2 cents a pound to one- quarter of a cent a pound 

 would prevent the consumption of oleomargarine to a very great extent, 

 do you ? 



Commissioner WILSON. You would have to commence de novo and 

 educate the people. They started in with it colored, in the first place. 

 I presume everybody was afraid of it, even colored, in the first place; 

 and now, if you take the coloring away, you will have to start again 

 and get the people acquainted with it, and make them know that it 

 tastes just as good, although it does not look so well. 



Representative HENRY. But the party using it for cooking purposes 

 would not pay the extra 2 cents a pound for uncolored oleomargiue? 



Commissioner WILSON. I do not know whether he would or not. My 

 judgment is that such a law would be a serious blow at the industry. 

 That is simply my opinion. 



Representative WILLIAMS. I would like to ask you a question there, 

 Mr. Commissioner. Have you read the Grout bill, which is now pending 

 before the committee? 



Commissioner WILSON. Yes, sir. 



Representative WILLIAMS. Is there anything in that bill which would 

 enable an internal-revenue officer to punish a man guilty of deception in 

 selling oleomargarine as butter, any more than the existing law? 



Commissioner WILSON. I think not. I think the difference would 

 simply be in reducing the number of people who would do so, and possi- 

 bly reducing the number of people who would invite it. It would change 



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