OLEOMARGARINE. 793 



outside of each package sold the word " oleomargarine n in letters not 

 less than one fourth inch square, together with his name and address. 



Thus it can readily be seen that there is absolutely no excuse for a 

 consumer being sold oleomargarine for butter. We, as manufacturers, 

 encourage the handling of oleomargarine strictly in compliance with the 

 revenue regulations, furnishing to the trade, free of charge, all necessary 

 stamps for marking packages, signs, notices, etc. 



We desire that oleomargarine be placed before the consumer strictly 

 on its merits. 



Eepresentative WILLIAMS. One word right there, if you please. 

 Have you read this Grout bill? 



Mr. LAVERY. Yes, sir. 



Eepresentative WILLIAMS. Do you find any provision in it which 

 would lead to the detection of lawbreakers or law violators any more 

 than the provisions of the existing law? 



Mr. LAVERY. No, sir; I do not. 



Eepresentative WILLIAMS. One other question. This bill increases 

 the tax upon oleomargarine, when colored, to 10 cents? 



Mr. LAVERY. Yes, sir. 



Eepresentative WILLIAMS. Now, would or would not lawbreakers 

 who have been violating the law with the present tax have additional 

 temptation to violate the law under the new tax? 



Mr. LAVERY. I should say that they would. 



Eepresentative WILLIAMS. Let me ask you one other question. 

 What would be the effect of the Grout bill upon honest men, who have 

 complied with the present law ? Would it not mean simply an increased 

 expense to them ? 



Mr. LAVERY. It would mean an increased expense. 



Eepresentative WILLIAMS. Unless it drove them out of business, 

 of course. 



Mr. LAVERY. And their business would be decreased to such an 

 extent that they would probably go out of the business entirely ? 



Eepresentative WILLIAMS. Now, the point I want to get at is this: 

 You have read these laws, I presume. I understand you to say that 

 your idea, as a business man, is that the effect of the passage of the 

 Grout bill would be to punish the honest dealers and furnish further 

 temptation to the dishonest dealers to violate the law? 



Mr. LAVERY. Yes, sir. 



There is no need to go into the details of the manufacture of oleomar- 

 garine, as it has become such a well-known article of commerce that 

 everyone knows its general process. 



That the people want oleomargarine is clearly demonstrated by the 

 fact that the sales in the United States increased from 21,513,573 

 pounds in 1888 to 83,145,081 pounds in 1899. This increase is not due 

 to the public being deceived and sold oleomargarine for butter, but to 

 the fact that the consumers have learned the value of oleomargarine 

 and ask their dealers for it. 



We claim the same right to color oleomargarine yellow that a cream- 

 ery claims to color butter, and most respectfully ask this committee 

 not to vote to prohibit the use of a harmless coloring in one in favor of 

 the other. We claim that oleomargarine is not an imitation of butter, 

 but that it is recognized "in the exact form it has always been sold" 

 by the United States Government as a separate and distinct article of 

 commerce, and that through public use it is acknowledged to be at the 

 present time a staple article of food. 



It is a well-known fact that the manufacturer of oleomargarine first 



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