OLEOMARGARINE AND BUTTERINE. 33 



make an examination of the person's books and papers in the manner provided in this title in 

 relation to frauds and evasions." 



Another section directs that all adulterated butter and cheese shall be packed in tubs, 

 firkins, and packages that have not theretofore been used, and the use of an old package in- 

 volves a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, and imprisonment of not less than 

 six months nor more than two years. It is provided, however, that nothing in this section 

 shall be construed as preventing the sale of adulterated butter or cheese at retail by dealers 

 who have paid the special tax as such, from boxes, tubs, or jars packed, stamped, and branded 

 in the manner prescribed by law. 



The next section provides that each manufacturer shall affix to each box, tub, or other pack- 

 age containing his product, a printed label bearing his name, the number and the location of 

 his factory, and these words : 



" NOTICE. The manufacturer of the adulterated batter (or cheese) herein contained has 

 complied with all the requirements of law. Every person is cautioned, under the penalty of 

 law, not to use this box, tub, or jar (as the case may be) for adulterated butter or cheese 

 again." This notice to be printed in letters not less than one inch long. A neglect to comply 

 with the provisions of this section, or the removal of a label so affixed to any package, entails- 

 a fine of $50. 



Section 3, 4o6g provides that the manufacturers shall pay an Internal Revenue tax of ten- 

 cents a pound on adulterated butter and three cents a pound on adulterated cheese. 



The other sections of the bill, which is voluminous, provides for the stamps to be used to 

 distinguish the bogus from the genuine article ; for the regulation of the inspection of adul- 

 terations ; for the collection of the tax ; for the prevention of the use of counterfeit stamps ;. 

 for the taxing of all spurious butter and cheese imported from other countries, and declares 

 that all bogus butter and cheese on hand after the ist of April next shall be taken to have 

 been either manufactured or imported after the passage of this chapter, and shall be stamped 

 accordingly. 



Section 3,4o6p is evidently intended to reach the retailers. It reads : 



"Every person who purchases or receives for sale any adulterated butter or adulterated 

 cheese which has not been branded or stamped according to law shall be liable to a penalty of 

 $50 for each such offense. " 



A leading merchant, who is a pronounced enemy to oleomargarine and all its relatives,, 

 said yesterday when a copy of this bill was shown him : 



"I am glad that this subject is to come before Congress, for no interest more pressingly 

 demands national protection at this time than that of the dairy man ; but I am afraid that this 

 law possesses too many of the faults that have rendered our State law practically inoperative, 

 and that it will afford to the oleomargarine men the opportunity to pose before the public as 

 martyrs. All honest men concur in denouncing the traffic in counterfeit butter, but my expe- 

 rience with legislators teaches me that any attempt at prohibition is generally frowned upon. 

 How far this bill would put the Government in the attitude of acknowledging oleomargarine 

 and its allied compounds as legitimate food products I am not prepared to say, for I have not 

 had an opportunity to read ii carefully. I will say, however, that it seems to aim to bring 

 about just what the leading men in dairy products have long been urging, and that is the com- 

 pelling of the men who sell the stuff to sell it for what it is. If it can accomplish that pur- 

 pose it will do an immense amount of good, for I am convinced that if the people. knew what 

 they were buying they would infinitely prefer the natural product of the cow to any imitation. 

 I think, however, that when the bill comes up for discussion, and when the national legisla- 

 tors find how thoroughly the people are opposed to the fraudulent way in which the oleomar- 

 garine traffic is carried on, and the injury it is doing to us at home and abroad, this or some 

 similar measure will be adopted. It may be that they will prefer to consider the question as 

 bearing upon the public health, and if they do take that view I think that facts relative to the 

 materials and processes used in the manufacture of this'stuff will be laid before them that will 



