No. 4.] EEPORT OF DAIRY BUREAU. 439 



and signs. Hence, the 76 cases noticed above probably re]^- 

 resent more than twice that number of transgressions. But 

 courts do not like to entertain more than one complaint 

 based on a single transaction, and on account of past experi- 

 ences we have l)een more conservative this year about basing 

 several complaints on one sale or the taking of one sample, 

 Avith the result that we have had, as stated above, fewer 

 cases in court, but more convictions than last j^ear. Of the 

 cases appealed, all l)ut one were settled before coming to trial 

 by a plea of guilty ; that one was lost on a technical ruling 

 as to the meaning of the statute. This was a case for deliv- 

 ering oleomargarine from a wagon on which there was no 

 sign. 



Our work has been done outside of Boston, in which city 

 Dr. Harrington continues his efficient work as the local milk 

 inspector. His last published report shows 582 samples 

 taken in Boston, and 106 cases in court, of which 71 were for 

 serving oleomargarine in restaurants without notifying guests. 



Statistics of court cases, however, do not adequately rep- 

 resent the result of work in enforcino; laws. Police regula- 

 tious are more for preventing crime than for its detection. 

 And the nearly 2,000 inspections made by the agents of the 

 Bureau in the principal towns and cities of the Commonwealth 

 (outside of Boston) have had a healthy deterrent effect. As a 

 result of this work, and the efforts of Dr. Harrington in the 

 city of Boston, the sales of oleomargarine have materially 

 decreased. The number of revenue taxes paid in Massachu- 

 setts has declined from 211 in 1891 to 28 in 1896. The re- 

 ceipts of oleomargarine reported at the Boston Chamber of 

 Commerce were 13,552 packages in 1896, against 28,946 in 

 1895. Only 19 persons or corporations pay a revenue tax in 

 this State at the present time. But 1 corporation pays a tax to 

 do business (i. e., to violate Massachusetts law) at 10 difl'erent 

 locations, making the 28 noticed above. The action of this 

 corporation speaks louder than words in proving the falsity 

 of its own claim that oleomarofarine " is an article of great 

 food value," "sold only on its distinctive merits." This 

 concern not only uses on its stationery the word " butterine " 

 instead of " oleomargarine "for obvious reasons, but it pre- 

 fers to sell an article colored in imitation of yellow butter. 



