HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 235 
Mr. Witry. They sold them at the high prices of the pure olive oil, 
but not of the highest grades. That bears out the contention that our 
California friends have made all along, that they can not afford to make 
pe olive oil and compete with these oils which we get from abroad; 
ut they say if we will secure the importation of olive oil as olive oil 
only, and not allow the importation of these other cheaper oils as olive 
oils, that then they will be able to compete. 
The Cuarrman. Is the test for discovering cotton-seed oil or peanut 
oil an expensive test? 
Mr. Wier. Not very expensive. 
The Cuarrman. Do you have to make a regular analysis? 
Mr. Wixey. Yes, sir; we have our work so organized that when a 
sample comes in in the morning, say, from New York, we will have 
that sample, as a rule, ready to report on by 2 o’clock that afternoon, 
so that we can send word to the Treasury that night whether to release 
that sample or hold it, because the sample that is to be released we 
want to have released as soon as possible; and all those that show by 
the preliminary tests that they are to be released we are able to report 
favorably on by 2 o’clock and let them be released; and then, if we 
find a sample that is suspicious—that is, if we find anything wrong 
with it—we go ahead and make a complete analysis of it. 
Mr. Scorr. Do you investigate as to domestic oils? 
Mr. Wizxy. No; we do not do that under the law. 
Mr. Burizson. Suppose there is peanut oil or cotton-seed oil pro- 
duced in California and sold as olive oil; there is no Federal law that 
would control that adulteration ? 
Mr. Witxy. No, sir; not if sold in the State. 
The CHairman. When you examined specimens of oils and found 
they were not adulterated and said so, and the invoices were released, 
did you find any disposition on the part of the importers to advertise 
that fact? 
Mr. Witry. They would have done so if we permitted it. 
The Cuarrman. How did you stop it? 
Mr. Wier. We did not inform them about our examination; we 
simply released their goods. 
The Cuarrman. If they wanted to advertise the fact that their goods 
were Government proof they could do so?! : 
Mr. Witry. They could advertise that particular cargo as Govern- 
ment proof, but that would not apply to any other cargo. 
Mr. Scorr. After these oils have passed your inspection do you 
have any assurance that they will not be adulterated before they are 
put on sale? 
Mr. Witey. The only supervision, then, is the supervision of the 
State itself. After we pass them our jurisdiction ceases. But this 
very case, where the attaché came to ask our permission to take those 
labels off, shows that they had not been taken off, and they promised 
that they shall not be taken off. They are put on under the super- 
vision of the Treasury; an official stands by and sees it done. 
Mr. Bureson. Have you any knowledge of the fact whether domes- 
tic oils are sold under the correct label? 
Mr. Wizzy. We have bought a good many California oils, and we 
have found a few adulterated. 
Mr. Burueson. And some sold under French labels? 
Mr. Wier. No; I think not. Theyare sold under California labels. 
