1900 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER; 
4o5 
DAIRY LEGISLATION AT WASHINGTON. 
THE GROUT BILL SAFELY ON ITS WAY. 
Good Work by Dairy Representatives 
HARD WORK.—Last week at Washington was an 
auspicious one for the dairy interests of this country. 
The Grout bill, notwithstanding the opposition of 
Hon. James W. Wadsworth, the New York chairman 
of the Agricultural Committee, was favorably re¬ 
ported by a vote of 10 to 7. This bill provides first, 
that when oleomargarine, or other dairy or food 
products, are shipped from one State or Territory to 
another in the original packages they become sub¬ 
ject to the laws of the State into which they are 
shipped, and second, that oleomargarine be taxed 
10 cents per pound when made in imitation and 
semblance of yellow butter. When this bill was first 
introduced its friends congratulated themselves that 
it had been referred to the Agricultural Committee. 
Mr. Wadsworth is chairman of the committee. He 
represents an agricultural district. It was confi¬ 
dently assumed that he would use his influence to 
secure favorable action on the bill. His opposition 
to it came as a complete surprise. Every possible 
objection was offered to oppose the favorable report 
of the bill. At one time it was fearekl that it would 
be smothered in the committee and not reported at 
ail. This was prevented by the influence of the 
friends of the bill in the House, and the pressure 
brought to bear on the speaker to insist on some 
action being taken by the committee. A substitute 
was then prepared, which in its first form, would 
simply facilitate the sale of oleomargarine instead of 
restricting it. It was subsequently changed, how¬ 
ever, and when offered at the final meeting of the 
Committee on this measure it was rather an im¬ 
provement on present laws, though not so satisfac¬ 
tory as the Grout bill. 
A SUBSTITUTE KILLED.—The proposed substi¬ 
tute left the special wholesale and retail licenses, and 
also the revenue tax of two cents a pound, the same 
as before. It further proposed that oleomargarine 
be put up in one and two-pound packages, and in 
no other form; that the word “oleomargarine” be 
impressed in sunken letters on each package, and 
that these prints be wrapped in a paper wrapper 
with the word “oleomargarine” printed thereon, and 
that this wrapper also contain the name of the 
manufacturer. It was proposed that any number of 
these original packages may be put in crates or boxes 
on which the word “oleomargarine” should be printed. 
Retail dealers were to be permitted to sell only the 
original packages of one or two pounds, containing 
the label and revenue stamp. There were plausible 
features of this bill, but it was weak in that the 
consumers at hotels, restaurants and boarding 
houses, nad no protection If the proprietors chose 
to feed them on oleomargarine, and the original- 
package feature made it dangerous to New York and 
other States, which prohibited the sale of oleomar¬ 
garine altogether. Another Objection to it was, 
that it offered practically no restriction in States 
and Territories which have no anti-oleomargarine 
laws, or in which such law's are not strictly en¬ 
forced. It was simply a compromise proposed by 
the oleomargarine interests, by which they hoped to 
escape the more restrictive measures of the Grout 
bill. This substitute was happily rejected by the 
committee by a vote of eight to nine. Other amend¬ 
ments to the original bill were then offered by the 
oleomargarine people and rejected. Then the orig¬ 
inal Grout bill was adopted by a vote of 10 to 7. 
Those voting in favor of the bill were: E. Stevens 
Henry, William Connell, Gilbert N. Haugen, John 
Lamb, Robert B. Gordon, John F. Wilson, Wm. B. 
Baker, Chas. F. Wright, Herman B. Dahle, James 
Cooney, William Neville. Those against it were: 
James W. Wadsworth (chairman), George H. White, 
John S. Williams, Wm. Lorimer, Willis J. Bailey, 
J. William Stokes, Henry D. Allen. 
MR. WADSWORTH’S POSITION.— Mr. Whdsworth 
has been severely criticised for his opposition to 
the Grout bill. The criticisms have been accom¬ 
panied with accusations which are extreme, and 
which I believe are unmerited. I had an interview 
with Mr. Wadsworth shortly after the session of the 
committee. He is a courteous and high-minde ; d man, 
and I believe him unapproachable in his official integ¬ 
rity. He stated his objection to the Grout bill 
clearly and forcibly, and he impressed me as being 
entirely sincere in the mistaken belief that the sub¬ 
stitute which he proposed would be effective in sup¬ 
pressing the legitimate sale of oleomargarine. He 
is in favor of compelling the oleomargarine. interests 
to sell their product for just what it is, but he has 
had no opportunity to become familiar with the tactics 
and subterfuges of the oleomargarine manufacturers 
and dealers. He seems to imply that they would 
honestly live up to the provisions of his proposed law. 
Those who have experience with the oleomargarine 
people know better. They have taken advantage of 
his want of experience with their methods, and won 
him over by the plausible and seductive features of 
the substitute which they proposed. His objection 
to the Grout bill rests on the principle that it is not 
right to tax one industry out of existence for the 
benefit of another. He thinks the Grout bill will 
either legislate Oleomargarine out of existence, or 
permit greater fraud than before. He doesn’t seem 
to know that the oleomargarine people have forfeited 
all rights to consideration by their wilful disregard 
of all previous laws to compel them to sell their 
product for what it is. He didn’t seem to get the 
idea that the Grout bill is not framed to legislate 
oleo out of existence, but to legislate the fraud 
out of oleomargarine. Let them give Oleomargarine 
any other color in the spectrum except yellow, and 
no one will Object to its manufacture or sale in any 
place. The bill now goes before the House, where 
its friends are in a safe majority. It may not - and 
probably will not reach a vote before the recess of 
Congress, but it is sure to pass when it is called 
up for a vote. It will then go to the Senate, and it 
is believed tnat the measure will became a law before 
the expiration of the present Congress. While this 
bill did not appeal to Mr. Wadsworth as being the 
right measure to provent the fraudulent sale of oleo¬ 
margarine, from my interview with him I am satisfied 
that he is in favor of measures that will prevent the 
fraud from competition with honest butter. I be¬ 
lieve that if he had been as familiar with the work¬ 
ings of previous laws as others are, he would see 
that his substitute measure would fall short of this re¬ 
sult. The butter interests regret that he did not 
see his way Clear to favor the bill in the committee. 
Now, however, that his preference has been over¬ 
ruled in the committee I feel confident that when 
the measure comes up in the House it will receive his 
vote. 
n^THE CHEESE BILL.—The other bill before Con¬ 
gress known as the Cheese bill was also favorably 
advanced last week. It is intended to prevent the 
false branding of cheese, or other food products, as 
to the State in which they are manufactured. New 
York anu Wisconsin have laws providing for the in¬ 
spection and branding of full cream cheese, and pro¬ 
vide penalties for the misuse ol these brand's. It 
is found, however, that Cheese makers in other 
States use these brands on skim cheese. This en¬ 
dangers the reputation of the New York and Wis¬ 
consin full cream brands, and as the laws of these 
States cannot reach the false branding of manufac¬ 
turers of other States this general National law is 
intended to afford relief. The bill was introduced 
in the House by Representative Sherman, of New 
York, and it has been unanimously reported by the 
Agricultural CommL ee of the House. There is no 
serious opposition to it, as it simply prevents the 
manufacturers of one State from branding their 
goods as coming from another State. It is sure to 
pass Congress as soon as a vote can be reached on it, 
which Mr. Sherman thinks will be during the first 
week or 10 days after the recess. This bill has also 
been introduced in the senate by Hon. Chauncey M. 
Depew, of New York, and reported to the CommiLee 
on Agriculture and Forestry, of which Senator 
Proctor, of Vermont, is chairman. A delegation 
from New York, consisting of Hon. Geo. Flanders, of 
Albany; Assistant Commissioner Kracke, of New 
York; Dr. Joidan, of the Geneva Experiment Sta¬ 
tion, and John J. Dillon of The R. N.-Y., was in 
Washington last week in the interests of this bill. 
Senator Proctor afforded the committee unusual con¬ 
sideration in calling a meeting of the Agricultural 
and Forestry Committee at 24 hours’ notice for a 
hearing on the bill. The members of the committee 
saw the justice of the measure at once, and its friends 
feel confident that it will be favorably reported from 
Senator Proctor’s committee. 
I was pleased and impressed with the considera¬ 
tion that agricultural measures received at the hands 
of the law-makers in Washington. The representa¬ 
tives of farmers’ interests are receiving every atten¬ 
tion, and I believe that the time has come when the 
farmers of this country will have little trouble in get¬ 
ting through any just measure in their interests, pro¬ 
vided it is properly presented and carefully looked 
after. In reference to the two dairy bills, I wish to 
commend to the dairymen of the country the untir¬ 
ing work done by First Assistant Commissioner 
Flanders, of New York, and Cnas. K. Knight, of 
Chicago. Looking after the interests of bills of 
this kind at Washington is the hardest kind of 
work, and has its disagreeable features, and when 
the agriculturall interests find men who are willing 
to do it and do it well, without consideration or 
compensation, it is only justice that their efforts 
should receive at least grateful acknowledgment. I be¬ 
lieve that if the dairymen of the country could realize 
the importance to them of these two bills, and un¬ 
derstand the amount of work that has been required 
to advance them to the favorable position that they 
now occupy in the National Congress, I would only 
Voice the sentiment of every man in the dairy busi¬ 
ness in publicly acknowledging the value of their 
service in this work. d. 
EVENTS OF THE WEEK. 
DOMESTIC.—Price, McCormick & Co., New York bank¬ 
ers and brokers, chiefly interested in cotton and grain, 
failed May 24, with liabilities of about $13,000,000. 
The Attorney-General of New York State announced May 
24 that he would begin proceedings to annul the American 
Ice Company’s right to do business in that State, it being 
an unlawful combination.The proposition to 
hold a constitutional convention in Virginia to disfran¬ 
chise the negroes was carried in the election May 24. 
. . . . The San Francisco Health Board has been or¬ 
dered to show cause why an injunction should not be 
granted restraining that body from interfering with the 
freedom and liberties of the Chinese residents. Ttiis is 
due to plague inoculation, which is causing much alarm 
among the Asiatics. The Chinese Minister protests 
against it. Another death from plague was reported in 
San Francisco May 30, and Chinatown is strictly quaran¬ 
tined. The Chinese quarter in Chicago is being closely 
watched.May 23, an explosion of fire damp in a 
coal mine in Chatham County, S. C., killed 22 miners. 
The same mine has been the scene of several previous 
disasters.A 15-year-old boy who was rendered 
totally blind through chloride of zinc splashing into his 
eyes, while soldering cans for the Atlantic Refining Com¬ 
pany at Philadelphia, Pa., was awarded $47,000 damages 
in a suit brought against the corporation.A 
striking motorman was shot and killed in the St. Louis 
street car riots May 26. He is the fourth victim, the 
others being one special policeman and two civilians. 
. . . . The three men who attempted to destroy, with 
dynamite, the locks of the Welland Canal at Thorold, 
Gnt., have been sentenced to imprisonment for life. The 
attempt was made five weeks before, and, had it succeed¬ 
ed. terrific loss of life would have resulted. .... 
Japan has joined in the Chinese protest against discrimi¬ 
nation in treatment regarding plague in San Francisco. 
.... The Supreme Court has decided against Admiral 
Dewey in his claim for double bounty for the destruction 
of the Spanish ships at Manila.Several church 
edifices were burned recently in Chicago, and the police 
think that they were started by some fanatic incendiary. 
.... Great forest fires are raging in the Rainy River 
district in Canada, and the timber loss has already 
reached several million dollars. 
CONGRESS.—May 28, the House passed the Alaskan 
Government bill.May 29, the House refused to 
accept the Senate amendment to the Naval Appropriation 
bill relating to the price of armor plate, and adopted a 
substitute providing for a Government plant if the Secre¬ 
tary of the Navy cannot make a contract at a fair price. 
. . . . The House Committee on Agriculture, by a vote 
of 10 to 7, ordered a favorable report on the Grout oleo 
bill. 
PHILIPPINES.—During the week ending May 27 there 
was continued fighting in Luzon, which resulted In the 
killing of 46 insurgents, and the capture of 180 prisoners, 
300 rifles, and a quantity of ammunition. Sailors from the 
gunboat Helena captured and occupied towns in Luzon. 
CUBA.—Much work is being done in reorganizing the 
Postal Department, and many reductions are being made 
in the salary list. Much disorder and carelessness is ex¬ 
posed. Neely’s printing establishment at Muncle, Ind., 
has been closed by an attachment issued on petition of 
the Government. 
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.—May 24, Gen. Roberts’s 
force entered the Transvaal. Julian Ralph, the well- 
known American war correspondent, who was wounded at 
the battle of Belmont, will probably lose a leg. May 28, 
Johannesburg was captured, and May 31, Lord Roberts 
was reported at Pretoria, which was abandoned by the 
Boers. President Kruger fled to the coast. The war is 
considered practically over.Chinese Boxers, the 
rebel secret society, are marching towards Pekin, and 
creating a reign of terror. They are attempting to kill 
all foreigners. A number of missionaries are reported 
killed. French, Russian, Japanese and British marines 
are being landed for the protection of their citizens, and 
the United States will do the same.The plague 
has appeared again at Osaka, Japan, and is causing much 
alarm.Cholera is spreading in India. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—Arrangements are being made 
to establish an English farming settlement on a tract of 
land south of the railroad at St. James Station, Long 
Island, and extending within half a mile of Ronkon-Koma 
Lake. The tract comprises 987 acres. Joseph C. W. Wil¬ 
lis, of Kensington, London, and Enderby Dunsford, of 
Torquay, Devonshire, have signed a contract with Charles 
F. Smith of this place for the purchase of the property 
at an agreed price of $75,000. Willis and Dunsford are 
said to be the representatives of a party of well-to-do 
young Englishmen, who are to form a community to carry 
on scientific farming. Only bachelors are eligible for 
membership. The commonwealth plan will be adopted 
as far as the earnings of the colony are concerned. The 
first of the party will arrive about June 20. 
Reports from all parts of California indicate an unusu¬ 
ally heavy fruit yield. 
Minnesota and the Dakotas are suffering from a drought 
that severely threatens agricultural interests. Vast 
areas of wheat and flax are parched, and unless there 
be copious rains within two weeks the crops will be lost. 
Fire wardens are organizing companies in all towns in 
the timbered districts. The forests are as dry as tinder, 
and fire once started in them would probably be disas¬ 
trous. 
The Missouri State Horticultural Society will hold its 
Summer meeting at Chillicothe, June 7-9, upon Invitation 
of the Livingston County Horticultural Society. 
Fire destroyed the seed house of Harry N. Hammond, 
Fifleld, Mich., May 20. The loss is estimated at $35,000, 
and the insurance only $18,000. 
Oklahoma is preparing to harvest the largest wheat 
crop in the history of the Territory. The entire season 
has been favorable, and the crop is expected to run from 
20 to 50 bushels an acre. 
