9. M. 5.7/25/10 OLEOMARGARINE. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Charles F. Scott (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. In accordance with an order made at the last meeting of the committee, the committee is in session this morning for the purpose of considering what are known generally as the oleomargarine bills-H. R. 13842, introduced by Mr. Burleson; H. R. 20582, by Mr. McHenry; H. R. 20986, introduced by Mr. Bartholdt; H. R. 24008, introduced by Mr. Goebel; H. R. 22942, introduced by Mr. Gallagher; H. R. 21674, introduced by Mr. Burleson; and H. R. 24651, introduced by Mr. Lever. Mr. HANNA. Are these bills all upon the same subject? The CHAIRMAN. They are all upon the same general subject. One is upon the manufacture and sale of butter; but with that exception I think all of them either amend the existing law on oleomargarine or propose an addition to it. The understanding is that it will probably require several days to conclude these hearings, and as the committee hardly felt able to give its entire time to it through that period it was decided, based upon consultation with those most interested in the subject, to have two days of hearing this week, two days next week, and two days in the week following, and to continue in that way so long as it may seem to be necessary. To-day we are to give the time to the proponents of the bill, and I have asked Representative Burleson, who is the author of one of the bills, and at whose particular request this hearing was arranged, to make a statement in regard to the measure and to indicate to the committee the order in which he would like to have other gentlemen heard. STATEMENT OF HON. ALBERT S. BURLESON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. Mr. BURLESON. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, it is my purpose to occupy only a short time in making a preliminary statement. I desire to state to the committee, first, the reasons prompting me to the introduction of the bills I have introduced repealing the tax on colored oleomargarine; but, preliminary to that statement, I want to make a few observations about the subjectmatter of former legislation relating to oleomargarine. From the very moment that oleomargarine entered the field as a food product in competition with butter a systematic, persistent effort was made to arouse the hostility of the consuming public against it. I do not hesitate to say that never in the history of the |