Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-02-27
The CHRONICLE.
Butter and Cheese i'm the Tax
Bill.

Bill.
In the official report of the debate in
Committee of the Whole on the Tax Bill
on. Thursday last, we find the following
in reference to the staple Of Western
Reserve "Cheesedom:"
Mr.. Schenck. l move to amend by
striking out in the paragraph last read
the following words:
PROVIDED. That no special tax shall be re-
CURED Of any person for the manufacture Of
butter andcheese.
Mr.. Chairman, 1 am very sorry that
my colleague and friend from the nine
teenth district of Ohio Mr.. Garfield
is not here to defend his butter and
cheese, representing as he does what in
Ohio we call "Cheesedom." My reason
for offering this amendment is that
when other manufacturers are compell-
ed TO take out a special license l do not
see why an exemption should be made
in favor of those who manufacture but
ter and cheese. 1 can very readily I'M
derstand that where a farmer makes
butter and cheese, Just as he makes
sausages and a great many other things
incidentally to the carrying on of his
farm, he should not be treated as q
manufacturer.
There are in my own State, in that
part particularly, a great many persons
who, without owning farms, manufac-
ture into butter and cheese the milk
and cream brought up to them and
purchased for that purpose from the
neighboring farms. 1t is in fact a great
manufacturing business; so large, in
deed, though 1 do not vouch for the
fact, somewherein the Western Reserve,
in Ohio, this business being carried on
upon top of a hill, a saw-mill Is turned
by the buttermllk below. Laughter.
l do not know as it is carried on ex-
tensively anywhere; but / do know it
is hard for a man who manufactures
shoes, leather, or anything else, who is
taxed and compelled to pay for a
license for the privilege of doing SO. to
see the wealthy manufacturer OF cheese
pass without paying any license at all,
while perhaps carrying on 8 business .
hundredfold more extensive than the
man who is taxed in sll shapes.
The gentleman from Vermont Mr..
Woodbridge suggests the clause stand
as it is, and assert ''from the products
of his own dairy farm" Something Of
that sort is proper, or else the large
manufacturers of cheese will pc.
Mr.. Morrill,. 1 rise to oppose the
proposition of the gentleman from
Ohio. It is true, so far a representa-
tons have come before the Committee
of Ways and Means, they have come
from the State of Ohio, that is, in re-
gard to this tax and it is also true we
have from the start gone upon the
principle of leaving the agriculturalists
nearly without any tax at all, and it is
to cary out that principle this proEis-
ion has been asserted. A great many
farmers manufacture more than one
thousand dollars worth of butter and
cheese. Now, then, if the law is not
amended, they will be compelled to
take out q license as manufacturers.
But suppose they do not manufac-
ture for themselves, and are compelled
to carry their milk one two, three and
four miles to a manufacturer, a sort of
joint stock company, l think they
should be exempted.
l was surprised that the gentleman
from Ohio should rise to make q mo-
ton to strike out. The amount receiY-
ed from this source is very small. There
are several manufacturers in New York.
l believe there are more In New York
than in any other State. There are q
considerable number in Ohio and farth-
er West. They put their milk to
profitable use, and l wish to encourage
them. If these manufacturers are suf-
fered to increase they will relieve the
women, for everywhere these manufac-
lures are established it takes the milk
from the COW at once and relieves the
women.
Mr.. Spalding. move to strike out
the last word of the proviso.
Ny friend from the Dayton district
Mr. Schenckl calls for the Represents.
tive from Cheesedom, and regrets that
his colleague from the nineteenth dis
trict NJ. Garfield is not present. L
suppose he will accept me as a substi-
tute, as l represent a portion of the
country comingunder that designation.
l hope my friend has no special point
70 make against Cheesedom for what is
past. 1 will promise him everything in
the future.
Sir, 1 have received from many of the
farmers in my district a protest against
the imposition of a manufacturers tax
upon these men who make butter and
cheese. 1t occurs to me you may with
much propriety impose a manufac-
turer's tax upon the man who produces
wheat and raises cattle for market as
upon the farmer who produces butter
and cheese, or apple-butter, my friend
the product of his orchard.
The chairman of the Committee of
Ways and Means has declared, and 1
think very properly, at this time it is
not policy to tax the products of the
and these are the products of
the farmer, although there is some
mechanical manipulation entering into
the production of butter and cheese
When curd or milk is gathered from q
of farmers it is made by a
process of machinery. But, sir, l think
the wholesome rule for US to adop is
to carry out the principle sought to be
ingrafted by the Committee of Ways
and Means, to prohibit q manufaetur-
er's tax upon the production Of butter
and cheese, and 7 hope it will be adopt
ed.
After some furtherdebate the amend
ment of Mr.. Schenck was voted down,
and the exemption clause allowed to