Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-31
FOKTY-NItTH CWNGRESS.
First Session.
HOUSE.,

~, WASHINGTON, May 30.
The speaker laid before the House a com.
hlunlcatlon from the secretary of state SUBJ
mitting an estimate of Sl06, 100 for inaugru.
aIing M the statue OF Liberty Enlightening the
World referred.
Inc house then went into committee OF
the whole on the oleomargarlne bill. the
pending amendment being that offered by Mr..
lownshend Of Illinois reducing the tax on
oleomargarine from 10 cents to two cents Der
pound.
MIR. Hatch of Missouri stated that in view
OF the fact that various protests of knights OF
Labor against the bill being presented he
wished to have the following telegram to
Speaker Carlisle read;
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 20.
Actlng under instructions from the gem
eral assembly of the Knights of Labor, | de-
sire 10 state that no person whatever is au-
thorlzed to speak for this orgatizaion, either
In the Affirmative OF negative on the question
OF the regulation of the sale of oleomargarine
now pending before Congress. Please bring
this to the attention of the proper committee,
[Signed] T. V. PowDERLY.
General Master, Knights of Labor.
Me Hatch then proceeded to say that there
seemed to be misapprehension in regard to
the Dill. Under It's provisions compound of
lard and tallow and cotton seed OIL or lard,
talisw and cotton seed oil. not colored, in
imitation of butter, was not liable to tax.
Mr. Townshend Of Illinois thought that the
gentleman from Missouri did not construe
the bill correctly, but that under its pro-
visions no oleomargarne could be sold with
out tax, even though it were sold under its
true character.
Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky offered an
amendment providing that the tax of ten
cents per pound shall be imposed only on
oleomargarine which is manufactured and
sold or removed for consumption as butter.
He had understoodtthe chairman of the COM
mittee on agriculture to say that he did not
desire to impose the tax unless the oleomar-
garine was manufactured and sold as butter,
and this amendment would make the mean
ing of the bill clear.
Mr.. Lehlbach of New Jersey, while he was
in favor of the general feature of the bill,
thought that the taxes imposed were too high,
and unless the amendment of the gentleman
from Illinois CTownshend) was adopted he
would be compelled to vote against the
measure.
MIR. Mills of Texas denounced the doctrine
contained in the bill. If Congress passed the
law it would announce to the people that it
was ready at the dspand of any strong inter
Cst w esIlAc uOW IL oue tHht was uOt 50 elTOuk-
1t was departure from the doctrine of equal
rights to all and exclusive privileges to none.
Mr.. Townshend's amendment was rejected,
66 to 81.
Mr. Long of Massachusetts, offered an
amendment providing that no tax should be
imposed on oleomargarine except when made
in imitation and semblance of butter, and
when calculated or intended to be sold as
butter or for butter. MIR. Long gave notice
that he would press his amendments, as the
chairman of the agricultural committee (Mr.
Hatch) had agreed to insert its substance in
the bill when 1t was before the House.
Mr.. Cowles of North Carolina offered an
amendment repeating the statutes taxing the
manufacture of fruit brandy.
Amendments offered by Mr.. Reagan of
Texas and Mr.. Warner of Missouri exempt
ing from tax oleomargarine which is not man
ufactured for sale as butter were rejected.
Mr.. Daniel offered an amendment abolish
ing the tax on tobacco, which was advocated
by MIR. McAdoo of New Jersey.
Mr. Buchanan of New Jersey, while he
was in favor of the repeal of the tobacco tax,
was opposed to the amendment as endanger-
ing the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Ermentrout of Pennsylvania opposed
the amendment on the same ground.
Mr.. Cabell of Virginia earnestly supported
the proposition.
MIR. Breckenridge of Kentucky offered an
amendment providing that the revenue col
lected under this act shall be dedicated to the
payment of pensions. The internal revenue
tax, he said, was war tax. and the revenue
derived from it should be devoted to the pay
menr of the expenditures rendered necessary
by the war. While he did not like the sys-
TEN of internal revenue, he did prefer to tax
whiskey and tobacco rather than food cloth
ing and shelter of the workingman.
Pending action the committee rose and the
House at 445 adjourned until Tuesday.