St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-03
BOVINE BUTTER BILL.
The President Signs the Measure Taxing
0leomargarine and Gives Rea-
sons Therefor.
If the Industry Is Legitimate One It
Will Not Suffer Prom
the Tax.
But if It is Fraudulent and Deceitful
1t Deserves an Early
Death.
A Smart-A1eck Republican and His
Little Joke--The Pub
lie Debt.
The oIeon,argarine Bill.

The OIeonlargarine Bill.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2.-The President
has signed the oleomargarine bill and sent
the following message to the house of rep
resentatives stating his reasons for APPROX
ing it:
To the house of representatives: 7 have
this day approved bill originating in the
house Of representatives, entitled IAN act de-
HUNG butter, also imposing tax upon and
regulating the manufacture, sale, importa-
ton and expectation of oleomargarine." This
Legislation has awakened much interest
among the people of the country and earnest
arguments have been addressed to the eXecu-
tive for the purpose of Influencing his action
thereupon. Many in opposition have urged
its dangerous character as tending to break
down the boundaries between the proper
exercise of legislative power by federal and
state authority, many in favor Of the enact
ment have represented that it promised great
advantages to large portion of our popula-
ton who sadly need relief, and those Oh both
sides OF the question, whose advocacy or OPP
position is based upon no broader foundation
than local or personal interest, have out
numbered all the others. This upon
its face and in the main features
is revenue bill, and was first introduced
in the house Of representatives, wherein
raising revenue shall originate. The consti-
tuition has invested congress with very wide
legislative discretion, both as to the necessity
of taxation and the selection Of the objects of
its burdens, and though if the question was
presented to me as an original proposition 1
might doubt the present need of increased
taxation it is my duty in this instance to de-
fer to the Judgment of the legislative branch
Of the government which has been so en-
phaticaiy announced in both houses of con-
gress upon the passage of this bill. More
over, those who desire to see removed
THE WEIGHT OF TAXATION
now pressing upon the people from other
directions may we'll be justified in the hope
and expectation that the selection of an addi
tional subject of internal taxation so well
able to bear twill in consistency, be followed
by legislation relieving our citizens from
other revenue burdens, rendered by the pass
age of the DILL even more than heretofore un-
necessary and needlessly oppressive. 1t has
been urged as an objection to this measure
that while purporting to be legislation for
revenue, its real purpose is to destroy, by
the use of the taxing power, one industry
OF our people for the protection and benefit
of another. If entitled to indulge in such
suspicion as q basis of official
action in this case, and if entirely satisfied
that the consequences indicated would ensue,
I should doubtless feel constrained to inter-
pose executive dissent. But | do not feel
called upon to interpret the motive of con.
gress otherwise than by the apparent charac-
ter of the bill which has been presented to
me, and am convinced that the taxes which
it creates cannot possibly destroy the open
and legitimate manufacture and sale of the
thing upon which it is levied, If this article
has the merit which its friends claim for it,
and If the people, with full knowledge of its
character, desire to purchase and use it, the
taxes enacted by this bill will permit a fair
profit to both manufacturer and dealer. If
ha aXic c ON of no fov nd orl6
the profits of its manufacture and sale de-
pend on disposing of it to the people for
something else which it deceitfully initiates,
the entire enterprise is fraud and not an
industry, and if 1t cannot endure the exhibit
ton OF its real character, which will be
effected by the inspection, supervision and
stamping which this bill directs, the sooner it
is destroyed the better, in the interest of
fair dealing. Such result would
not furnish the first instance i'll
the history Of legislation in which
revenue bill produced benefit
which was merely incidental to it's main
purpose. There is certainly no industy
better entitled to the incidental advantages
which may follow this legislation than our
farming and dairy interests, and to none of
our people should they be less begrudged
than our farmers and dairymen. The present
depression OF the occupations, the hard,
steady and often unrenumerative toll which
such occupations exact, and the burdens of
taxation which our agriculturists necessarily
bear entitle them to every legitimate con-
sderation. Nor should there be opposition
to the incidental effect of this legislation on
the part OF those who profess to be engaged
honestly and fairly in the manufacture and
sale of a wholesome and valuable article of
food, which by its provisions may be subject
to taxation. As long as their business is
carried on under cover and by false pretenses
such men have bad companions in those
whose manufactures, however vile and harm
full, take their place without challenge with
the better sort in
A COMMON CRUSADE OF DECEIT
against the public. But if this occupation
and its method are forced into the light and
all these manufactures must thus either
stand upon their merits or fall, the good and
bad must soon part company and the fittest
only will survive. Not the least important
incident related to this legislation is the de-
Tense afforded to the consumer against the
fraudulent substitution and sale of imitation
for a genuine article of food of very general
household use. Notwithstanding the immense
quantity of the article described in this bill
which is sold to the people for food, and not
withstanding the claim made that its manu-
facture supplies a cheap article for butter,
venture to say that hardly pound ever enters
poor mans house under its real name and
in its true character While in its relation to
an article of This description there should be
no governmental regulation of what the
citizen shall eat it is certainly not cause of
regret if by legislation of this character he
is afforded q means by which he may
better protect himself against imposition in
meeting the needs and wants of his daily life.
Having entered upon this legislation it is
manifeStly duty to render it as effective as
possible in the accomplishment of all the good
which should legitimately follow in its train.
TniS leads to the suggestion that the article
proposed to be taxed and the circumstances
which subject it thereto should be clearly and
with great distinctness defined in the
statute. 1t seems to me that this object has
not been completely attained in the phrase
ology of the second section of the bill and
that
A QUESTION MAY WE'LL ARISE
as to the precise condition the article to be
taxed must assume in order to be regarded as
made in imitation or semblance of butter, or
when so made, calculated or intended to be
sold as butter or for butter.'' The fourteenth
and fifteenth sections of the bill in my opinion
| are in danger OF being construed as all inter-
| ference with the police powers of the states.
| Not being entirely satisfied of the unconsti-
nationality OF these provisions and regard
| ing them as not being so connected
and interviewer with the other sections as
| if found invalid to vitiate the entire measure
have determined to commend them to the
attention of the house with view to an i'm
mediate amendment of the bill If it should be
deemed necessary and if it is practicable at
| this late day in the session Of congress- The
J fact, too that the bill does not take effect by
| it's terms until ninety days have elapsed after
its approval, thus leaving it but one month
! in operation before the next session of con-
| gress, when, if time does not now permit the
| safety and efficiency of the measure NAV be
| abundantly protected by remedial legislative
action and the desire to see localized the ben
/ eticial results which it is expected will imme-
| dately follow the inauguration of this legis-