Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-03
CURIOUS.

Our dispatches bring intelligence OF
the failure OF an oleomargarine factory in
Connecticut The law taxing the manu-
facture and sale of adulterated butter or
oleomargarine went into practical effect
yesterday. The law is curious example
of the Inconsistencies and the frauds Of
popular politics, ii not the hollowness OF
party professions. 1t was passed ostensi-
bly, rs a revenue measure. The Treasury
was at the same time overfowing with
surplus funds, and the taxes would have
been reduced were it not that the con-
tention OF the two national par
ties respecting the precise II cans
OF reducing the taxes - whether
it should be by the reduction OF the tariff
or by the repeal OF internal revenue taxes
prevented action in that direction. In
truth, the law was proposed 10 assist
Warner Miller OF New York to obtain
another term in the Senate, and once be-
fore Congress, fear OF alternating the
butter-making interest deferred either
party from opposing it, The fine intel
lectual gymnastics OF Senator Edmunds
were displayed in explaining how Con-
gress could constitutionally protect the
people from being lured into eating
adulterated butter for pure butter, and
the Democrats in Congress, whose
fundamental principle is supposed to
be strict construction in the exer-
else OF Congressional power, followed
the old mans lead, and n Democratic
President approved the bill, though it
may be said with reluctance. What Il
small figure popular methods OF govern
ment, call them Republican or Demo
cratic, or what you please, cut in such
an exhibition. We do not believe that
the Constitution gives Congress the
power TO protect the people from 80
called fraud in what they eat. Ii there
is any subject of legislation which belongs
more naturally and exclusively to the
States, we should like to have some one
name it, But il it were a legitimate sub
ject of Congressional regulation, why not
have been open and manly about it, and
named the bill, "a bill to protect butter
eaters from fraud" and not "a bill to
raise revenue?"
But it is done, and the law, fraud as it
is, has gone into effect. People all over
this country, it appears, have been deal.
ing in oleomargarine and consumingoleo-
margarine without the most distant
thought that they were doing so. To
avoid the prejudice against an artificial
butter, oleomargarine has been sold, to
retailers at least, as the best OF creamery
butter. 1t has been sold as such to
scores OF dealers in Utah, and they
have retailed it out rs such. 1t is
claimed for it that it is better
article OF butter than the average OF real
butter; and that the people have been
buying it for months and years and eat
ing it with satisfaction is proof that the
claim is a substantial one. The internal
revenue officers in the performance OF
their duties, find dealers inclined to be
insulted if inquiry is made. Dealers in
oleomargarine? Perish the thought
Anybody that suspects them oi it is
worthy Of having pick handle applied
to him. Yet, for fact, it will be found
in their stock, upon examination,
although they will still claim that they
buy and sell it for the best Eastern
creamery butter. Now, ii we mistake
not, it is good Democratic doctrine
that the people have the right
to buy and consume what they
please. II they want oleomargarine,