The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-08-12
THE OLEOMARGARINE BILL.

Tho President Reluctantly Signs It-He
Gives His Reasons why, and Suggests Sew
feet.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2-The president has
signed the oleomargarine bill and sent the
following message to the house Of repre-
sentatives, stating his reasons for APPROX
ing it,
To tho House OF Representatives: / have this
day approved bill originating In the house OF
representatives entitled AN act defining butter;
manufacture, sale. importation and expectation
of oleomargarinc." This legislation has awak-
ened much interest among the people Of the
dressed to the executive for the purpose Of in
huencinR his action thereupOn. Many In oppO-
sitiOn have urged its dangerous character as
the proper, exercise Of legislative power by
federal and state authority. Many In favor
OF the enactment have represented that
II nor%o o 70 Who
need relief. and those on both sides OF the ques-
tion whose advocacy or opposition is based upon
terest have outnumbered all the others. This
upon its tace and in its main features Is . rev.
enue bill. and was first introduced In the house
of representatives wherein the constitution de-
clares that all bills for raising revenue shall
originate. The constitution has invested con-
gress with q very wide legislative discretion.
both as to the necessity Of taxation and the &C.
lection Of the objects Of it's burdens and
though. If the question was presented to me as
an original proposition. might doubt the pres
ent need OF increased taxation: M deem II my
the legislative branch of the government, which
has been emphatically announced in both
houses Of congress upon the passage OF this bill
Moreover. those who desire to see removed tho
weight of taxation now pressing upon the peo-
plo from other directions may well be Justified
in the hope and expectation that the selection OF
AN ADDITIONAL SUBJECT
of internal taxation, so well able to bear 1t. WILL
in consistency. be followed by legislation re-
lieving our citizens from other revenue burdens,
rendered by the passage OF the bill even more
than heretofore unnecessary and needlessly op-
pressve. 1t has been urged as an objection to
this measure that while purporting to be legis-
by the use of the taxing power, one industry OF
our people for the protection and benefit OF an
other If entitled to indulge In such q suspicion
as q basis of official action in this case and IL
entirely Satisfied that the consequences indi-
Gated would ensue, should doubtless feel con-
strained to interpose executive dissent. But
do not feel called upon to interpret the motives
Of congress otherwise than by the apparent
character of the bill which has been presented
to me, and am convinced that the taxes which
It creates cannot possibly destroy ING open anu
upon which it is levied. Ii this article has the
merit which its friends claim for 1t. and II the
people with full knowledge Of its character CITE de; de;
permit fair profit to both manufacturer and
dealer II the existence of the commodity taxed
and the profits Of its ,,IGan mannfactare - and
the people for something else which
it deceitfully initiates. the entire enter
prise is fraud and not an industry; and If it
cannot endure the exhibition of its real charac-
ter, which will be effected by the inspection.
supe. vision and stamping which this bill
directs. the sooner it is DESTROYED the better. In
80 Hai~ deal line Gspn1
not furnish the first instance in the history OF
legislation in which revenue bill produced
benefit which was merely Incidental to It's main
purpose. There is certainly no industry better
ntitled to the incidental advantages which may
follow this legislation than
OUR FARMING AND DAIRY INTEREST6,
and to none of our people should they bs less
begrudged than our farmers and darymen. The
present depression of the occupations. the hard,
steady and often unremunerative toll which
such occupations exact, and the burdens OF tax
entitle them to every legitimate consideration.
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 wholesome and valua-
BILE 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 harmful. take
sort in a common crusade of deceit against the
public But II this occupation and its
methods are forced into the light
and all these manufactnres must thus
and bad must soon part company and the fittest
only will survive. Not the least important incl
dent related to this legislation is the defense
afforded to the consumer against the fraudulent
substitution and sale OF imitation for genuine
article Of food of very general household use.
Notwithstanding the immense Quantity OF the
people for food. and notwithstanding the claim
made that it manufacture supplies cheap s1b-
stitute for butter, venture to say that hardly
pound ever entered Il poor mans house under its
real name and in its true character. While in
its relation TO article Of this description there
should be no goyernmen.al regulation of what
Of regret il by legislation Of this character he is
afforded q means by which he may
BETTER PROTECT ITSELF
against imposition in meeting the needs and
wants OF his daily life. Having entered upon
this legislation. 1t is manifestly duty to render
it as effective as possible in the accomplishment
Of all the good which should legitlmately follow
In its train. This leads to the suggestion that
the article proposed to be taxed and the cir
uumstances 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 Om,etely attained in the phraseOlOgy
Of the second .ction of the bill. and that ques-
tion may well arise. as to the precise con-
dition the article to be taxed must assume in
order to be regarded as made in imitation or
seinhlanee of butter, OF when 80 made calculated
or intended to be sold as bntter OF for butter"
\,
in my opinion, are in danger of being construed
as an interference with the police pow
satisfied of the unconstitutionality of these
provisions, and regarding them as not being
80 connected and interviewer with the other
sections as if found invalid, to vitiate the entire
measure, I have determined to commend them
to the attention OF the house with view to an
immediate amendment of the bill should 1t be
deemed necessary. and II 1t is practicable at this
late day in the session of congress-: The fact,
too, that the bill does not take effect by its
terms until ninety days have elapsed after its
approval, thus leaving it but one month In op-
eration before the Lext session Of congress,
when, IL time does not now permit, the safety
and efficiency Of the measure may be abundantlY
protected by remedial legislative action and the
lesire to see localized the beneficial results
which it Is expected will Immediately follow the
Inauguration Of this legislation, has had its
influence in determining my official actipi The
considerations which have been referred to will
hope, justify this communication and the suR-
yestions which it contains.
[Signedl GROVER GLEVELAND.