The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-03

I
of the bill which has been presented to
me, ana am convinced that the taxes
which II creates cannot possibly de-
strOy the open ami legitimate manufac-
/ ture and sale Of thing uron which II
il levied. Ii the article hiss the merit
which its friends claim for Il. and II the
people cf the lanu. with full knowledge
of its real character desire 20 purchase
and use IL, the taxes enacted BY this bill
will permit fair pr0fiE tO both manu-
| facturer and dealer. IL the existence
of a commodity taxed and profits and
/ its manufacture and sale depend upon
/ the disposing OF II To the people tor
something else which IL deceitfniIy imi-
tates, the entire enterprise is a fraud
and not an Industry. am if il canno.
endure the exhibition of its real
character. which will be effected by the
inspection, sup rvisiOn and stamping
which this bill directs. the sooner il is
destroyed the better, IN the interest of
fair dealings. Such n result would not
furnish the first instance in the history
of legislation in which a revenue
bill produced benefitwhich was merely
incidental 10 the main purpose. THERE'S
certainly no industry better entitled to
the incidental advantages which may
follow this legislation tnan our farming
and dairy in erests, snd to role Of our
people should they be less begrudgsd
thaH to our farmers and dairymen.
The present depression of their occupa-
tons the hard, steady and often un-
remunerative toll which such occupa-
tons exact, the burdens of taxation
which our farmers have, entitled them
TO every legitimate consideration, nor
should there be any opposition TO the
incidental effect Of this legislation
on the part of those who pro-
fess to be engaged honestly
and fairly in the manufacture and ssIe
of wholesome and valuable articles of
food. which by its Provisions may be
subject tn taxation, as long as their
business is carried on under the cover
and by false pretenses. Such men have
had bad companions II those whose
manufactures, however vile and harm
full, take their place without challenge
with the better sort, in a common crus-l
ade of deceit against the public. But.
IL this occupation and its methods are
forced into light, all these manufactures
must thus either stand upon their merits
or TALL: good and bad must soon part
company as the fittCst only will survive.
Not the least important incident
related TO this legislation is the defense
offered to the consumer against the
fraudulent substitution and sale of an
imitation for a genuine article Of food
of very general household use. Not
withstanding the immense quantity of
the article described in this bill which
is sold to the people for their consump-
ton as food, and notwithstanding
the claim made that its manu-
facture supplies 4 cheap substitute
for butter, l venture to say that
hardly a pound has ever entered a poor
- hnnga ~ AL rRa nd
its true character; while IN its relation
TO an article of this description there
should be no governmental regulation
of what citizens shall eat, IL is certainly
not cause Of regret if, by legislation
of this character, he is afforded 3
means by which he may better protect
himself against imposition in nesting
the needs and wants of his daily life.
Having entered upon this legislation. il
is the manifest duty to render IL rs
effective as possible in the accomplish
ment of all the good which should legiti-
mately follow in its train. This leads
to the suggestion that the article
proposed to be taxed and the circum
stances which subject II 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 Thraseology Of me
second section of the bill, and that the
question may well arise as 70 & eprecise
condition the article to be taxed must
assume, in order TO be regarded as
made in imitation or semolance 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 an inter
ference with the police powers OF the
States. Not being entireiy satisfied OF
constitutiOnality Of its provisions and
regarding them as not being so
connected and inter-woven with the
other sections as il found invalid vitiate
the entire measure, l have determined
to commend them to the attention
of the House with q view TO an
amendm Mt bill il il should be deemed
neces sary, and If il is practicable at
this late day in the session OF
Congress; the fact, tso, that the bill
does not take effect by its terms until
ninety days have elapsed after its ap-
proval, thus leaving II but ore month
in operation before the next
session of Congress, when, If
the time does not now per
NIT the safety and efficiency OF the
measure may be abundantly protected
by remedial legislative seton and de-
sire to see realized the benitcent re-.
suits which il is expected will immedia-
tly follow the Inauguration OF this
legislation have had their influence IN
determining my official action. The
considerations which have been referred
TO will, / hope, justify this communica-
ton and suggestions which IL contains.
(Signed,) GROVER CLEyELAsD'
ExEcUrIvE MANSION, August 2, 1886.