The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-18
BOGUS BUTTER
The Bill Taxing Oleomargarine
Signed by the President.
Approving the Measure, but Sug-
gesting Additional Legislation.

The President has signed the Oleomargarine
bill and sent a message to the House Of Re-
presentatives stating his reasons for approx.
ing it and suggesting some additional legis-
lation. In the message he says:
~ have this day approved bill origipat-
ing in the House OF Representatives, entitled
An act defining butter, also imposing tax
upon and regulating the manufacture, sale,
Importation and expectation of oleomargar-
ine.' This legislation has awakened much
interest among the people Of the country
aud earnest argument has been addressed to
the Executive for the purpose Of influencing
his action thereupon. Many in opposition
have urged its dangerous character as
tending to break down the boundaries be-
tween the proper exercise Of legislative power
by Federal and State authority. Many in
favor Of the enactment have represented that
it promised great advantages to large por-
tion Of our population who sadly need relief;
and those on both sides Of the question whose
advocacy or opposition is based upon no
broader foundation than local or personal
interest have outnumbered all the others.
"This, upon its face and in its main fea-
lures, is revenue bill, and was first intro
duced in the House of Representatives, where
the Constitution declares that all bills tor
raising revenue shall originate.
1.-THE Constitution has invested Congress
with a very wide legislative discretion, both
as to the necessity Of taxation and the selcc-
tion Of tine objects Of its burdens And
though, if the question was presented to me
as an original proposition, might doubt the
present need of increased taxation, I deem it
my duty in this instance to defer to the judg-
ment of the legislative branch Of the Govern
ment, which has been 30 emphatically an
nounced in both houses Of Congress upon the
passage Of this bill
Moreover, those who desire to see removed
the weight Of taxation now pressing upon
the eople from other directions may well be
justified in the hope and expectation thatthe
taxation, so well able to bear it, will, in con-
sistency, be followed by legislation relieving
our citizens from other revenue burdens
rendered by the passage of this bill, even
more than heretofore, unnecessary and need.
lessly oppressive It has been urged as an
objection to this measure that, while pur-
porting to be legislation for revenue, its real
purpose is to destroy, by the use Of the tax
ing powers, ons industry of our people for
the protection and benefit Of another.
"If entitle ! to indulge in such suspicion as
tirely satisfied that the consequences indi-
Gated would ensue, I should doubtless feel
constrained to interpose Executive dissent
But do not feel called upon t. interpret the
motives of Congress otherwise than by
the apparent character Of the bill
which has been presented to me,
and l 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. II
this article has the merit which its friends
claim for it, and if the people Of the land,
with full knowledge Of its real character,
desire to purchase and Use it, the taxes ex-
acted by this bill will permit q fair profit to
both manufacture and seller 1.-THE existence
Of the commodity taxed and the profits
Of its manufacture and sale depend upon dis
posing of it to the People for something else
which it dece.tfully initiates, the entire ell
terpr.se is fraud and not an industry; and
if it cannot endure the exhibition of its real
character, which will be effected by the iu-
spection, 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 in the history Of legislation in which
O revenu, bill produced benefit which was
merely incide ltal to its main purpose. There
is certainly no industry better entitled to the
incidental advantages which may follow this
legislation than our farming and dairy in
ISleSLS, anu " uOuo VI ouT poOplo SnOulu
they be less begrudged than our farmers and
dairymen. The present depression OF their
occupations, the hard, steady and often un-
remunel ative toll which such occupations eS-
act, and the burdens of taxation which our
agriculturists necessarily bear, entitle them
to every legitimate consideration"
The President next refers to the "defense
afforded Dy the bilD to the consumer against
the fraudulent substitution and sale of an
imitation for genuine article Of food Of
very general household use," and con 'ludes
as follows: The fourteenth and fifteenth
sections of tho bill, in my opinion, ara in dam
ger of being construed as an interference with
the Eolice powers Of the States. Not being
entirely satisfied Of the unconstitutionality
of these provisions, and regarding them
as not being So connected and interviewer
with the other sections as, IL found invalid,
to vitiato the entire measure, have deter
mined to commend them to the attention Of
the House with view to an immediate amend
ment OF the bill if it should be deemed neces-
sary, and ifit is practicable at this late day in
the session of Congress. The fact, too, that
the bill does not take effe,t by its terms
until ninety days have elapsed after its ap-
approval, thus leaving it but one month in
operation before the next session of Congress
when, if time does not now permit, the safety
and efficiency of the measure may be abun-
dainty protected by remedial legislative ac-
tioa, and the desire to see realized the bene.
6cial results which it is expected will imme
diately follow the inau guration Of this legls-
lation, have had their in Euence in determln-
ing my official action"