The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-13
THE OLEOMARGARINE BILL.
The President Reluctantly Signs It-Hs
Gives His Reasons Why, and Suggests Sew
eral Amendments to Make the Law Per.

The President Reluctantly Signs It-Hc
Gives His Reasons Why. and Suggests Sew
eral Amendments to Make the Law Per-
feet.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-The president has
signed the oleomargarine bill and sent the |
following message to the house of repre- !
sentatiyes. stating his reasons for approx |
ing it:
To the House OF Representatives.: have this |
day approved bill originating in the house OF
representatives entitled An act dennlns nneter,
also imposing tax upon and regulating the
manufacture, sale, Importation and exportatlon
ot oleomaroarine." This legislation has awak-
ened much interest among the people Oh tne
country and earnest arguments have been ad-
dressed to the executive for the purpose OF IN
1uencing his action thereupon. Many In oppo-
sition have urged its dangerous character as
tending to break down the boundaries between
the proper exercise OF leglslative power Dy
federal and state authority Many IN in fayof a,,ot
of the enactment have represented that
it promised great advantages to large
portion of population who sadly
need relief, and those on both sides OF the ques-
tion whose advocacy or opposition is based upon
no broader foundation than local or personal IN
terest have outnumbered all the others. This
upon its face and in its main features Is rev.
enue bill. and was first introduced In the house
of representatives, wherein the constitution ae,
clares that all bills for raising revenue shaA
originate. The constitution has invested con-
gress with very wide legislative discretion
both as to the necessity Of taxation and the Sc
lection of the objects of rs burdens. and
though, if the question was presented to me as
an original proposition, might doubt the pres
ent need of increased taxation, deem 1t my
duty IN this instance to defer to the Judgment OF
tho legislative branch of the government, which
has been emphatically announced In both
houses of congress upon the passage OF thls Dlii.
Moreover. those who desire to see removed the
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
of internal taxation, SO we'll able to bear it, will.
in consistency be followed by legislation re-
lievius our citizens from other revenue burdens,
rendered by the passage of the bill even more
than heretofore unnecessary and neediessiy OPP
pressive. 1t has been urged as an objection to
| this measure that while purportin2 to be legls-
lation for revenue It's real purpose Is to destroy,
/ by the use of the taxing power, one industry OF
| our people tor the protection and benefit Of an
/ other II entitled to indulge i'll such suspicion
| basis of official action i'll this case. ana II
/ entirely satisfied that the consequences indi-
Gated would ensuc, should doubtless feel con,
strained to intcrpose executive dissent. Bu' l
| 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 the open and
legitimate manufacture and sale OF the thins
merit which its friends claim fol 1t. and II the
people with full knowledge of its character de,
sire to use it, the taxes enacted by This blil VIII
permit a fair profit to both manufacturer and !
dealer. II the existence of the commodity taxed
and the profits of its manufacture and
shts the people opIao for "p0a Something else which
it dcceitfully initiates, the entire euter.
prise is fraud and not an industry; and II II
cannot endure the exhibition of its real charac'
ter which will be effected by the inspection
supe vision and stamping which this bil
directs, the sooner 1t Is destroyei the better, II
the interest of fair dealing. Such result woule
not furnish the first instance in the history o
legislation in which a revenue bill produced
benefit which was merely incidental TO lts man
Mara ia cart a n industry
entitled to the incidental advantages which ma!
follow this legislation than
OUR FARMING AND DAIRY INTERESTS,
and to none of people should they be les
begrudsed than our farmers and dairymen. III
present depression of the occupations, the hard
steady and often unremunerative toll whlc
such occupations exact, and the burdens OF tax
alton which our agricuiturists necessarily peai
entitle them to every legitimate consideration
Nor should there be opposition to the incidental
effect of this legislation on the part OF those wh
| profess to be engaged honestly and fairly in TIL
manufacture and sale Of Q wholesomeand valua
Bile article or food which by its provisions ma
be subject to taxation. AS long as their buslnes
is carried Oh under cover and by false pretenses
such men have bad companions in those who's
manufactures, however vile and harmful, TAX
their place without challenge with the bette
!, sort in common crusade OF deceit against IN !,
methods are forced into the liEl .I
9 and all these manufactures must thu
: either stand upon their merits or fall the goo
ana bad must soon part company and the httes
I only will survive. Not the least important inc
i deut related to this legislation is the defens
: afforded to tie consumer against the frauduler
+. substitution aud sale of imitation tor gcnuir
= article of food of very general household US
n Notwithstanding the immense Quantity OF th
y article described in this bill which Is sold to IL
Z people tor food. and Notwithstanding the cia
I made that it manufacture supplies cheap snt
i stitute for butter, venture TO say that hardls
n pound ever entered poor man s house under I.
a real name and in its trus character. While
V its relation to article of this description the
should be no governmental regulation OF wh
tl,., -iaa,, hail IL in
II of regret if by legislation of this character he
!. afforded Il means by which he may
;, BETTER PROTECT ITSELF
u against imposition in meeting the needs AZ
VI wants of his daily life. Having entered upt
4. this legislation, it is manitestly duty to rend
q it as effective as possible in the accomplishing
:. of all the good which should legitimately toiic
II in It's train THIS leads to the suggestion til
~, ~ the article proposed to be taxed and the CT
" cumstances which subject it thereto should
rr clearly aud with great distinctness defined
l.. the statute. 1t seems to me that this object IL
n not been completely attained in the phraseolo
- OF the second ction Of the bill, and that que
!, tion may well arise as TO the precise co
- dition the article to be taxed must assume
l. order to be regarded made in imitation
&c selnblauce of butter. when made calculat
6. or intended to be sold as butter or for butte
:. The fourteenth and fifteenth sections OF the b
interference with the police po
"a. ers OF the states. Not being entire
u. u satisfied of the unconstitutionality Of thu
e provisions. and regarding them as not bel
IL so connected and interviewer with the oti
v sections as if found invalid, to vitiate the ent
NJ measure, l have determined to commend th'
=, to the attention of the house with view to
~ immediate amendment of the bill should 1t
Is deemed necessary, and ii it is practicable at d
'y late day in the session of congress, 4 he ia
i'll too that the bin does not take enect by
tb terms until ninety days have elapsed after
-. approval, thus leaving it but one month in
AZ ~ Grafton before the Lext session of congre
~ when, IL time does not now permit, the sat
If and efficiency of the measure NAV be abundan
bc protected by remedinl legislative action and
ng unii.p 70 ~" ,t III @ ~, -. I.. e., ,,,,
~, ,o Inauguration of this legislation, has had
IL influence in determining my official action.
es considerations which have been referred to W
at l hope. justify this communication and the 81
ns gestions which IL contains
In [SignedJ GROVER CLEVELAND