Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-08-06

/ N'liA'h ~ ui' a. an VI iRiihi liODO
sition, ! might doubt the present
need of increased taxation, | deem
it my duty in this instance to defer
to the judgment Of the legislative
branch OF the government, which
has been so emphatically announced
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 people from other direc
tions may well be justified in the
hope and expectation that the Sc
lection OF an additional subject OF
internal taxation, so well able to
bear it. will in consistency be fol
lowed by legislation relieving our
citizens from other revenue bur.
dens, rendered by the passage OF
this bill even more than heretofore
unnecessary and needlessly oppres-
siye.
1t has been urged as an objection
TO this measure that, while purport-
ing to be legislation for revenue,
its real purpose is to destroy, by
the use of the taxing power, one
industry of orr people for the pro-
lection and benefit Of another. II
entitled to indulge in such n suspi-
cion as basis Of official action in
this case, and if entirely satisfied
that the consequences indicated
would ensue, | should doubtless
feel constrained to interpose eXecu.
tive dissent. But | do not feel
called upon to interpret the motives
of Congress otherwise than by the
character of the bill which has been
presented to me, and | am con-
WINGED that the taxes which it Gre
atcs cannot possibly destroy the
open and legitimate manufacture
and sale of the thing upon which
Ii Is levied. If 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 1t, the
taxes exactcd by this bill will per
nit a fair profit to both manufac-
turer and dealer. If the existence
of the commodity taxed and the
profits Of its manufacture and sale
depend upon disposing Of it to the
people for something else which 1t
decetfully initiates, the entire en-
terprisc is a fraud, and not an in
dustry, and if it cannot endure the
exhibition of its real character
which will be effected by the in
spection, supervision and stamping
which this bill directs, the sooner
it is destroyed the better, in the in
terest of the fair dealing. Such a
result would not furnish the first
instance in the history Of legisla-
ton in which a revenue bill pro-
duced a benefit which was merely
incidental to its main purpose.
There is certainly no industry
better entitled to incidental the adj
vantages which may follow this
legislation than our farming and
dairy interests; and to none of our
people should they be less be-
than Ourfarmers and dairy
men. The present depression of
their occupation, the hard, steady
and unremuncratiyc toll which such
occupations exact, and burdens OF
which our agrlculturists
necessarily bear, entitled them to
every legitimate consideration
Nor should there be OppOsitiOnsto
the incidental effect Of this legisla.
ton on the part of those who pro-
fess to be engaged honestly and
fairly i'm the manufacture and sale
of wholesome and valuable 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, hOwev.
er vile and harmful, take their place |
without challenge with the better |
sort, i'm a common crusade of deceit |
against the public. But if this oc-
and its methods are forced |
into the light, and all these manu-
features must thus either stand |
upon their merits or fall, the good |
and bad must soon part company,
and the 6ttest only will SURVIVE
Not the least important incident re-
lated to this legislation is tho de-
Tense afforded to the consumer
against the fraudulent substitution
and sale of an imitation for a gen.
uine article of food of very general
household use. notwithstanding
the immense quantity of the article
described in this bill which is sold
to the people for their consumption
as food, ane Notwithstanding the
claim made that its manufacture
supplies a cheap substitute for but
ter, | venture to say that hardly a
pound ever entered a poor mans
house under its real name and in
is true character. When in its re-
ation to an article Of this descrlp-
ion there should be no government
regulation of what the citizen shall
,at, it is certainly not a cause OF re-
yret if by legislation OF this char
.cter he is Afforded means by |
which he may better protect him
self against imposition in meeting
he needs and wants of his daily
ife.
Having entered upon this legis-
alton, il is manifestly a duty to
ender it as effective as possible in !
he accomplishment of all the good
which should legitimately follow in :
Is train. This leads to the sng :
,estion that the article proposed :
o be taxed and the circumstances >
which subject it thereto should be o
lcarly and with great distlnctness =
efned in the statute. 1t seems to
ne that this object has not been
-. "a