The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-21

at IL As resumed consideration of the
oleomargarine bill, and was addressed
by Senator Brown in opposition to the
bill.
Senator Hawley spoke in support
of the bill. Senator Evarts also
| favored it.
Senator Ingalls, addressed the Senate.
He said that toward the close Of the
debate yesterday, exasperated by per
sonal illusions, in, ended to be often
sive, he had made some oh Iervation,
which, on reflection, he was PERSUADED
had exceeded the limits of propriety
in debate. He then proceC led to ar
que against the bill. He thought the
whole subject was being ,eated in
versely, beginning at the apex and
considering it downwards. The funda-
mental question to be considered was
not whether the general government
possessed the police power to inter
fere, through taxation or olherwise,
but whether oleomargarine vas a pro-
duct detrimental and injurious to the
general health and welfare. He ss-
sumed that the most latud marian in.
terpre alton OF the constitut on would
not claim that there was any power
in the general government 10 prevent
fraud simply as fraud. he funds-
mental question was whether or not
oleomargarine was sae, health
ful, nutritious food product. II
it were, then oleomsrgirine had
exactly the same tight to
ask a tax on butter as butte had to ask
a tax on oleomargsrine. i it were a
healthy food product then this bill
was not a bill to tax, bui a bill to
spoliate. 1t was not bill for revenue,
but bill for confscation and destruc
ton. A German chemist had recently
discovered a means for making sac
charine from coal ell, of such intense
sweeteniDg power that single tea.
spoonful would change a barrel of
water into syrup. What should be
said OF this discovery, by which (if all
that was said of it were true the cane
sugar industry was TO be upiooted and
destroyed?
Senator Haw,ey-Sell it as coal
syrur.s
Senator Ingalls-That is very true,
but if ii is to be pursued by the i'm
position of burdens las proposed by
This bill Congress will be called upon
by the grocers and IeiueIs Of sugar to
declare that this saccharine is unsalu-
tary and dangerous to the public
health snd must not, therefore, be
dermitted. He went on to say that
he had read the testimony AIKEN on
this subject before the Committee on
Agriculture and that If any confidence
were to be p aced in human testimony
oleomargarlne was healthful, nutri-
tious and cheap food product, In the
whole volume there was not a part-
Gle OF evidence, express or implied,
that by the consumption Of oleomar-
garine one single human being had
been injured in health. The discuss
sion was interrupted to permit Senator
Hale TO report from the Committee on
Appropriations the general deficiency
bill; and he gave notice that unless
the sundry civil appropriation bill
were called up tomorrow he would
ask to have the deficiency bill con-
sidered.
Senator Miller appealed to the
friends Of the measure to see to it that
the bill should not be amended in any
particular, because at this stage OF the
session sny amendment might be fatal
TO the bill.
Senator Ingalls, moved to reduce the
tax from cents pound to 2 cents.
Agreed to-yeas, so; nays, %.
Senator ingalls, moved to insert the
word knowingly" in connection with
the eale Of oleomargarine.
Senator Miller moved 10 lay the
amendment on the table. Rejected
yeas, 81; nays, 80.
The amendment was then adopted.
Senator Ingalls, moved to amend the
sixth section by striking out the mini
mum penalty, being the words "less
than $780," and the words "less than
Elk months"
Senator Miller moved 10 lay the
amendment on the table. Rejected
yeas, %; nays, 33. The amendment
was then adopted.
The bill and amendments vera re-
ported to the Senate, the first question
being on S na,or Ingalls's amendment
TO reduce the tax on oleomngarine
from 5 cents pound to 2 cents, and
it was adopted-yeas, "a; nays, %.
The remaining amendments were
adopted without questions, and the
bill, as amended, was passed-yeas,
81; nays, "a.
The section as TO penalty, as amend
ed, reads as follows: Every person
who sells or offers for sale, or delivers
or Offers to deliver, any oleomargarine
in any other form than in new wooden
or paper packages as above described,
or who packs in any package any oleo-
margarine in any manner contrary to
law, or who falsely brands any pack
age or affixes a stamp on any package
den oting a less amount of tax than
that required by law, shall be fined
for each offense not moro than $1,000
and be imprisoned not more than two
years"
Senator Miller moved that the Sen
ate insist on its amendments to the
bill and ask the House for a confer
ence. Agreed to.
Senator Allison called up the sum
dry civil appropriation bill.
Senator Pugh moved that the bill be
laid aside temporarily, and that the
report on the Payne election case be
taken up.
Objection wss made to Senator
Pugh's proposition, and Senator Lo-
gan, in the colloquy that followed,
said he could not understand why
anybody should want to prevent this
matter coming before the Senate. He
was ready to meet the charges made
upon Senators upon legal grounds and
upon the evidence before the commit
tee. Then it would be seen whether
the law and the rules and the evi.
dence did not sustain the position Of
those Senators against whom charges
had been made. He asked the gentle
men who desired a postponement (ior
what reason g did not know to let
Al n n