New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-08-11
THE OLEoNARGARINR BILL.

The President ReIactantly signs 1t-Hs
Gives His Reasons why, aud Suggests Sew
eFal Massachusetts to Mako tho Law Per-
| feet.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2-The president has
signed the oleomargar1ne bill and sent the
following message to the house Of repre-
sentatives, 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 defining butter;
also imposing = tag upon ana regulating the
/, of oleomarRarine." This legislation has awak-
ened much interest among the people Of the
country. and earnest arguments have been adj
dressed to the executive for the purpose of in
duencinR his action thereuPon. Many in oppo-
sitton have urged its dangerous character as
tending to break down the boundaries between
federal and state authority. Many IN favor
OF the enactment have represented that
n it promised great adyantases to large
need relief, and those on both sides Of the ques-
| ton whose advocacy or opposition is based upon
no broader foundation than local or personal in
upon its face and in its main features is rev.
. enue bill. and was first introduced in the house
OF representatives. wherein the constitution de-
:
originate. The constitution has invested con-
gress with a very wide legislative discretion.
both as to the necessity ct taxation and tho se-
lection of the objects OF its burdens. and
though, if the question was presented to me as
an original proposition, I might doubt the pres
ent 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 emphatically announced in both
houses OF congress upon the passage OF this bill
Moreover those who desire TO see removed the
M N.
plo from other directions may well be justified
in the hope and expectation that the selection of
AN ADDITIONAL SUBJECT
Of internal taxation, so well able to bear it, will
in consistency, be followed by legislation re-
lieving our citizens from other revenue burdens,
rendered by the passage OF the bill even more
than heretofore unnecessary and needleSSly OD-
pressive. It has been urged as an objection to
this measure that while purporting to be legis-
ation for revenue its real purpose is to destroy,
by the use OF the taxing power, one industry of
our people for the protection and benefit of an
other. IT entitled to indulge in such a suspicion
as basis OF official action in this case. and if
Gated would ensue, should doubtless feel con-
strained to 1nterpose executive dissent But
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 ain convinced that the taxes which
it creates cannot possibly destroy the open and
upon which it is levied. If this article has the
merit which its friends claim for it, and If the
people with full knowledge of its character de-
sire to use it, the taxes enacted by this bill will
permit a fair profit to both manufacturer and
dealer: II the existence Of the commodity taxed
and the profits Of its manufacture. and
sse nepa fer a, Of it
it deceitfully initiates, the entire enter
prise is q fraud and not an industry: and if it
cannot endure the exhibition Of its real charac-
super visien 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 a revenue bill produced q
benefit which was merely incidental 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 INTERESTS,
and to none OF our people should they DO less
begrudged than our farmers and dairymen. The
present depression OF the occupations, the hard,
steady and often unremunerative toll which
such occupations exact, and the burdens of tax
alton which our agricultur1sts necessarily bear,
entitie them to every legitimate consideration
Nor should there be opposition to the incidental
effect of this legislation ON the part Of those who
profess to be engaged honestly and fairly in the
manufacture and sale of a wholesome and valua-
BILE 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, however vile and harmful, take
their place without challenge with the better
sort IN common crusade OF deceit against the
m paee But o ss nPa the and qs
and all these manufactures must thus
either stand upon their merits or fall, the good
and bad must soon part company and the fittest
only will survive. Not the least important Incl
dent related to this legislation Is the defense
afforded to the consumer against the fraudulent
substitution and sale Of imitation for genuine
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 food, and Notwithstanding the claim
made that it manufacture supplies cheap sub
stitute for butter, venture to say that hardly a
pound ever entered poor mans house under its
real name and in its true character. While In
its relation to article of this description there
should be no governmental regulation Of what
the citizen shall eat it is certainly not cause
Of regret If by legislation of this character he is
afforded means by which he may
BETTER PROTECT ITSELF
against imposition in meeting the needs and
wants of his daily life. Having entered upon
this legislation. it is manifestly duty to render
of all the good which should legitlmately follow
in its train. This leads to the suggestion that
the article proposed to be taxed and the cir
cumstances which subject it thereto should be
clearly and with great distinctness defined in
the statute. It seems to me that this object has
not been completely attained in the phraseology
tion may. well arise as to the precise con-
dition the: article to be taxed must assume in
order to be regarded as made in imitation or
selnblance 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 interference with the police pow
ers 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 it found invalid to vitiate the entire
measure have determined to commend them
to the attention OF the house with a view to an
immediate amendment Of the bill should it be
deemed necessary. and il it is practicable at this
late day in the session of CONGRESS. The fact,
too, that the bill does not take effect by its
terms until ninety days have elapsed after its
approval, thus leaving 1t but one month in OPP
Grafton before the Eext session of congress,
when it time does not now permit, the safety
and efficiency of the measure may be abundantly
protected by remedial legislative action and the
desire to see localized the beneficial results
which it is expected will Immediately follow the
Inauguration of this legislation, has had it's
influence in determining my official action. The
considerations which have been referred to will,
hope. justify this communication and the sug-
gestions which it contains.
[Sgned] GROVER CLEVELAND.
The Weather of July
The signal officer at st. Paul publishes
the following summary OF the weather OF
Lost or<h o1,r = d.,